Research Paper
REQUIREMENTS
- Length (double-spaced, not including the Works Cited page):
- English 9 = 1.5-2 pages
- Honors English 9 = 2-3 pages
- English 10 = 2.5-4 pages
- Three to five reliable sources, one of which must be considered a "print" source (an actual book, a PDF, or an online newspaper/magazine/journal)
- English 9: You need THREE sources.
- Honors English 9: You need FOUR sources, and one of them must be a survey that you conduct.
- English 10: You need FIVE sources, and one of them must be an interview with an adult who works for USD490.
- MLA style (using the Purdue OWL) with Works Cited and parenthetical citations
NOTECARDS
Use these formats to create your cards:
One Reason Card
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Fact Card
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The Fact cards need three things:
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One Reason Cards
Fact Cards
Source Cards
- 2-3 (one for each reason)
- 1-2 for the counter-arguments
Fact Cards
- minimum number:
- English 9 = 15
- Honors English 9 = 20
- English 10 = 25
- one fact, quote, statistic, or anecdote per card
- at least three facts for each reason
- Don’t copy down a quote unless it’s really important to say it exactly that way or it’s important to know exactly what that person said.
- Be sure to include the source on EVERY fact card (a short version).
- Feel free to use colored pens, highlighters, shapes, etc., if they help you organize your thoughts.
Source Cards
- one for each source [See "Requirements" above.]
- English 9 = 3
- Honors English 9 = 4
- English 10 = 5
- These don't count as part of your minimum number of fact cards.
- You don't need to copy the entire URL, just the domain (e.g., statelaws.findlaw.com, NOT https://statelaws.findlaw.com/criminal-laws/gun-control.html).
MLA FORMAT
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Click each image below for a larger version or for more information.
First page
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Works Cited page
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Whole paper with explanations
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All-in-One Poster
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IN-TEXT CITATIONS
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When you cite your sources, go in this order:
If you put the author's name in the sentence, you don't need a citation, unless it's a book with page numbers. Important: The citation must be the SAME THING that's on the first line of the Works Cited entry. Click here for some more examples of how to do it. |
Click to enlarge.
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WORKS CITED
We'll go over this later, and I'll update this page.
INTRODUCTION
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Introduction (▼ = broad to narrow)
The Thesis Statement must be your should statement and your two reasons, like these:
How to write the FIRST sentence (QQSS): Don't do ALL of these; just pick ONE to begin your introduction.
Here's a sample introduction: No one should have to live in constant fear. What kind of life would that be, to always be looking over your shoulder and wondering if someone is about to harm or even kill you? Schools, especially, are places where people shouldn't have to wonder whether today is the day they're going to die. But with school shootings becoming more and more common, that kind of fear is also becoming prevalent among students. Many people believe that giving certain teachers guns would help, and that makes sense, as long as it's done correctly. Teachers with special training should be allowed to carry guns at school because it would reduce students' anxiety and deter possible intruders. Here's the first sentence of each following paragraph: First, trained teachers should be able to carry guns because it could reduce student's anxiety. [Body paragraph #1] A second reason teachers with training should carry guns at school is to deter possible intruders. [Body paragraph #2] On the other side of this argument, some people believe that having any gun inside a school building is just inviting trouble. [Counter-argument] So, in order to help prevent intruders and to alleviate anxiety among students, schools should begin allowing teachers with specialized training to carry a gun while on the job. [Conclusion] |
CONCLUSION
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Conclusion (▲ = narrow to broad)
Here's a sample conclusion: So, in order to help prevent intruders and alleviate anxiety among students, schools should begin allowing teachers with specialized training to carry a gun while on the job. Of course, no one ever intended for society to get to this point; in a perfect world, children could go to school and know that they were completely insulated from any chance of harm. But that's unfortunately not the state of today's world. Gun control laws have proven ineffective at stopping bad people from obtaining guns, and as long as these criminals see schools as easy targets, they will continue to endanger the lives of innocent children. It's time to begin allowing the good guys to carry weapons and protect those who can't protect themselves. BTW, I don't necessarily agree with this. It's just an example. :-) |
EDITING / PROOFREADING
Common Mistakes
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Proofreading Symbols
[Click the picture to enlarge it.]
Of course, you may ask me to clarify anything I marked on your paper. I'm hoping to have time during class to go over them with you, but you're also welcome to come in during 2nd block, 5th block, or Seminar.
PRINTING on two sides
AFTER you make sure the formatting is right and AFTER you correct any errors you can find, then print the paper. You'll get extra credit if you print on BOTH sides of the paper. Here's how:
Pages & Google Docs
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Microsoft Word
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Grading
We'll go over this later.
Tentative Schedule
These dates might change a little, but this is my tentative plan.
OUTLINE
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Here's the basic outline:
Think of the entire paper as PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE:
Vertical Divider
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Optional Rebuttal:
If you want to, you may include a paragraph telling what's wrong with the counter-argument, or you could put a few lines of rebuttal actually within the counter-argument paragraph instead. Here's a sample rebuttal as a separate paragraph: As to the argument about it being the mother’s body, that’s simply not true. The baby has different DNA, different chromosomes (if it’s a boy), and often a different blood type. Every cell in your body has the same DNA, whether it’s in your nose, heart, brain, or big toe. No cell in your body has different DNA. Period. Also, when a person has surgery, they’re sometimes connected to an external breathing apparatus, and sometimes their blood is even pumped out of their body, through a machine, and then back into their body. No one says that person is part of that breathing machine! But that’s what you’re saying if you think a baby is part of his/her mother’s body just because they’re connected and sharing oxygen, nutrients, etc. It’s scientifically not accurate to say that the baby is part of his/her mother’s body. |
Paragraph structure
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The body (reason) paragraphs should follow this basic pattern:
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Click to enlarge
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