8th Grade Research Paper

Hart Middle School

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February – March 2016Sunda

yMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4ELA – Intro research

5 6

7 8History/ELA Intro

Research at least 3 people to find your BEST choice

9Media Intro

Set-Up/Begin Research

10Continue Media info.

Research

*Topic Selection Due

11Find resources

12Find resources

Highlight articles

*Working Thesis Due

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14 15No School

16Find resources

Highlight articles

17Finish highlightingHighlighted

*Articles Due- End of Hour

Begin Notecards

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Notecards

**Quick notecard check**

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Notecards

**Quick notecard check**

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21 22*Finish notecards

Begin Outline

23*Finish Outline – peer check – is anything missing?

24Begin writing Body Paragraph #1

25Finish body #1

Edit

26Write body paragraph #2

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28 29*Body Paragraphs Due

Edit body paragraphs

1Write intro and conclusion

2Finish intro and conclusion

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*Intro/Con Due

Peer Edit

4Peer Edit

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6 7*Final rough draft due – look for formatting issues, etc.

8No School

9*FINAL DRAFT DUE!Plan for gallery day

10Gallery Walk Day!

11 12

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Potential Topics1 st Semester Samuel AdamsPatrick HenryThomas PaineJohn LockeBen FranklinDaniel Shay James Madison John Jay George Mason John AdamsFrancis Scott KeyHenry Clay

George Washington Alexander HamiltonCharles Pinckney

William MarburyJohn MarshallThomas Jefferson Lewis and ClarkSacajawea

2 nd Semester Oliver Hazard PerryJames MonroeAndrew Jackson John Quincy Adams John C. Calhoun Martin Van BurenDaniel WebsterWilliam Henry Harrison

Eli Whitney Sam SlaterNat TurnerFrancis Cabot Lowell Robert FultonSamuel F.B. Morse

Sojourner TruthHorace MannDorothea DixCatharine BeecherWilliam Lloyd GarrisonFrederick DouglassHarriet TubmanElizabeth Cady StantonLucretia MottLucy StoneSusan B. Anthony

James K. PolkJohn Sutter

Harriet Beecher StoweAbraham LincolnSteven DouglasJames BuchananDred ScottJohn BrownJefferson DavisThomas “Stonewall” JacksonGeorge McClellanRobert E LeeUlysses S GrantWilliam Tecumseh Sherman

Andrew JohnsonJohn Wilks Booth

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8th grade Research ProjectGetting Organized

Tasks to Complete Login to Google Account & Create Folder for Research in Google Drive Login to EasyBib Account and Create New Project

Google Apps Account (Paper must be created in Google Docs)

Open Google Chrome Type www.google.com into the URL. Click on Sign In button in the top right hand corner Enter Email - (username@rcs-k12.us) and password Click Drive and open the folder you shared with your Language Arts

teacher. Click New, Folder and Name it Biography Research – You will put any

articles you find and your final paper as a Google Doc in this folder.

EasyBib Pro - Where you can create citations, compile source notes, and create an outline.

Student Access - You will be required to use EasyBib at www.easybib.com and sign in using your district Google account (jsmith1234@rcs-k12.us)

o Click Login in the upper right hand cornero Click the Sign in with Google in red on the righto Accept to allow accesso Click on the down arrow next to your profile name (Hi, Kristi)o Click on Coupon Codeso Type in hartms2015

Setting Up a Project:

o From the My Projects screen, click on +New project.

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o Name your project (8th Grade Research or Historical Figure Name).

o As you search for information, keep your project bibliography open and use it to keep track of your sources.

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EasyBib Pro – Hart Middle SchoolQuick How-To

Where students can create citations, compile their source notes, and create an outline.

Two Main Parts to EasyBib Pro: 1) Bibliography2) Notes & Outline

1. The Bibliography Feature When you find a source of information you’d like to use for your research, create a citation for it first.

1. Click on the Bibliography tab.2. Website is the default type of citation. They can paste a web

address here.

Click on All 59 options to see other possible citation formats:

Your bibliography will build as you add citations…

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Once you’ve pasted a website in, double check information – especially any box in red that EasyBib could not identify.

For accessing information from online databases (like Grolier or Biography in Context) that already provide a full MLA citation for their articles, you can copy and paste right into their EasyBib Bibliography:

1. Click on the Database tab > click Manual Entry.

2. Paste the citation into the box provided.

3. Need parenthetical citations? From the Bibliography screen, you can click on Parenthetical to get the correct formatting to copy and paste into their final paper.

2. The Notebook Feature

To start creating notes:1. Click on the Notes & Outline tab. A blank

“noteboard” comes up. 2. Click the green “New note” button.

3. Fill out the Notecard:a. Enter a TITLE for this note.b. For SOURCE, pull down the window to

choose from the bibliography citations that you’ve added so far.

(This encourages students to add the citation first, THEN their notes – so they don’t forget to cite or don’t accidentally plagiarize.)

c. Move through 3 levels of note-taking here:

1. EVIDENCE FROM TEXT: copy and paste the text

2. PARAPHRASING: now paraphrase that text

3. COMMENT: add additional sentences here that you’ll tie this information with – supporting facts, other connections, lead-in sentences, etc.

(By paraphrasing and including their own thoughts right with the text they’ve copied, this attempts to help students be aware of plagiarizing and break the copy and paste habit.)

Encourage students to mark up their notes with the highlighter, different colored fonts, etc.

As you work, add to your noteboard with more sticky notes that you can then move around and organize.

4. Organizing your board:a. Color code cards.

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b. Group cards together by overlapping them. Ungroup by clicking the + symbol and dragging a card out of the box.

5. Viewing your board:a. Toggle between 2 views: Visual view (notecards) or List

view (full text) b. Double click on a notecard to see its entire text.c. Click Print to see the text for all notes.

To create an outline:1. Drag and drop notecards into the

outline view.2. Change indentation and placement

by clicking once on that topic and moving it with the arrow OR drag and drop within the outline view.

3. Click Print to see the complete outline with the full text of each notecard.

Other features:

Export your Works Cited page: At the top of your Bibliography page, click Export > Save to

Google Docs

Delete a project from All Projects page: 1. Check the box next to the project to delete. 2. At the top, click Organize checked projects >

Delete projects.

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Gathering Resources

Print Resources (Books, encyclopedias)

Rochester Hills Public Library Databases – (http://www.rhpl.org/research-database)o If using at home, you will need to enter a library card number.

You can find this on your actual RHPL library card or you can also use the barcode number on your Hart ID card.

MEL Databases = www.mel.org(Britannica School-Middle, SIRS Discoverer, InfoTrac Student Edition, Gale Virtual Reference Library – Biography, Search by subject -History, (subject’s name), etc.)o Search for and open full-text articles. Many articles have the

citation at the bottom, which you can copy and then paste into EasyBib.

o You can also save the full-text article as a Google Doc from some of the databases by downloading and choosing Google Drive.

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WRITE A CLAIM (THESIS STATEMENT)Your claim, or thesis statement, expresses the main idea of your research paper. All of the details in your paper should relate to and support your claim/thesis.Directions: Review the research materials you have gathered for your report. In the chart, record the topic you have chosen and the main point you want to make about your topic. Use this information to write a claim at the bottom of the chart.

Topic(WHO is this essay about?)

What 2 influ-ences has your person made on society? In-clude whether this influence was positive or negative.(What do you want to PROVE about this per-son?)

Influence 1:

Influence 2:

Claim/Thesis Statement

(Identify topic and the main points you want to prove in one sentence.)

Try this 3 dif-ferent ways.

Teacher Ap-proval:

____________

Thesis 1:

Thesis 2:

Thesis 3:

You need to have 3 people read your thesis statements. Place a star next to the one you like the best. See your teacher for approval. You MUST have approval before moving on.

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WRITE A CLAIM (THESIS STATEMENT)-TEACHER SAMPLEYour claim, or thesis statement, expresses the main idea of your research paper. All of the de-tails in your paper should relate to and support your claim/thesis.Directions: Review the research materials you have gathered for your report. In the chart, record the topic you have chosen and the main point you want to make about your topic. Use this information to write a claim at the bottom of the chart.

Topic(WHO is this essay about?)

Benjamin Franklin

What 2 influ-ences has your person made on society? In-clude whether this influence was positive or negative.(What do you want to PROVE about this per-son?)

Influence 1: He made improvements to the mail system in the United States. (Positive)

Influence 2: He repealed the Stamp Act of 1765. (Positive)

Claim/Thesis Statement

(Identify topic and the main points you want to prove in one sentence.)

Try this 3 dif-ferent ways.

Thesis 1: Benjamin Franklin made two major contributions to society by improving the U.S. mail system, and repealing the Stamp Act of 1765. (You will try your thesis statement 2 more times)

Your thesis will be different, depending on the types of impact your historical figure had on the U.S., world, etc. They might sound like:

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If these were both negative: Benjamin Franklin had two negative contributions to society by attempting to improve the mail system, and by repealing the Stamp Act of 1765.

If one were negative, and one were positive: Benjamin had one positive impact on American society by improving the mail system, however, he also created a negative impact by repealing the Stamp Act of 1765.

PARENTHETICAL CITATIONSWhat are parenthetical citations? Short references in the text of your paper or project to show your reader where you found each piece of information that you have paraphrased, summarized, or quoted.

Why do I need to include parenthetical citations? Directs your reader to the source in your alphabetical list of works cited. Allows your reader to locate the exact source further study. You need to give credit to the original source of information; otherwise, you will be plagiarizing or stealing

another person’s work.When do I need to include parenthetical citations?

Whenever you paraphrase, summarize, or quote information from a source and include it in your work.Where do I place parenthetical citations?

Citations are placed at in parentheses at the end of the sentence following the borrowed materialo EX: The sinking of the Titanic has been called one of the greatest disasters of all time (Benton 28).

Be selective! Direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries should be used selectively; the majority of your paper should be written in your own words!!

Quotations A quotation uses the exact words of the original text! It is:

o Identical to the originalo Interesting or unusualo Briefo No changeso YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT!

When do you use a quotation?o Accuracy: If you are unable to paraphrase or summarize without changing the author’s intento Authority: To lend expert authority for your claim or to provide source material for analysiso Unforgettable language: You believe that the words of the author are memorable or remarkable

because of their effectiveness or historical flavor – a unique phrase or sentence, that you want to comment on

Paraphrase Paraphrasing is a restatement, in your own words, of a passage of text.

o Involves putting a passage – phrase by phrase – from your source into your own wordso Should be equal or shorter in lengtho Complete rewriting, not just a rearrangement of the wordso MUST GIVE CREDIT!

When do you paraphrase?o To emphasize ideas that are most related to your paper by changing the organization of those ideas.

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o To Simplify the material that have complex arguments, sentences, or vocabularyo To clarify the material when passages are technical or specialized information is not appropriate for you

audience

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PARAPHRASING

In writing any type of critical essay or research paper, you have probably been warned against plagiarism, or quoting someone else's thoughts and words as your own. Two ways of assuring that you will not fall into this habit are:

1) Using direct quotations of an author's words with a citation included.2) Paraphrasing an author's words, again remembering to include a reference. Here are some tips on learning how

to paraphrase more effectively.

1. WHAT IS PARAPHRASING?

Basically, paraphrasing is condensing, in your own words, the gist of what the writer says. It is important to preserve the writer's point of view, but to present it in your own words and style.

2. WHEN DO YOU PARAPHRASE?

When you simply wish to restate someone else's idea in your own words. When you wish to translate difficult, involved language into simple, easy language. When you wish to summarize the main idea of a selection, leaving out the illustrative details and examples that

the writer furnishes.

3. POINTS TO REMEMBER IN PARAPHRASING

Always use your own words and your own sentence structure. Write in a style that is natural to you. Do not change the essential nature of what the writer is saying - it is the writer's point of view that you are

writing about. Although you need not put quotation marks around a paraphrased passage, you must give a citation in the

appropriate form.

ORIGINAL PASSAGE:"The criminal appeared to be of enormous girth. Indeed, he encountered such difficulty in maneuvering his massive frame through the front door of my apartment that I was enabled to telephone the local police before he had actually set foot in my humble residence!"

PARAPHRASED VERSION:The criminal was so overweight that he couldn't even squeeze through my front door! Before he even got into my apartment, I had time to call the police.

Notice how the second version has been simplified: long phrases, such as "appeared to be of enormous girth," have been pared down and replaced by simpler phrases, such as "overweight." You do not always need to simplify in paraphrasing, but in this case simplification was definitely necessary.

http://www.berea.edu/cltcr/documents/tipsheets/2-Researchwriting/G-Paraphrasing.pdf

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Note Card Checklist Subtopic in the top left hand corner

Detail underneath the subtopic

Author of the source in the upper right hand corner

Page number where the information is found on the source in the upper right hand cornerFront of the card has direct quotations from the source

Back of the card has your notes and paraphrasing

Your name

Subtopic Author, page numberDetail

Direct quotation from source

(Front of card)

Your notes and paraphrasing

(Back of card)

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Essay – Outline Body Paragraphs

I. First Body Paragraph (Question 1):Topic Sentence/controlling ideaA. First supporting idea

1. Use a lead in to introduce your quote. The reader needs context to understand why the quote is being used:2. Quotation or your paraphrase (example) that supports it (What does the research say about your topic?

Start with your strongest point.): (Make sure you cite your sources)

3. Your comment on or explanation of example (this is your reasoning - When writing this portion make sure you fully explain what you are talking about and what you found in the research. You have to write it as if no one has heard about your topic before.):

B. Second supporting idea:1. Use a lead in to introduce your quote. The reader needs context to understand why the quote is being used:2. Quotation or your paraphrase (example) that supports it (What does the research say about your topic?):

(Make sure you cite your sources)3. Your comment on or explanation of example (this is your reasoning - When writing this portion make sure

you fully explain what you are talking about and what you found in the research. You have to write it as if no one has heard about your topic before.):

C. Third supporting idea: 1. Use a lead in to introduce your quote. The reader needs context to understand why the quote is being used:2. Quotation or your paraphrase (example) that supports it (What does the research say about your topic?):

(Make sure you cite your sources)3. Your comment on or explanation of example (this is your reasoning - When writing this portion make sure

you fully explain what you are talking about and what you found in the research. You have to write it as if no one has heard about your topic before.):

D. Concluding Statement (revisit your topic sentence/controlling idea in this paragraph and summarize the information to wrap up your paragraph):

II. Second Body Paragraph (Question 2)Topic Sentence/controlling ideaA. First supporting idea:

1. Use a lead in to introduce your quote. The reader needs context to understand why the quote is being used:2. Quotation or your paraphrase (example) that supports it (What does the research say about your topic? Start

with your strongest point.): (Make sure you cite your sources)

3. Your comment on or explanation of example (this is your reasoning - When writing this portion make sure you fully explain what you are talking about and what you found in the research. You have to write it as if no one has heard about your topic before.):

B. Second supporting idea: 1. Use a lead in to introduce your quote. The reader needs context to understand why the quote is being used:2. Quotation or your paraphrase (example) that supports it (What does the research say about your topic?):

(Make sure you cite your sources)3. Your comment on or explanation of example (this is your reasoning - When writing this portion make sure

you fully explain what you are talking about and what you found in the research. You have to write it as if no one has heard about your topic before.):

Continue with more supporting ideas OR Concluding Statement (revisit your topic sentence/controlling idea in this paragraph and summarize the information to wrap up your paragraph):

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Formatting a Research PaperFor this research paper, you will need to write a total of four paragraphs. Those paragraphs include an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Below you will find all of the information that should be included in each paragraph. This is a format that must be followed! Hint: It is easier to write your body paragraphs first, and then write your introduction and conclusion. A completed introduction includes:

1. A hook to begin your paper. (A hook can be a quotation or a striking fact that draws the reader in and makes them want to read more.)

2. Brief background information that connects the reader to the topic. (3-5 sentences)3. Your thesis statement. (It is always the last sentence of the introduction.)

The first body paragraph includes:1. A topic sentence. This should be the first point you are making. The entire paragraph should be about this point. 2. 2-5 supporting ideas. Each supporting idea needs:

a. A transition (To begin, initially, at first, etc.)b. A lead in (This gives the reader context for why you are using this quote.)c. A quote or paraphrase (with the correct citation)d. Reasoning- (How does this support your point?)

3. A concluding statement. (This should restate the main points of your paragraph. Hint: Do not make references to your own essay!)

The second body paragraph includes:1. A topic sentence. This should be the second point you are making-it should also transition from your first body

paragraph to this one. The entire paragraph should be about this point. 2. 2-5 supporting ideas. Each supporting idea needs:

a. A transition (To begin, initially, at first, etc.)b. A lead in (This gives the reader context for why you are using this quote.)c. A quote or paraphrase (with the correct citation)d. Reasoning- (How does this support your point?)

3. A concluding statement. (This should restate the main points of your paragraph. Hint: Do not make references to your own essay!)

A completed conclusion includes:1. A restated thesis statement. (This cannot be worded exactly the same as the thesis statement in your introduction. This

must be the first sentence of your conclusion.)2. Briefly restate and analyze the main points of your body paragraphs.( 3-5 sentences)3. End with a clincher. (This can be tied back to your hook, a profound thought to leave the reader with, or a quote that

punctuates your final thoughts.)

Other Helpful Tips:A. Write in the third person.

a. Avoid using the first person (I, me, we, us)b. Avoid using the second person (you)

B. Avoid contractions. For example, write, did not rather than didn’t; write has not rather than hasn’t.C. Do not use slang. For example, gonna, wanna, etc. They are not words!D. Do not make references to your own essay. (These are unacceptable: This essay is about, The next paragraph will

explain, The next piece of evidence to support the thesis is. Instead of telling the reader what you will discuss, just discuss it.)

E. Use the same tense throughout the paper. We are discussing events in the past, so you should be using past tense throughout the essay.

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Transition WordsTransition words are your friends! They hold everything together and make your essay flow from one point to another. Here are some to try (this is not an all-inclusive list … you can use any transition words that work):When you are introducing evidence:

For example For instance This can be seen in/This can be seen when

This is evident in/This is evident when This can be seen when This is illustrated by

Example: Family is important to Yollie and Mrs. Moreno. For example, they like to play practical jokes on each other, but never get mad.

When you are commenting on evidence: This shows that This example proves that

What this shows is This example illustrates

Example: This shows that Yollie and her mother are close and enjoy spending time together.

When you are making a point that is similar to a point you just made (comparison): In addition Also Similarly Furthermore

Moreover Comparatively Likewise In fact

Example: Similarly, Yollie and her mother go to matinees and stay up late to watch movies together.

When you are making a point that is different from the point you just made (contrasting): However Yet On the contrary

On the other hand Conversely Although

Example: However, Yollie and her mother still encounter some problems in their relationship.

When you are concluding a paragraph or a point: Lastly Finally

To conclude As a result

Example: Despite these troubles, Yollie and her mother are able to come up with a solution that works for both of them. As a result, they maintain their close family bond and show that family is the most important thing .

Put it all together and it looks like this:Family is important to Yollie and Mrs. Moreno. For example, they like to play practical jokes on each other, but never get mad. This shows that Yollie and her mother are close and enjoy spending time together. Similarly, Yollie and her mother go to matinees and stay up late to watch movies together. However, Yollie and her mother still encounter some problems in their relationship. Despite these troubles, Yollie and her mother are able to come up with a solution that works for both of them. As a result, they maintain their close family bond and show that family is the most important thing.

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Bibliography

You need to document all resources you are using for your research paper. This is to let the reader know where you got your information and to avoid plagiarism.

A “Works Cited” or Bibliography should be the last page of your research paper. It is a good idea to keep a Google Doc as you research to keep track of where you got your information. For this paper, you will need to do a formal bibliography using the correct format. Resources should be listed

alphabetically by the author’s last name.

You will create a bibliography on-line using this website: www.easybib.com

Parenthetical citationsWhen you make reference to someone else's idea, either through paraphrasing or quoting them directly, you provide the author’s name and the page number of the work in the text of your paper. Use the author's last name followed by the page number referenced in the work. The reference is placed in parentheses usually at the end of the sentence before the period.

Each source in the Works Cited list at the end of the paper corresponds to a parenthetical reference in the text.

Examples:Using a Direct Quote

“In 2007, 37 percent of American adults sought medical information from the internet regarding a health problem they were experiencing before consulting a doctor” (Smith 38).

This indicates that you are using information found in a resource (book, website, magazine, etc.) by somebody named Smith (last name) and it was found on page 38.

Indirect Quote

Instead of going to a doctor right away, a recent study found that 37 percent of Americans are now turning to the internet for medical information (Smith 38).

Helpful Hints

- Place a citation as close to the relevant material as possible without disrupting the sentence. - Use one citation at the end of a long section of material that comes from one source and the same page(s)--do

not cite at the end of each sentence in this case. - Parenthetical citations always go outside of a quotation and always before a punctuation mark, such as a period.- Place the parenthetical citations in your essay as you write. Do not wait until the essay is finished.

Peer Editing sheet:Name of reviser: __________________________________________Name of writer: ___________________________________________________

Directions: Before turning in your FINAL ESSAY, please complete this editing sheet.

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*The editing sheet is the best thing you can do to improve the sound of your writing. Please check off for each question asked. You will either check OK if there are no corrections to be made or FIX because there are corrections to be made.

LOOK AT YOUR INTRODUCTION (1ST PARAGPGRAH)

OK(No corrections)

FIX(Corrections)

1. Does the essay begin with a hook? Does the hook/attention getter fit with the ideas in the thesis?

2. Did the writer provide background information on the topic? Do you have a BASIC understanding of the topic and why it is important?

3. Is the background info about 3-5 sentences long? If it is fewer than 3 sentences or much more than 5 sentences in length, it may be too little or too much information.

4. Does the writer have a thesis (if not this is a huge problem). Highlight the thesis. Is it the last sentence in the intro?

5. Does the thesis statement make a clear claim or argument about the topic?

LOOK AT BODY PARAGRPAHSParagraph # 2 and 3

OK(No corrections)

FIX(Corrections)

6. Does each body paragraph have a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph is about? Does the topic sentence connect back to the thesis?

7. Does each body paragraph have 2-5 supporting ideas?

8. Does each supporting idea have the following?a. A transition (To begin, initially, at first, etc.)b. A lead in (Gives context for the evidence)c. Evidence- A quote or paraphrase (with the

correct citation)d. Reasoning- Explains how the evidence supports

the main point.

**If any supporting ideas are missing any of the info above, that is an issue! The writer will need to add in the missing components of the paragraph! **

9. Do they have QUOTES in their body paragraphs? If not, that is a problem. The paragraphs should contain NO FLOATING QUOTES-that means they should flow into the writer’s own words grammatically, as PART of a sentence. Quotations should NEVER be sentences all on their own-the writer must have some of his or her OWN WORDS around the quote.

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Correct Example: He claims that whenever he began setting a batch of type, his bosses would remind him that “it would be wanted ‘some time during the year’” (Twain 750).(Notice that there is text leading into the quote to give context!)

10. Did the writer cite his or her quotations or paraphrased information correctly?

*See MLA formatting guide!

11. Does each body paragraph end with a concluding sentences that rephrases the main idea of the paragraph?

LOOK AT THE CONCLUSIONParagraph #4

OK(No corrections)

FIX(Corrections)

12. Does it begin with a RESTATED thesis? If not, this is a problem that needs to be fixed.

13. Did they sum up the big ideas in their paper? This should be 3-5 sentences long!

14. Does it end with a thought-provoking clincher?

CHECK PAPER FOR SPELLING, GRAMMAR, AND MECHANICS

OK(No corrections)

FIX(Corrections)

15. Check the paper for comma errors:* Does the writer have commas AFTER introductory words or phrases?*If there is a DEPENDENT CLAUSE AT THE BEGINNING of a sentence, is there a comma after it?* Are there commas before conjunctions to separate TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES?

16. Check all HOMONYMS. * There, their, they’re*Then/than (Any many more)*Its/it’s

17. While you’re at it, check the paper for APOSTROPHE use. No apostrophes on plurals. CONTRACTIONS are not allowed either!

18. Circle the word YOU or YOUR. Rewrite all of the sentences containing 2nd person pronouns so they do not contain you or your.

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19. Circle the words I, ME, MY, MINE, WE, OUR, US. These are first person pronouns and SHOULD NOT appear in your paper. Rewrite sentences containing 1st person pronouns so they are eliminated. 20. Circle any BORING words (good, bad, things, stuff, very, etc.) that are vague. These words need to CHANGE before FINAL ESSAY is submitted.

CHECK WORKS CITED PAGE OK

(No corrections)FIX

(Corrections)

21. Are all sources cited in the paper listed on this page?

22. Is the Works Cited page formatted according to MLA standards? Are the citations themselves complete and correct? (See MLA Guidelines handouts)

NOTE: Please revise and proofread and follow directions carefully! Don’t just check the OK column (I know some of you do this), or you will have a weak essay! Go above and beyond and challenge yourself!

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Final Draft Checklist

Before I turn in my final draft I will make sure I:

____ have an appropriate title (not “research paper”).____ double spaced my paper____ used 11pt font size AND one style of font throughout paper.____ have my name/hour/date in the upper LEFT hand side of the first page____ be sure my Works Cited page is attached as the last page - it is not embedded as part of the paper- it stands alone at the end of the paper.____ have checked all grammar, citations, and punctuation for accuracy.____ have read my paper out loud.

Are you satisfied with your paper? Have you created the impression you wanted to make for the reader? Please explain.

Signed____________________________________________ Date____________

**Be sure to attach this page (after you have filled it out) along with your rubric to the BACK of your research paper!

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Evaluation of Research ProcessName ____________________ Topic ___________________

ASSIGNMENT POINTS EARNED

Preliminary Research Notes (5 points)

Topic Selection (5 points)

Due: 2/10/16

/10

Working Thesis Written (5 points)

Due: 2/12/16

/5

Articles Highlighted (5 points)

Due: 2/17/16

/5

Notecard checkpoint (5 points)

Due: 2/18/16 and 2/19/16

/5

Notecards (10 points)

Due: 2/22/16

/10

Outline (10 points)

Due: 2/23/16

/10

Completed Body Paragraphs (5 points)

Due: 2/29/16

/5

Introduction (5 points)

Due: 3/3/16

/5

Conclusion (5 points)

Due: 3/3/16

/5

Final Paper (60) Due 3/9/16 /60

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Research Paper Evaluation Name:_______________________________________________________ Total Score: _________/60

Introduction: 10 pointsDemonstrates Mastery Demonstrates Understanding Demonstrates Need for PracticeBegins with a well thought out attention-getter. Topic has been introduced well. Ends in a clear, concise thesis statement that encompasses the entire paper.

Attempts an attention-getter. Topic has been introduced. Ends in a clear, concise thesis statement that encompasses the entire paper.

Lacks an attention-getter. Topic may not have been introduced. Thesis statement not evident or is too narrow to encompass entire paper.

(10-9) (8-6) (5-0)

Body: 20 pointsDemonstrates Mastery Demonstrates Understanding Demonstrates Need for PracticeEach body paragraph develops the thesis. Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that directly supports the thesis. Paragraphs are unified – every sentence contributes to the central purpose and main idea of that paragraph. The order of paragraphs is logical and effective. Transitions are made within and between paragraphs.

Each body paragraph develops the thesis. Each paragraph has a topic sentence, but may include some awkwardness. Paragraphs are unified – every sentence contributes to the central purpose and main idea of that paragraph. The order of paragraphs is logical. Some transition words used between within and between paragraphs may be missing.

Some body paragraphs are off-topic or repeat ideas. Some or all topic sentences are unclear, not related to the thesis or are missing. Paragraphs are not unified – many sentences do not contribute to the central purpose and main idea of that paragraph. Order of paragraphs is confusing or illogical. There are no transitions between paragraphs and/or within paragraphs.

(20-15) (14-8) (7-0)

Conclusion: 10 pointsDemonstrates Mastery Demonstrates Understanding Demonstrates Need for PracticeBegins with a transition that signals closure. Restates the thesis differently than introduction. Ideas are tied together. Achieves a sense of closure.

Restates thesis differently than introduction and restates main idea. Transition is missing and/or ideas were not revisited.

Thesis is restated in exact words as introduction or is not restated at all. New ideas are introduced. Reader is left dangling – there is no sense of closure.

(10-9) (8-6) (5-0)

Works Cited: 10 pointsDemonstrates Mastery Demonstrates Understanding Demonstrates Need for PracticeFormat has no errors. All entries are complete and in the correct order.

Format has no more than 2 errors. Most entries are complete with only minor errors.

Format has more than 2 errors. Many entries are incomplete and/or there are several errors.

(10-9) (8-6) (5-0)

Mechanics: 10 pointsDemonstrates Mastery Demonstrates Understanding Demonstrates Need for PracticePaper has no or very few minor mechanical errors, but these errors are hardly noticeable.

The paper has several noticeable mechanical or grammatical errors, but these errors do not distract the reader or make the paper unclear.

The paper has numerous mechanical and grammatical errors which distract the reader and/or make the paper difficult to understand.

(10-9) (8-6) (5-0)

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