rhsweb.orgrhsweb.org/jhirsch/documents/how-to guide.docx · web viewresearch paper guide: choosing...

RESEARCH PAPER GUIDE:

1. Choosing a topic

Pick a topic that sounds interesting to you! You won’t be inspired to do the level of research you need to do for a great paper if you’re not interested in the subject. If you can’t decide, do some superficial research on a few different topics to see what seems more feasible.

Research Paper brainstormingWhat is my topic? Be as SPECIFIC AS YOU CAN.

What do I hope to find out?

Is my topic an issue on which scale? (Circle one or more): Global National State Local

Other ______________What do I hope to convince people of when they read my paper?

What do I need to find out before I solidify the point of view I want to argue?

What do you think you will end up arguing (OK to pick more than one)?- Something that is happening needs to stop- Something that is happening a lot needs to happen a lot less; maybe only under

certain situations- Something that is not happening needs to start happening- Something that is happening a little needs to happen a lot more.- Something needs to be legalized- Something needs to be funded- Something needs to be banned- A program in existence in one place needs to be replicated in other places

2. Research Round #1 – WHAT’S OUT THERE?a. Picking sourcesb. Taking notesc. Annotating a Bibliography

Why should I write an annotated bibliography?

To learn about your topic: Writing an annotated bibliography is excellent preparation for a research project. Just collecting sources for a bibliography is useful, but when you have to write annotations for each source, you're forced to read each source more carefully. You begin to read more critically instead of just collecting information. At the professional level, annotated bibliographies allow you to see what has been done in the literature and where your own research or scholarship can fit. To help you formulate a thesis: Every good research paper is an argument. The purpose of research is to state and support a thesis. So a very important part of research is developing a thesis that is debatable, interesting, and current. Writing an annotated bibliography can help you gain a good perspective on what is being said about your topic. By reading and responding to a variety of sources on a topic, you'll start to see what the issues are, what people are arguing about, and you'll then be able to develop your own point of view.

Here is an example of what your annotated bibliography should look like:

Stem Cell Research: An Annotated Bibliography

Holland, Suzanne. The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate : Science, Ethics, and Public Policy. Boston: MIT Press, 2001.

This is the annotation of the above source. In this example, I am following MLA guidelines for the bibliographic information listed above. If I were really writing an annotation for this source, I would offer a brief summary of what this book says about stem cell research.

After a brief summary, it would be appropriate to assess this source and offer some criticisms of it. Does it seem like a reliable and current source? Why? Is the research biased or objective? Are the facts well documented? Who is the author? Is she qualified in this subject? Is this source scholarly, popular, some of both?

The length of your annotation will depend on the assignment or on the purpose of your annotated bibliography. After summarizing and assessing, you can now reflect on this source. How does it fit into your research? Is this a helpful resource? Too scholarly? Not scholarly enough? Too general/specific? Since "stem cell research" is a very broad topic, has this source helped you to narrow your topic?

Another example: For a research paper on how the internet is changing our lives.Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier. Director: Rushkoff, Douglas. PBS, 2010

This documentary, from PBS’ frontline outlines different ways that the digital world has changed society. Through various interviews and profiles the documentary explores digital learning, multitasking, internet addiction and digital social lives in the form of gaming and virtual reality. The questions the film presents are: does the internet make us more connected or more alone? Does the internet make us more intelligent or affect us in the opposite way?

The director, Douglas Rushkoff, uses scientific research as well as “qualitative” evidence (opinion based) in the form of interviews and personal profiles. The evidence used is well documented and well researched but the film definitely exposes a point of view: that the digital world is complicated and its effects are not always positive. Rushkoff is a qualified technology journalist who has written on multiple sides of the internet issue. This source, while scholarly, has been presented on PBS for a public audience.

When I am examining negative impacts of internet use, I think this will be a useful source. Because I am arguing that the internet is mostly positive I do not think it will be my main source, but I will use it to expose some opposing points of view. The film also brings up some exciting aspects of the internet, especially when it talks about benefits to education and the influence of virtual reality. I may look into these issues further and use them in my paper.

d. Organizing notesi. By sourceii. By relevance to your overall goal

3. Using research to write a Thesis statement

Thesis Statements: 1. Provable, 2. Arguable, 3. How you will prove your argument (Roadmap) 4. So what – why is your topic important?.

Comparison: A Thesis is like a roadmap for your paper. It points you in a direction and suggests how to get there.Now you make your own analogy:

A thesis is like _________________________ because __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Writing your thesis statementWhat is a thesis? The thesis is the controlling idea around which you construct the rest of your paper. Every word of your paper should support your thesis. Information you do not directly relate to your thesis will appear irrelevant. This means, of course, that in a paper with a weak or no thesis, much of the paper will appear to be irrelevant and unguided.

How do I present the thesis? The thesis should be contained in a single sentence that is concise and grammatically correct. This is usually the last sentence of the first paragraph. More than one sentence may be necessary to establish the thesis. The remainder of the introductory paragraph should draw the reader's attention to the problem the thesis confronts, and define key terms that appear in the thesis.

The thesis is a scholarly argument. Most writing attempts to convince the reader of something. Even a poetic description of a rock is an attempt to convince the reader that the rock appears a certain way. In this paper you will be arguing that your person you are writing about for your topic deserves the title “Architect of Hope”: someone who has contributed significantly and positively to society.

Examples:1. While it should not be required by law, creating behavioral and

economic incentives for people to embrace voluntary simplicity will make our world a better place for all by allowing us to focus more in that which matters most; caring for each other.

2. Although Lance Armstrong is now under fire from the media, he remains an “Architect of Hope” and one of the most influential

From reading example one, the reader expects that you will have three “supports” for your essay. In each support the reader expects specific and abundant concrete evidence: facts, stories, quotes, etc.From reading example two, the reader expects that you will have the three supports as in example one and also a section where you address how Lance is under “fire from the media.” Anything that goes in your thesis must also be explained in your paper.

CONSTRUCTING A THESIS: Two exercises

How do I develop a good thesis? The next two exercises are focused on how to make a thesis. A common thesis is an “XYZ” thesis. Much like the examples above, it provides three main supports. Your thesis can also have four supports. Think about: what general categories can I put my research into – what picture do the facts paint?

1. Think of 3 ways your architect of hope inspires/changes other’s behavior and write them below, or think of 3 reasons why your Social Issue point of view is the right one to make your community a better place.

2. What were your other research questions from Component #1? Have you been able to answer them in your research? If so, do any of them indicate why your person has been a positive influence?

Another approach to thesis construction: Here is another exercise that might help you develop your thesis. Complete the following sentences:

(1) Dear Reader: I want to convince you that [This is your claim or an argument] ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(2) The main reasons why you should believe me are that (OVER) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________(3) You should care about my thesis because [This provides the seeds of your conclusion, and checks the significance of your thesis.] _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WRITE A DRAFT OF YOUR THESIS BELOW AND BE READY TO SHARE.

Now it’s time for more research!! You are FAR from done with research. Your next benchmark is to find 5 sources that specifically support your thesis and show them to me as either a page of notes (EACH) and/or highlighted printouts

4. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE WITH ANALYSIS:a. Thesis =

b. Evidence: Details about the topic: definitions, examples, dates and names

c. Analysis: This answers the question: So what? Or – Why is this significant or important to your point?

Evidence (this will support your thesis) + SPECIFIC EXAMPLE

Analysis (supports evidence/explain how/why evidence is important)

5. Organizing your paper: Writing an outlineNow it is time to make a basic outline of your paper. Look over your research notes and your draft thesis. Refine your thesis: is it specific enough? Too broad? Can you write 1.5-2 pages for each support? Then decide on the evidence you will use and basic analysis you will write in support of your thesis. YOU CAN TYPE ONTO THIS DOCUMENT: Find it online at www.redwood.org/greenberg under research paper documents.

How do I decide what the supports/subtopics of my paper will be? I have given you a framework (Describe an issue and how it impacts American teens, how it impacts another group, and solutions to approach this issue). This is a straightforward way to structure your paper. However, you are not limited to this. If you want to find another way to structure this paper, that is fine too.

For example, if school stress is my topic, I could structure it this way: Subtopic 1: Impacts of School Schedule related stress damaging American teens. Subtopic 2: Healthy alternatives that have evidence they work. Subtopic 3: School Stress can be alleviated by implementing ___ school schedule. (Please note that solutions will probably always be your third subtopic).

6.

IntroductionShould set up and include Thesis and information that draws attention to the thesis – a hook to draw the reader in.

Ideas for introduction: Write your intro paragraph. What does the reader need to know to understand the thesis? Is there a really great quote or interesting way to start your paper? If you are stuck on this, do this last!!

Thesis (revise and refine your thesis from last week):

http://www.redwood.org/greenberg

BackgroundGeneral information about your topic: what the reader needs to know before you present your argument. This can be the first 1-2 paragraphs after your introduction.

What will this section be about?

Topic Sentence:

What is the background evidence that the reader needs to know before presenting your argument? This section may be short or long, depending on what your thesis is and your topic. It might define what your topic is: example “adoption” or “abuse” or “addiction”.

For many of you this will answer the question: Why is your issue a problem worth solving for people in your community?

YOU MAY NOT NEED A LARGE BACKGROUND SECTION. IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW MUCH ACCURATE COMMON KNOWLEDGE EXISTS ON YOUR TOPIC

Subtopic #1Your first claim in support of your thesis.


Write a topic sentence:

3 (or more) pieces of important evidence you will use and describe in detail.

Any quotes in this section? Write them here.

Analyze (explain) how each piece of evidence relates directly back to your thesis:

Subtopic #2Your second claim in support of your thesis.



3 (or more) pieces of important evidence you will use and describe in detail:


Explain how each piece of evidence relates back to your thesis:

Subtopic #3(If you have one)Your third claim in support of your thesis.

For most of you, this section will be specifically focused on clear solutions



3 pieces of important evidence you will use and describe in detail:


Explain how each piece of evidence relates back to your thesis:

ConclusionThe “so what” of your paper. Explains why this topic is important. How it relates to us personally and to society today.

What will you talk about in your conclusion?

** Note: if you have more than 3 subtopics, write about the others below.**

Translating information in to a paper: your first drafta) 3rd person (I, you)

1. “I think”, “I believe”, are unnecessary. The concept that it is your opinion is implied by the fact that you are writing the paper.

2. Maintain 3rd person. Instead of you, consider words like “people” or “someone”

b) Incorporating Evidence & Analysis

SAMPLE PAPER SECTIONS. The purpose of this is to provide you with a sample of how your thesis plays a role in the rest of your paper, and what an organized subtopic looks like. Please note I made this up completely: the facts and sources are made up and the studies are not accurate. Your paper will be well researched. This one is not.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH ON MY TOPIC: “STUDENT STRESS”:Zachary is a 9th grade student in Florida. Last year he got the surprise of his life when he was asked to attend a football summer camp with Tom Brady from the New England patriots. He was excited about the future and about his ability to play sports and do well in school. (CNN Sports). The next Fall he began his high school career at Middleton Local High School with high hopes, as an up and coming football player and, up until this point, an A student. In high school he got the surprise of his life. “I was often up until 2 A.M. doing work for my classes,” he lamented. “I just couldn’t balance schoolwork, family life and sports, something had to give.” (CNN) Too many students are facing these same decisions. They feel that in order to be successful they need to “do it all.” Too much homework and high expectations are destroying high school students’ lives and impacting their families. More creative school structures and relaxation activities in classrooms are needed to have a happier, healthier student body. (This is my thesis )

Sample subtopic #3: Solutions to the problem PLEASE NOTE, YOURS WILL BE LONGERStates and counties can structure schools in different ways to reduce stress, and teachers can do relaxation activities in class. (This is a topic sentence that ties back in with my thesis ) Happy High School in Independence, Missouri builds in a study hall each day to students’ classes so they can get ahead on homework during the school day. (Johnson 34). Atlanta Technical High School in Atlanta Georgia provides students with two study periods each day, so that they have effectively eliminated homework except for long term projects. (These two facts provide evidence ) Zachary, the 9th grade football player, would have done well to have a built in study hall in class so that he could complete his homework before football practice. A study hall would provide time and resources to get things done. This would reduce his overall stress. All students could benefit from study halls, whether they are athletes, artists, musicians, or just active and stressed human beings (These three sentences are my analysis – I

explain how my evidence will relate back to solutions for students being stressed ).

Another way that students can reduce their overall stress is through doing relaxation exercises. The State of California has suggested relaxation exercises that include deep breathing, visualization, meditation and even silent ball and freeze dance. (California Dept of Health website) Studies show that if people spend just two minutes a day deep breathing or throwing a beach ball around the room, their overall sense of worry declines by 50%! (Center for Disease Control) In fact, students in a Social Issues class at Redwood High School tried these activities and reported that they felt less stressed after doing them. (SocialIssuesRocks) *(These facts are my evidence. Please note one fact is from a blog SocialIssuesRocks.com written by Ms. Greenberg. The other ones are from government sources ). We all would do well if we could just take time out of our day to do the things we love. Schools should provide this opportunity, and if they don’t, we need to take it for ourselves and take time out during lunch breaks and passing periods. This will not only impact these students, it will help families too. Parents want to see healthy, happy teenagers and because of this they will fully support these relaxation strategies too. (This is my analysis: it connects back to my thesis )

c) CITATIONS: When to Use Footnotes or in-paper citationsHow to Cite Sources and Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism:Plagiarism is copying even one sentence from a source, “semi-copying” or altering just a few words from a source, or taking someone else’s ideas and not giving them explicit credit. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in an F for this entire research paper. Here are some tips to help you avoid that trap:

What information should I cite? (See last page for examples on HOW to cite)History is the study and interpretation of events, people, and ideas. As a result, most of the information about your topic will come from a source other than your own mind. Much of your paper will be cited and that’s okay. Anytime you utilize information from a source, you should cite it, but you should also provide your own analysis of the information.

For example, the following helpful hints come from another source: (See citation at end of list.)

“Document EVERY quotation, paraphrase, or crucial idea that you borrow from a source.”

“Document those facts which you cannot consider common textbook knowledge—especially those which could be controversial or which are crucial to the development of your argument, thesis, or narrative”.

“If there get to be too many citations, combine some or all that refer to a given paragraph. However, next make one citation cover material in more than one paragraph. When in doubt, footnote.” (Schlabach 10)

Rules for Avoiding Plagiarism1

IF…. THEN…The information is common knowledge

You do not need a citation.

The words are your ownANDthe idea is your own .

You do not need a citation.

The words are someone else’s. Place them in quotation marks AND include a citation.

The words are your own BUT the idea is someone else’s .

Acknowledge the author of the idea by referring to him or her in the text AND include a citation.

How do I cite quotations effectively?Keep quotations to a minimum, and use only those that add a particular flair to your paper or are needed because paraphrasing them would make them lose their meaning. You should only quote someone who was directly involved in the history, not the author of a textbook. You should always mention who said or wrote the quotation. (Rampella 37)

In addition, quotations from sources cannot simply be dropped into your paper; even if a quotation is relevant, you cannot assume that its significance is immediately obvious to your readers. Always make it clear to your readers how your quotation supports your argument.

CITING SOURCES CORRECTLY: WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PASSAGE? WHAT PARTS ARE NOT CITED CORRECTLY? CAN YOU SPOT THE PLAGIARISM? WHAT PART OF THIS STICKS OUT?

Many people say we are now in the Internet Age. This means people use the internet for everything: from finding a restaurant to researching a long paper for history class. You might say that we could not live without the internet! But does the internet make it too easy to plagiarize? The shifting premodern, modern, and post-modern understandings of text and authorship show how the dominant modernist paradigm has always been filled with tensions and ambiguities. These confusions around plagiarism lead to difficulties and hypocrisies in how textual borrowing is understood.

1

Plagiarism is “academic dishonesty” and it could result in being kicked out of school. In order to not allow this to happen it is important to understand the meaning of plagiarism. Plagiarism is “The act of appropriating the literary composition of another author, or excerpts, ideas, or passages therefrom, and passing the material off as one's own creation.” However, there are plagiarism supporters who use others’ work and refuse to cite sources. “I think plagiarism should be OK, it is ridiculous how nit-picky teachers and publishers are.” Sadly for this supporter, plagiarism is not going to be acceptable any time soon.

THIS ONE IS MUCH BETTER…..

Many people say we are now in the Internet Age. This means people use the internet for everything: from finding a restaurant to researching a long paper for history class. You might say that we could not live without the internet! But does the internet make it too easy to plagiarize? Sometimes it is confusing to even know what plagiarism is. According to Alistair Pennyworth, plagiarism expert from the University of Melbourne, in our modern world it is hard to tell what is plagiarism and what is not. Because it is so muddled and confusing, there are many difficulties that people have in understanding how to borrow text without plagiarizing. (Pennyworth 201) Plagiarism is “academic dishonesty” and it could result in being kicked out of school. In order to not allow this to happen it is important to understand the meaning of plagiarism. According to the Oxford English dictionary, plagiarism is taking words from another source without quoting and giving credit (561). Bob Smith of the organization “Students in Support of Plagiarism” –speaks out on his website against the harsh punishment afforded plagiarizers: “I think plagiarism should be OK, it is ridiculous how nit-picky teachers and publishers are.” (Students in Support of Plagiarism). Sadly for this supporter, plagiarism is not going to be acceptable any time soon.

1. You got it – it was obvious that I plagiarized the section about “postmodern text and authorship” because the “voice” was different than my own. I could have quoted that passage, but since it is in high level academic language I preferred to make it more understandable in my own words. HOWEVER, it’s not my own idea. This is why I gave credit to Mr. Pennyworth.

2. I needed to give credit to the Oxford English dictionary. Because I already said it was the dictionary in the sentence above, I only needed to write the page #.

3. It makes it more understandable that the person in support of plagiarism belongs to an organization dedicated to plagiarism. You, the reader, gain more understanding of his point of view now that it has been cited correctly.

SAMPLEd) On August 3, 1948, Whittaker Chambers, a former Communist Party member who had become

fervently anti-Communist, appeared before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) to denounce Alger Hiss. A senior editor at Time magazine who had written a scathingly satirical editorial critical of the Yalta agreements, Chambers asserted that he had known Hiss as a member of a "Marxist discussion group" that he called "an underground organization of the United States Communist Party" in the 1930s.2 (Chambers; Time 3/5/45) The group, which he called the "Ware Group", had been run by the late agriculturalist Harold Ware, an American Communist intent on organizing black and white tenant farmers in the American South against exploitation and debt peonage by the cotton industry (Ware had died in 1935). According to Chambers, the group aimed at promoting unspecified communistic policies in the U.S. government.3 In this initial testimony, he did not mention espionage.

Note: Even if you had to look up Alger Hiss or HUAC because you did not know who or what they were, presumably these identifications are common knowledge or at least information you could find in multiple sources, thus just cite the source you used in your bibliography, but don’t footnote.

1. Using Microsoft Word on a PC - When you come to the end of the sentence you want to footnote, go to the scroll-down menu under “Insert”. Click on “Reference”, then “Footnote”. You want the numbering sequential and at the bottom of the page. The cursor will then begin a numbered list at the bottom of the page. Check the citation format for footnotes to correctly cite your sources.

2. Using Microsoft Word on a Mac - Click “Insert” then “Footnote”. You want the numbering sequential and at the bottom of the page. The cursor will then begin a numbered list at the bottom of the page. Check the citation format for footnotes to correctly cite your sources.

3. If you have problems go to the “Help” menu and search for “footnotes”.

2 Whittaker Chambers. "The Ghosts on the Roof", Time, March 5, 1945, p.48.3 Donald H. J. Hermann. (2005). "Deception And Betrayal: The Tragedy Of Alger Hiss". The Chicago Literary Club. Accessed March 1, 2011. < http://www.chilit.org/Papers%20by%20author/Hermann%20--%20Hiss.htm>

e) Anecdotal vs. Statistical evidenceRecognizing Topic SentencesThe topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It generally will be found at the beginning of a paragraph but not always

Positions for topic sentenceBeginning: To give a sense of direction to the whole paragraphEnd: To act as a summary of the whole paragraphMiddle: To give a sense of direction to the paragraph after a short introductory sentence or two

Exercise A: Identifying Topic Sentences. Underline the topic sentence in each paragraph. Then on the line under the paragraph, write the purpose of the topic sentence.Example: The Romans applied their technical knowledge to many practical concerns. They built strong bridges, supported by arches, to span turbulent rivers. Romans designed roads made of heavy blocks in layers of crushed stone. Romans constructed aqueducts to carry water from reservoirs in the country to the cities. Many Roman structures, built to last forever, still can be seen today.To give a sense of directions to the whole paragraph

1. Scientists who study the life and culture of ancient peoples are called archaeologists. In making educated guesses about the lives of early groups of people, archaeologists examine skeletons and artifacts, objects the people made. Skeletons provide information about the age and appearance of early people, while artifacts reveal the kinds of tools and weapons they used.

2. Though the colonists were Europeans, the land in which they settled was not Europe. It was a completely new environment, offering different challenges and opportunities. Gradually, the settlers began to adapt their European ways to their new situation. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the colonists were developing a distinctively American culture.

Exercise B: More work with topic sentences. Follow the directions for Exercise A.1. Behind the fierce rivalry among European nations in the late 1600s and the 1700s lay an

economic theory that has come to be called mercantilism, from the word merchant. Under the mercantilist system, each nation attempted to sell more than it bought. In this way, it would preserve or even increase it’s precious and limits supply of gold. Furthermore, a nation that did not rely on other nations for necessary goods would be less vulnerable in time of war.

2. A large library is likely to have more than one biography of Cleopatra. In addition, two of the world’s great dramatists, Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, wrote plays about

her. Many poems and other short literary works have also treated her. Cleopatra is truly one of the most fascinating of all historical figures

Developing a Topic SentenceRecognizing kinds of supportThe other sentences in a paragraph should support the topic sentence by offering examples, details, facts, reasons, or incidents.Kinds of Supporting InformationExamples: Specific instances of a more general statementDetails: Pieces of information that help describe somethingFacts: True statements that offer useful informationReasons: Arguments that help persuadeIncidents: Events that explain or tell a story

Exercise A: Examining a Paragraph. Read the following paragraph. Then answer the questions.(1) Indians made a major breakthrough in mathematics that influenced the rest of the

world. (2) They developed the concept of zero and developed a symbol for it. (3) They also devised a decimal system, with symbols for the numerals 1 through 9. (4) Today, these symbols are known as Arabic numerals because Western Europeans learned them from the Arabs. (5) The Arabs had adopted the Indian decimal system around 700 A.D. (6) At the time, Europeans were using the cumbersome Roman numerals.

1. Which sentence acts as the topic sentence? ____________2. What purpose does the topic sentence serve?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Which sentences offer supporting information? ______________4. Which sentences offer facts? _____________5. Which sentences offer examples? ______________

Exercise B: Developing Support for Topic Sentences. Read each of the following topic sentences. Then tell what kind of support you would emphasize most in each paragraph.Example: King Tut’s death mask was true work of art ___details______

1. President Kennedy supported measures to eliminate voting and job discrimination. __________

2. World War I began because of an unfortunate strong of events. _____________3. The Romans created a civilization superior to that of the Greeks. _______________4. The Taj Mahal is a magnificent building. ___________________________5. The Industrial Revolution caused changes in social structure. ______________________6. The English civil war lasted from 1642 to 1649. _____________________

7. The Parthenon shows the Greek love of simplicity, beauty, and balance. ________________

8. It makes sense to put time and money into researching alternate forms of energy. ______________

9. Despite its strength, the medieval church faced challenges to its authority. _______________

10. Unfortunately, the crusaders committed atrocities during the First Crusade. _______________

Sample IntroductionsRead each of the following research paper introductions, and answer questions.

1. Is it possible for human beings to join fish, octopi, and other sea creatures in a life underwater? Prompted by his curiosity about the underwater world. Jacques Consteau, famous throughout the world for his outstanding achievements in the field of oceanography, has experimented with people’s ability to live in the sea. His Continental Shelf Stations have provided opportunities for many new discoveries about ocean life: they have also suggested startling possibilities about people’s future on earth.

a. What is the limited subject?

b. What does the introduction suggest about the development of the paper?

c. How did the writer attempt to provoke reader interest?

2. …so long as the three problems of the age—the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night—are not solved books like this cannot be useless.

These words, powerfully stated in Les Miserables, serve as French novelist Victor Hugo’s comment on the effects of society during his time. As an expression of social values, the novel is Hugo’s condemnation of the nineteenth-century system’s injustice to the poor working class.




3. The fashion designer’s world is an exciting one, filled with challenge, beauty, and opportunity. Few other professions offer such fine opportunities for creativity and imagination. Few exert such a strong influence on social life. In prestige, skill, and general fashion influence. Yves Saint Laurent is one of the foremost contemporary designers.




4. Some Americans view prison as a chastisement for violations of the law. They believe that efforts to provide pleasant settings penitentiaries subvert the whole prison system by removing the punishment element. Others argue that the jail experience is meant to be corrective. They say that the goal is rehabilitation and that prisons in poor condition serve as breeding grounds for crime rather than as aids in transforming criminals into law-abiding citizens. Evidence indicates that a compromise between these two views producers institutions that benefit both prisoners and society.




5. Susie, five years old, sits huddled in a corner, screaming with terror, as her father towers about her, raising her belt, buckle down, to trike another blow. Six-year-old Mike is rushed to the hospital with a broken arm: in exanimating him, doctors discover scarred and damaged muscle and bone tissue resulting from years of beatings and kickings.

Police find Mildred, age two, tied up and blindfolded in a closet: the tips of the fingers on her left hand have been burned with cigarettes. These three children are victims of child abuse, a crime that must be stopped in order to assure the future of America.


b. What does the introduction suggests about the development of the paper?


7. Sample ConclusionsRead the paragraphs carefully, and answer the questions that follow.

1. The driver’s ability to live underwater in Continental Shelf Stations suggests alternatives to interplanetary outer space migrations in the event of a disaster on earth. Perhaps human beings can wait out the aftermath in the company of other creatures deep in the safety of the sea. While this possibility lies in the dim future. Consteau’s contributions to oceanography have certainly helped to make the ocean a place where people are at home rather than an alien environment.

a. In what ways does the conclusion echo the introduction?

b. How does it differ?

c. How does the writer communicate a sense of closure?

2. Respected by his contemporaries in both literature and society. Victor Hugo felt a deep responsibility as an author and as a social critic. He believed in human rights to dignity and basic necessities. Faced with adults debased by grueling poverty and with children deprived of innocence, he determined to do something. His sense of responsibility enabled him to write Les Miserables and to show that, as a criticism of the injustices of his time, his work was far from useless.

a. In what ways does the conclusion echo the introduction



3. Yves Saint Laurent clearly serves as a model of the excitement and responsibility of the world of the fashion designer. Daring in his exploration of the possibilities inherent in fabric, color, and line, he affects the lives of people throughout the world by the collections he shows each season.




4. Some Americans view prison as a chastisement for violations of the law. They believe that efforts to provide pleasant settings in penitentiaries subvert the whole prison system by removing the punishment element. Others argue that the jail experience is meant to be corrective. They say that the goal is rehabilitation and that prisons in poor condition serve as breeding grounds for crime rather than as aids in transforming criminals into law-abiding citizens. Evidence indicates that a compromise between these two views produces institutions that benefit both prisoners and society.




5. Susie, five years old, sits huddled in a corner, screaming with terror, as her father towers above her, raising his belt, buckle down, to strike another blow. Six-year-old Mike is rushed to the hospital with a broken arm; in examining him, doctors discover scarred and damaged muscle and bone tissue resulting from years of beatings and kicking’s. Police find Mildred, age two, tied up and blindfolded in a closet: the tips of the fingers on her left hand have been burned with cigarettes. These three children are victims of child abuse, a crime that must be stopped in order to assure the future of America.




6. A nation’s abuse of its own resources must always be symptomatic of some deep national illness. When the abuse is the wounding and killing of children, the most valuable of all resources, one must question the basic health of the whole system. The future depends upon the success of good men and women across the country who have joined in efforts to counteract the superficiality, violence, and gratification-centeredness of twentieth-century America.




8. PEER EDITINGYour job as a peer editor is to help your partner make sure their paper is clear and organized. You are giving them feedback on their thesis and you are also helping them make sure that all their evidence is explained in connection to that thesis – this means that their project is clear and focused. You are also looking to see that they have lots of evidence to prove their thesis.

What you are NOT doing: Giving feedback on grammar.Definition of Analysis: Connecting the facts (evidence) to your thesis, or main point.

For example: If your thesis is that more people are stressed out today than in the past because school is harder, and your evidence is that there is 30% more homework today than in 1975, then you need to explain why that would stress people out (this is called the analysis portion of your paper).

Peer Edit – give this paper to your partnera) Rewrite thesis statement below in your own words. Is there a defensible thesis

statement that is not too broad? If not, suggest changes to make it more defensible (not necessarily aligned with your values) after writing what you think it is.

b) Is there a background paragraph after the intro (does it need one)? What information does it address? (NOTE: This part of the paper is more important for some topics than others)

Identify below each subtopic in the paper. Is there a topic sentence for each one to make it clear what is going to be argued? Rewrite the topic sentence for each subtopic in your own words.

c) Subtopic 1:

d) Topic Sentence:

e) Example of evidence:

f) Analysis of that evidence:

g) Subtopic 2:

h) Topic Sentence:

i) Example of evidence:

j) Analysis of that evidence:

k) Subtopic 3 (if there is one) l) Topic Sentence:

m) Example of evidence:

n) Analysis of that evidence:

o) ARE THERE MISSING SOURCE CITATIONS OF EVIDENCE? Make note of them.p) COMMENT BELOW ON THE ONE THING YOUR PARTNER ASKED YOU TO GIVE THEM

FEEDBACK ON:

PART II: (Don't move on to this step until I tell you to)

q) Once you are done, and your partners are all done, review the comments they have made for your paper. Now you have your own paper again and the feedback form written on by your partner. Fill out the rubric for YOURSELF as to where you are at right now. On your left page for this reflection sheet, make notes of what you want to improve for your next draft.

Research Paper Rough Draft*you may write grammatical error suggestions and other comments on the paper itself 1. Write down what you think is the author’s thesis statement:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________2. Does the opening paragraph effectively capture your attention? circle one: YES NO

3. What suggestions do you have for improving the introduction (first two paragraphs).

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________4. What paragraph was most well written? Number ________ Explain Why below

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________ 5. What paragraph was most persuasive (included high quality evidence)? Number ________ Explain why:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________6. Did the report seem to have a consistent logical flow that always seemed to be proving thesis

of the paper? circle one YES NO

7. How did the author use citations throughout the paper? circle one: Too Much / Too Little /

They Didn’t Seem Relevant / Just Right

8. Did the author set up every citation with good context and follow it up with great analysis? If there was a citation

or two that doesn’t have context or analysis please write them down and explain why they are unsupported.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________9. Did the author do a good job of explaining their person’s individual Turning Point? Explain why or why not.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________10. Describe three things that you liked most about reading this report?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________11. What are three things that the author needs to do in order to improve their report?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2) Revise, reflect, Research round 3: Filling in the holes for the 2nd draft

a. WHAT do you need to focus on between now and next week? HOW are you going to do it?

b. What needs more evidence to support it? c. Look at it from an outsider’s perspective; someone who knew nothing about

your topic. Would it still be clear and convincing? Consider having just such an

outsider read it and simply tell you if it’s convincing or not, and what could make it more convincing.

When to CITE A SOURCETo avoid plagiarism, you must give credit whenever you use

another person’s idea, opinion, or theory; any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings—any pieces of information—that are not common knowledge; quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words; or paraphrase of another person’s spoken or written words.

[SAMPLE]

On August 3, 1948, Whittaker Chambers, a former Communist Party member who had become fervently anti-Communist, appeared before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) to denounce Alger Hiss. A senior editor at Time magazine who had written a scathingly satirical editorial critical of the Yalta agreements, Chambers asserted that he had known Hiss as a member of a "Marxist discussion group" that he called "an underground organization of the United States Communist Party" in the 1930s.4 The group, which he called the "Ware Group", had been run by the late agriculturalist Harold Ware, an American Communist intent on organizing black and white tenant farmers in the American South against exploitation and debt peonage by the cotton industry (Ware had died in 1935). According to Chambers, the group aimed at promoting unspecified communistic policies in the U.S. government.5 In this initial testimony, he did not mention espionage.

Note: Even if you had to look up Alger Hiss or HUAC because you did not know who or what they were, presumably these identifications are common knowledge or at least information you 4 Whittaker Chambers. "The Ghosts on the Roof", Time, March 5, 1945, p.48.5 Donald H. J. Hermann. (2005). "Deception And Betrayal: The Tragedy Of Alger Hiss". The Chicago Literary Club. Accessed March 1, 2011. < http://www.chilit.org/Papers%20by%20author/Hermann%20--%20Hiss.htm>

could find in multiple sources, thus just cite the source you used in your bibliography, but don’t footnote.

Using Microsoft Word on a PCWhen you come to the end of the sentence you want to footnote, go to the scroll-down

menu under “Insert”. Click on “Reference”, then “Footnote”. You want the numbering sequential and at the bottom of the page. The cursor will then begin a numbered list at the bottom of the page. Check the citation format for footnotes to correctly cite your sources.

Using Microsoft Word on a MacClick “Insert” then “Footnote”. You want the numbering sequential and at the bottom

of the page. The cursor will then begin a numbered list at the bottom of the page. Check the citation format for footnotes to correctly cite your sources.

If you have problems go to the “Help” menu and search for “footnotes”.

rhsweb.orgrhsweb.org/jhirsch/documents/how-to guide.docx · web viewresearch paper guide: choosing...

Documents