8th grade research paper packet

8th Grade Research Paper

Name: ___________________ My Topic:______________________

Research ChecklistDo you have enough information? Consider the following questions as a guide for each of the following sections:

Background information (2-3 paragraphs)o What is the issue/problem/situation?o What is happening?o Where is this happening?o Who is involved?o Who does it affect?o Why do these issues exist?

Current situation (2-3 paragraphs)o Who is for this issue? What is their argument?o Who is against this issue? What is their argument?o What is currently being done to stop or prevent these problems?o What laws are currently in place?o Are there any organizations that are trying to help? What are they doing? Is it

helpful? o Despite what is currently being done, why is it not enough?

Solution/Call to action (2-3 paragraphs)o What are the consequences of ignoring this issue?o What needs to be done? o Do laws need to be changed? o How can people make a difference?o What is the message that you want to convey?

Plagiarism

What exactly is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is a difficult concept to define. It can include a range of things from an innocent act of not using proper citation to a deliberate act of handing in work that someone else has written or produced.

When students are asked to produce work for a course, they often must draw on the words, ideas or concepts of others. When others works are used, credit must be given to those authors by quoting or citing the sources.

What do we mean when we say the "work" of others?

Work includes a wide range of things from original ideas, strategies and research, to graphics, art, music, computer software, video or any form of creative expression. When we say work, we mean any words, visuals, or concepts. So, it is not just the written word that can be plagiarized. It can even be an abstract idea. Students could even be accused of self-plagiarism if they handed in a piece of work they had written for another course. What one may feel is only a phrase of three words may actually be a unique expression that must be documented. It's not the number of words that makes it plagiarism.

What do we mean when we use the term "source"?

When we talk about the source of the work, we are talking about any published work or any unpublished work. Plagiarism can be the use of a famous author's work, but it can also be the use of the work of your classmate. And while the famous author may have a great facility for language and the classmate is a real slacker, it makes no difference-- it is equally bad!

But wait I didn't mean to do it! Deliberate or Accidental?

Deliberate plagiarism is cheating. The minimal consequence for plagiarism is a grade of zero and you must redo the assignment. But if the assignment happens to make up a significant portion of the course, a student could be in jeopardy of failing the course.

But what exactly is the difference between deliberate and accidental plagiarism? And even if it's accidental, can I still get zero?

Deliberate plagiarism occurs when students knowingly submit work that is not their own. Some examples of deliberate plagiarism:

Buying or obtaining a paper from a research service, website or other source Handing in another student's work with or without the student's knowledge Copying passages from another's work and including it in your work without citation (cut and

paste from websites) Copying passages from another's work and modifying them by replacing select words and not

acknowledging the source Including in your work others' graphs, charts, graphics, photographs, video, audio or any

multimedia without crediting the original author.

Accidental Plagiarism occurs when students mistakenly do not credit their sources. Some examples of accidental plagiarism:

Using the source material too closely when paraphrasing Taking another's idea and building on it without crediting the original source

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Having a person edit your work and allowing the person to substantially change the work by inserting ideas or words that are not your own

Copying passages from another's work and including it in your work without citation Copying passages from another's work and modifying them by replacing select words and not

acknowledging the source

If you look at the two above categories, it will become clear that there is a very grey area between deliberate and accidental plagiarism. So how can a teacher tell the difference? Well the truth is there are times when it is very difficult to tell. But the point is----it is all plagiarism and the penalty can be the same: a big Zero!

Students can avoid plagiarism by maintaining good research habits and paying attention to the basic rules of writing and documentation.

In general, remember that you must credit the source whenever you

use another person's idea, opinion or theory paraphrase the words of another person (spoken or written) quote another person use facts, statistics, graphs, drawing, video, audio or other creative expression

The Research Stage

Plagiarism often begins in the note-taking stage of the research process. Before you set out to research your subject, you should have a clear question in mind so that the notes you take will be relevant. If you are going to a library and can not take the materials home, you should be especially careful to take down the exact details of the information and your source. However you take down the information, you should

Keep careful and complete information on your source by accurately noting the author, title, publisher, editor, date of publication, place of publication, and any additional information including the page numbers where notes or quotes were taken (www.yahoo.com doesn't cut it!)

Keep track and distinguish your ideas from the ideas of others Recognize the distinction between words that are your own and words that are not your own;

carefully note what is your idea, someone else's idea or someone's direct quote Ensure that quoted material is exactly as in the original source-- be precise

The Writing Stage

Once your research is done, keep in mind the following points: Organize your work in an original way rather than following the pattern used by your source Support those ideas by either quoting or paraphrasing the work of your sources Give credit for copied, adapted or paraphrased material using in-text citations and the MLA format When paraphrasing, state the idea in your own words. Distinguish between what is common knowledge and what is not common knowledge When in doubt, cite your source

The Editing Stage

Read your work carefully. Is it clear what your ideas are and what the ideas of your sources are? Ask yourself if there is enough of your own work in the project. Do you understand every concept? Is the vocabulary your own?

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Terms to know

Common knowledge: includes facts or ideas that can be found in numerous places and are likely to be known by many people. This is generally known information and does not need to be documented.

Example: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the Unites States.

However, you need to document facts that are not generally known and ideas that interpret facts.

Below is an example of a fact that is not common knowledge:

A recent poll shows almost a third of Americans believe Canada is just another state in the US.

This statement needs documentation. The following points need to be made: who gave the survey (Ipsos-Reid), where it was reported (Globe & Mail) when it appeared (May 7, 2002), and what page it was reported on (Page 1). The documentation would consist of an in-text citation and a bibliographic reference in the Works Cited Section of your essay.

Quotation: using someone's words. When an exact quote of a few lines is used, the passage should be enclosed by quotation marks and the source should be documented according to standard documentation style.

The following is an example using the Modern Language Association's style (MLA)

According to an article in the Globe & Mail on May 7, 2002 an Ipsos-Reid poll showed that, "Almost a third of Americans consider Canada just another state, many mistakenly think Japan and China are their biggest trading partners and most say Britain is their country's best ally” (1).

Paraphrasing: using someone else's ideas by putting them in your own words. This is a skill you will learn to master when incorporating sources into your writing. Although you use your own words to paraphrase, you must still acknowledge the source of the information

Example: Would you believe that one third of Americans believe that Canada is the 51st state? Well, a recent poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid found just that! (Globe & Mail, 1).

Standard Documentation Formats: Different disciplines use their own systems to give information about sources. The two most common are MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association). We will be using MLA for this project.

General Guidelines for Parenthetical Documentation in MLA Format

The general parenthetical documentation format is the author’s last name and page number. The period of the sentence follows the parenthetical documentation.

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o Ex: The small town in Missouri where Samuel Clemens was born was in a region heavily forested with oak, hickory, maple, poplar, paw paw, persimmon, sweet gum, and dogwood trees (Sanborn 1).

If there is no author, document using the full title of the work (if brief) including the correct punctuation (quotation marks around an article title or underline a book title). If the title is long, use a shortened version of the title. Include page numbers when given in the source.

o Ex: Workers from many unions, including bricklayers, carpenters, electrical workers, construction workers, iron workers, painters, and plumbers, will help build affordable homes for needy families (“Labor With Habitat Week” 1).

If there is no page number available (for example, if your source is a web site with no numberings), complete your parenthetical documentation using the author’s name or article title only.

o Ex: The Kentucky Derby Museum is holding a hat contest to find hats that represent the Kentucky Derby. Twenty winning hats will be on display for one year at the museum (“Calling All Derby Hats”).

If you have several works by the same author, you will need to distinguish which work you are documenting by including the author’s name and work title.

o Ex: Samuel Clemens was a good speller. “He won the Friday afternoon bee regularly” (Sanborn, Mark Twain 52).

If you have several works by authors with the same last name, include author’s first name to distinguish between the two.

o Ex: “Samuel Clemens stood on the upper deck of the steamship San Francisco, watching the stately snow-covered mansions of Staten Island slip by” (Sanborn, Margaret 311).

If you have several web sites with similar titles and no author, you will need to include the web address.

o Ex: Approximately three percent of young women have one of three main eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, www.mentalhealth.com).

Thesis Sentence

The thesis sentence helps the writer organize his or her essay by introducing the topic and the main points that they will present to the reader. You must write one for this project.

Use the following steps to help you build your thesis sentence:

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1. Write down your issue/solution as a statement:

Ex: Pollution has become a major problem and drastic measures must be taken to protect our planet.

2. Call to action: list 2-3 ways that your issue can be resolved.

a.

b.

c.

Ex: a. People should be required to recycle b. People should be required to drive energy efficient carsc. Businesses must use eco-friendly materials

3. Combine steps 1-2 to write your thesis sentence:

Ex: Pollution has become a major problem and drastic measures must be taken to protect our planet by requiring people to recycle, use energy efficient cars, and forcing businesses to use eco-friendly products.

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Research Paper Outline

I. Introduction:A. Hook/Attention-grabbing sentenceB. Describe/Explain the situation or issueC. State your position on the situation or issue D. Thesis Statement (Solution + call to action #1, #2, and #3)Preview your solution and call to action in one or two sentences.DO NOT SAY “IN THIS PAPER…” or “I’M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT…”

II. Background Information: (2-3 paragraphs)A. What is happening? What is the problem/situation?

1. ____________________________a. Specific details, facts, statisticsb. Specific details, facts, statistics


B. Who does it affect?1. ____________________________

a. Specific details, facts, statisticsb. Specific details, facts, statistics


III. Current Situation: (2-3 paragraphs)A. What is currently being done?/Who is in favor of this issue?



B. Why is it not enough?/ Who is against this issue?1. ____________________________



IV. Solution: (2-3 Paragraphs)A. Call to action #1:_______________


B. Call to action #2:_______________a. Specific details, facts, statistics

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b. Specific details, facts, statistics

C. Call to action #3 (Optional):________a. Specific details, facts, statisticsb. Specific details, facts, statistics

V. Conclusion: A. A summary of the main pointsB. Restatement of the thesis

Rewrite your thesis, although this time you’re using concluding thoughts rather than introducing the topic.

C. A call to actionD. Do not include new information

Including summarizing quotes or stories is okay, but do not include an entire section of new information. This type of information should be in the body of your paper.

DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR PAPER:

First Person Pronouns: I, Me, My

Second Person Pronouns: You, Your, We

Contractions: Don’t, Can’t, anything with an apostrophe ( ‘ )

“IN THIS PAPER…” or “I’M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT…”

Research Paper: Writing an Introduction

Rough draft due:_______________

When writing your introduction, include the following: Hook/Attention-grabber (Try to use one of the “Lucky 13” as a hook)

This should be an interesting sentence that introduces your topic with a statistic, quote, anecdote, list, etc.

Your issueo Explain the situation or issue (What is your issue?)

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o Who does it affect?o Why is it important?

Your position on the issueState your position on the situation or issue (agree/disagree, right/wrong, needs to change, stronger/less harsh laws or penalties)

A thesisPreview your categories in one or two sentences. Your thesis should state the solution (what you want to happen) and include a call to action (2-3 ways the problem can be solved).DO NOT SAY “IN THIS PAPER…” or “I’M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT…” or anything similar to these!!!!

*Introductions should be about 4-6 sentences long.

**Remember, this is the first thing your audience will read, so make it interesting and creative. Readers should want to continue reading.

Example: Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents. An unhelmeted

motorcyclist is 40% more likely to incur a fatal head injury and 15% more likely to incur a non-fatal head injury than a helmeted motorcyclist when involved in a crash (Fritz 27). All states that do not have a mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists should institute one without delay. It is inconceivable that there are still places in this country where a person can legally ride a motorcycle on the highway at speeds of 55-65 miles per hour without any protection for their head. Many motorcycle accidents end with the rider being thrown from their cycles and hitting their heads, resulting in death or serious brain injury. A nation-wide law should be implemented to ensure rider safety, send a message to riders that helmets are important, and to save our nation money.

Lucky 13 – Special Sentence Styles

1. Use a very short sentence and a follow-up. Pizza. Hearing that word always makes my mouth water. Outrageous! Not one person in American should ever have to…

2. Use 3 adjectives or 3 nouns in a row. Daring, brave, and a bit reckless, Megan was always ready for adventure. Bats, goblins, and spooks prowl for treats on Halloween.

3. Pair up 2 adjectives and nouns. An incredible book, and a steady downpour are two ingredients for a perfect afternoon of

reading.

4. Start with one or two verbs. Slipping and sliding on the icy path, Robin inched her way home.

5. Create a contrast.

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Some dogs are well-behaved and friendly, but others drag their owners down the block yapping all the way.

6. Make a colorful statement that you then explain. Your happiness in life might just depend on chocolate. Scientists have discovered that

chocolate contains…

7. Try an if/then or when/then. When parent let kids call the shots, then trouble is bound to follow.

8. Craft a simile or metaphor. Like a favorite book, a memory can be enjoyed again and again. Joe was as friendly as a rattlesnake. She was as nervous as a turkey on the day before Thanksgiving.

9. Ask a rhetorical question. (This type of question cannot be answered with a yes or no) Can people of different ages really become friends?

10.Use a quality transition. After locking the door, Megan saw… Meanwhile I …

11.Add some dialogue. “Stay where you are,” Jake yelled running to join me.

12.An adjective and a noun. Icy roads. No driver alive can travel safely in those conditions.

13.Use your senses of smell, sight, touch, sound and taste. The rich smell of freshly turned black soil reminds me of planting tiny black poppy seeds on a

warm spring day with my grandfather.

Research Paper: Writing the Body Paragraphs


When writing your body paragraphs, remember the following:

The body of your paper is where you will include the facts and information that you have gathered during your research.

This section is the largest portion of your paper: 3-5 pages typed Background information (2-3 paragraphs) Current situation (2-3 paragraphs) Solution/Call to action (2-3 paragraphs)

It should be written in third person (avoid using 1st or 2nd person pronouns)

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DO NOT PLAGARIZE! Make sure that you have summarized the information into your own words, or used quotation marks around direct quotes.

Include at least 5 different parenthetical documentations (use the correct format!).

Do not skip lines in-between paragraphs.

Use transitions when needed.

Example “Current Situation” Body Paragraph:

Motorcycling is an inherently dangerous activity. Statistically speaking, it is far more dangerous than traveling in an automobile where one at least has the luxury of four wheels being in contact with the road and a comfortable, safe enclosure of glass and steel, as well (Pilcher 29). Accident figures show that motorcyclists are seven times as likely to be involved in fatal accidents than are four-wheeled vehicles, and they suffer severe head trauma in accidents three times as often as automobile occupants (“Motorcycle Safety” 21). In addition, motorcycles do not feature occupant-restraint systems; there is no such thing as a motorcycle seatbelt or a motorcycle airbag. When a motorcyclist becomes involved in an accident, he frequently becomes a free-flying object, separated from his vehicle. Riding in absence of head protection becomes an invitation to disaster.

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Writing the Body Paragraphs

1. Topic sentence

2. Explain your first point (Try answering the question in your own words)

3. Find a quote or information from your notes to support what you’ve said

This could be a direct quote or paraphrased information

4. Elaborate and explain the importance/significance of the text example

Explain what it means in simple terms

What does it mean for your argument?

Why should the reader care? Why is it important?

How is it helping to support your point?

*If you have another point to make, and it is not off topic, then repeat steps 2-4 before adding your closing sentence.

5. Explain your second point (Try answering the question in your own words)

6. Find a quote or information from your notes to support what you’ve said

This could be a direct quote or paraphrased information

7. Elaborate and explain the importance/significance of the text example

Explain what it means in simple terms

What does it mean for your argument?

Why should the reader care? Why is it important?

How is it helping to support your point?

8. Closing sentence

Research Paper: Writing the Conclusion Paragraph


When writing your conclusion, include the following:

A summary of the main points13

DO NOT SAY, “I HAVE JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT…” or “THE END” or anything similar to these. And DO NOT END WITH A QUESTION!

o Explain the situation or issue (What is your issue?)o Who does it affect?o Why is it important?

Restatement of the thesisRewrite your thesis, although this time you’re using concluding thoughts rather than introducing the topic.

A call to actionExplain what you want your readers to think or do as a result of reading your paper.

Do not include new informationIncluding summarizing quotes or stories is okay, but do not include an entire section of new information. This type of information should be in the body of your paper.

Conclusions should be about 4-6 sentences long.

**Remember, this is the last thing your audience will read, so make it memorable. You should leave readers with a lasting impression of your topic. What do you want your readers to do or think about this issue? How can they help?

Example: The time is right for all motorcyclists nationwide to be required to wear helmets

while riding their machines. Little else makes sense. If motorcyclists as a group are unwilling or incapable of recognizing the danger helmetless riding poses, then perhaps it is high time the rest of us take action to protect them from their own ignorance. Doing so would reduce the amount of head injuries, deliver a strong message that safety is important, and save citizens money. Saving lives and preventing serious injury should begin today with a nation-wide helmet law.

HOW TO CREATE A WORKS CITED PAGE

o Title your page: Works Citedo Arrange your entries alphabetically, using the first word in the entry to guide you.o In each entry, every line after the first is indented 5 spaces (tab key).o Single space within each entry, but double space between them.o Copy and paste citation information from GALE into your Works Cited page.o For other sources follow the format below or use an online citation maker such as MLA

Wizard

MLA WORKS CITED FORMATTING GUIDE

BOOK WITH AUTHOR(S)

Author’s Last name, First name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.

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Example: Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. St. Louis: Herbert S. Stone and Co., 1899.

BOOK WITH EDITOR

Editor. Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.

DATABASE (MAGAZINE)

Author. "Title of Article." Title of Magazine Date: Page(s). Name of Database. GALE. Date of Access <http://search.epnet.com/>.

Example:Heyman, J.D., and Johnny Dodd. "New Arm, Same Spirit." People 23 Feb. 2004: 58+. MasterFILE Premier.

GALE. 8 May 2004 <http://search.epnet.com/>.

WEBSITE

Author’s name (if available). Name of Site. Date of Posting/Revision. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sometimes found in copyright statements). Date you accessed the site.

Example:Benson, David. Ankle Replacement Prosthetics. 16 Nov. 2007. University of Maryland. 6 Feb. 2008

<http://www.anklereplacement.com>.

INTERVIEW

Last name, First name of Person You Interviewed. Personal Interview. Date of Interview.

Example:Maverick, Ben. Personal Interview. 1 Jul. 2008.

Research Paper Final Draft Grade SheetCover Page (this is your first page):

o Creative title (1)o Name (1)o Teacher’s name (1)o Class title, period (1) ________/6 o Date (1)o Correct format (1)

Introduction:o Hook/Attention grabber (2)o Explains topic/issue and position (2) _______/6o Thesis statement (2)

Body:Content

o Background information

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o On topic (2)o Support (2) _______/10o Elaboration (2)o Organization and transitions (2)o Information written in own words (2)

o Current situation o On topic (2)o Support (2) _______/10o Elaboration (2)o Organization and transitions (2)o Information written in own words (2)

o Solution/call to action o On topic (2)o Support (2) _______/10o Elaboration (2)o Organization and transitions (2)o Information written in own words (2)

Parenthetical Documentationo At least five (5)o Correct format (5) _______/10

Conventions/Formato Spelling (2)o Punctuation (2)o Grammar (2) _______/15o Sentences (no run-ons or fragments) (2)o Paragraphing/formatting (2)o Does not use contractions (2)o Avoids 1st/2nd person pronouns(3)

Conclusion:o Summary of main points (2)o Restatement of thesis (2)o Satisfying concluding thought(s) (2) _______/6

Works Cited (this is your last page):o All (at least 5) sources cited (5)o Alphabetical order (2) _______/12o Correct format (5)

Elaborate and explain your ideas!

Total Points:_______/85

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8th grade research paper packet

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