name: _______________________________ period: _____

ENGLISH IIIRESEARCH PACKET

2015 – 2016

Overview & ExpectationsThe research paper for English III is an analytical essay that explores topics pertaining to a student-selected work of nonfiction. Students will read this work of nonfiction to determine author’s purpose and the methods used to achieve that purpose. Research from outside sources will accompany examples from the nonfiction text to support the student’s ideas.

Your final draft must be typed in Microsoft Word in proper MLA format: Size 12 font Times New Roman Double spaced throughout 1” margins all around Page number in top right corner

Research requirements: You need a minimum of THREE sources for your research paper. You must have ONE primary source and TWO secondary sources. Your secondary sources must be relevant, credible, accurate, and trustworthy. We will be conducting research using the databases on the RHHS library website. All sources will be listed on a Works Cited page

NO LONG QUOTES: You may not include long quotes since your research paper will only be two to three pages long. Quote = must be three lines or less.

Save all your work during the research unit to eBackpack or Google Drive. eBackpack login information for all students

User ID: Student ID numberPassword: Student.15 (only if this is your first time logging in this year)

The due date for the research paper final draft is 11:59pm on Dec. 18, 2015. All research papers must be turned in via Turnitin.com.

Research unit grading – T3* Research packet assignments #1-6 are all daily grades Reader’s Notebook: test grade (taking the place of your Writer’s Notebook) Notecard document: test grade Outline: daily grade Rough draft: test grade Final draft: 3 test grades (1 process grade, 2 content grades)

*Due to the amount of time it takes to grade research papers, content grades will go on T4. This will also allow sufficient time for students to complete a redo, if necessary.

The English III Research Paper: an Analytical Essay

What is an analytical essay?

An analytical essay is a piece of writing that analyzes and interprets a work by using specific examples from the text to build a logical argument beyond a summary or description of the work.

An analytical essay does:

Focus on the text of the work. Draw conclusions about the author’s purpose. Examine the style, tone, and diction the author uses to advance his/her purpose.

An analytical essay does NOT:

Summarize the plot of the work. Summarize information about the background of the author. Simply state the style, tone, and diction that are used.

In addition to using your own skills and comprehension of the text, you will also be required to use three sources to help develop your thesis.

One primary source: the work of nonfiction Two secondary sources: articles from the library databases

Therefore, the heart of the essay should be a discussion of the style, tone, and diction used by the author to achieve his or her purpose. This should be done by a close examination of specific examples from the text. This project will be broken down into several assignments, all leading to a well-written analytical essay.

ASSIGNMENT #1: Reading and Annotating

Title of text: ___________________________________ Author: _______________________

Part I: Read your selected nonfiction text and annotate or take notes as you read. Ways you can annotate or take notes are listed below:

Make notes in the margins about the setting, major characters, and plot events. Highlight or circle vocabulary words you do not know. Look up each word and write

the definition in the margins. Mark quotes or passages that seem interesting or important. Underline passages that contribute to style, tone, or diction.

Part II: Summarize the main plot of the work in five sentences.

Write a paragraph (5+ sentences) summary of your book here:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vocabulary and Terms to Know

Author’s purpose: To inform, explain, demonstrate, reveal, teach, communicate, establish To illustrate, show, describe To compare, contrast To provide, give information/examples To persuade, express an opinion, prove, encourage, argue, establish, convince To reinforce (an idea), emphasize To suggest, imply To celebrate To question

Style: the way something is written, in contrast to its content (e.g., Hemingway’s writing style is terse, blunt, and conversational)

Tone: the author’s particular attitude, either stated or implied in the writing (e.g., serious, humorous, logical, emotional)

Diction: the author’s specific choice of words

Perspective: stance or viewpoint—the position from which something is observed or considered

Organizational pattern: the pattern an author constructs as he or she organizes his or her ideas and provides supporting details. Examples of commonly used patterns are cause and effect, problem and solution, description, and order of importance.

ASSIGNMENT #2: Exploring author’s purpose

Students will analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about the author's purpose in cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.

In order to determine author’s purpose, answer the questions below after you read the text.

1. Identify the central topics, or "big ideas" in the text (Family, growing up, secrets, relationships, death, poverty, crime, etc.).

2. Identify how the author relates to the central topic. What are the key events, conversations, ideas, and changes in actions or beliefs in relation to the central topic?

3. Organize your thoughts. Write down examples from the text that support the central topic. What did the people involved do? What did they say? How did they react? Are there any symbols or patterns? What greater meaning might they have?

4. Determine the author’s purpose. Why did the author write this text? What was he or she trying to accomplish? What message was he or she trying to express?

ASSIGNMENT #3: Analysis of author’s purpose

Analyze how the style, tone, and diction of a text advance the author's purpose and perspective or stance.

STYLE What is the author’s writing style?

Example of style, with citation:

TONE What is the author’s attitude toward his or her central topic?

Example of tone, with citations:

DICTION What specific words does the author use to express his or her purpose/attitude/style?

Examples of diction, with citations:

ASSIGNMENT #4: Writing your thesis statement

The thesis states the focus of your analytical essay. A formula for the most basic thesis could look something like this:

In ______________________________________,__________________________ title of work of nonfiction comma author’s full name

uses (specific style/diction/tone) in order to ____________________________________. purpose from Assignment #2

Example: In In Cold Blood, Truman Capote uses a detached writing style with vivid diction in order to illustrate the inhumanity of the death penalty.

You do not have to follow this format exactly; it is just a suggestion. Write your thesis statement below (remember, this is what you are going to prove/argue in your paper). Don’t forget to underline the title of your nonfiction work include proper punctuation.

Thesis statement draft #1:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Thesis statement draft #2, if necessary:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT #5: Finding textual evidence

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:1. Choose the three most important scenes from the work that express the author’s style,

tone, and diction. Write a brief description of each scene in the boxes labeled “Scene #”.2. Identify specific quotes from each scene that demonstrate the author’s purpose through

style, tone, and/or diction. Write them on the chart and include a parenthetical citation.3. Label whether each quote is an example of style, tone, or diction.

Write your thesis here: Scene #1: Scene #2: Scene #3:

Quote from scene that shows author’s

purpose through style, tone, or diction

(including citation)

Quote from scene that shows author’s

purpose through style, tone, or diction

(including citation)

ASSIGNMENT #6: Writing research questions

Now that you have written your thesis, it is time to look for additional support for your claim by researching the author, events, or topics of your chosen nonfiction work. In order to be an effective researcher, you must develop questions to guide your research. What information could you find that would support your thesis/ideas?

Example

If this is your thesis: In In Cold Blood, Truman Capote uses a detached writing style with vivid diction in order to illustrate the inhumanity of the death penalty.

These could be your research questions: What were the death penalty laws in the country at the time Capote

wrote the novel? Did Capote ever say directly his views on the death penalty? Did Capote have a relationship with Perry that influenced his views?

Write your thesis statement here:

Jot down several possible research questions here:

Research

Now that you have written your research questions, it is time to find some answers.

When we are in the library for research, you will need to find a minimum of two secondary sources. These can be from print or electronic sources. You may only use articles that have been published by a professional and/or peer reviewed source (Wikipedia is not one of these). In addition, materials found on any book summary sites will NOT be allowed (Sparknotes, Shmoop, Gradesaver, eNotes, Book Rags, Cliff’s Notes, etc.). Any web source you use must pass the C.A.R.S. checklist for evaluating sources and be approved by your teacher.

Once you find an article that you think you can use in your research paper, download it and save it to your eBackpack account. DO NOT PRINT your articles.

Notecard Document

1. Open up Microsoft Word. Set up your document in MLA format.2. Open your first research article. Scroll down to the bottom and find the Source Citation.

Copy and paste this source citation on your notecard document as Source #1.3. Go back to your research article. Copy and paste any quotes you might use from this article

into your notecard document. 4. Repeat this process for each source.5. Save your notecard document to eBackpack AND submit it to Turnitin.com.

Hester Prynne Prynne 1

Mrs. Krueger

English III – Period 4

5 December 2015

Notecard Document

Source #1

Piedmont-Marton, Elisabeth. "An overview of “The Devil and Tom Walker”." Short Stories for Students.

Detroit: Gale, 2002. Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.

“Irving seems to suggest that this is a community content to bury and forget old atrocities, and, more broadly,

that the nation eager to bury its own history is doomed to be haunted by it. The woods in this tale also invoke

the Puritan's sense that the wilderness is the habitat of all sorts of evil” (Piedmont-Marton).

Source #2

"Overview: “The Devil and Tom Walker”." Characters in 19th-Century Literature. Ed. Kelly King Howes.

Detroit: Gale Research, 1993. Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.

“Tom's wife is as miserly and greedy as her husband, and like him is finally destroyed by her greed when she

tries to bully the devil into making an advantageous bargain with her” (“Overview”). 

Research Paper Outline

HELPFUL HINTS

For each main body paragraph:

1. Compose a topic sentence that supports your thesis. The topic sentence should introduce the style, tone, or diction that appears in the quotes for that paragraph.

Example: In the beginning of the work, (author) uses (specific style/tone/diction) to express (his or her purpose).

2. Select a specific quote that offers the reader evidence of your claim. Make sure you include a citation after the quote (Author’s last name + page number).

3. Write two sentences of commentary for this quote. The first sentence after the quote should explain the quote. Any sentences after that should explain how the quote expresses the author’s

purpose. This sentence should have nothing to do with PLOT.

4. Select a second quote that offers the reader more evidence of your claim.

5. Write two sentences of commentary for this quote. The first sentence after the quote should explain the quote. Any sentences after that should explain how the quote expresses the author’s

purpose. This sentence should have nothing to do with PLOT.

6. In your concluding sentence, summarize the main ideas of your paragraph.

Remember: The analysis part involves explaining how your chosen quotes help to communicate the author’s purpose. To be sophisticated in your analysis, you must have ideas that are "in-depth" - not just the superficial facts of what you see on the page. You must interpret what the text says and show that you understand the author’s purpose, all while supporting your argument with information from your sources.

NOTE: At least two of your quotes must come from your research (one from each secondary source). The rest of your quotes may come from your nonfiction text. These quotes can be incorporated into any main body paragraph, as long as they support your argument.

ALL QUOTES MUST INCLUDE A PROPER MLA CITATION.

Writing the Rough Draft

If your outline is the skeleton of your research paper, the rough draft is where you add the muscle. Start by writing an interesting introduction paragraph, then craft at least two main body paragraphs, and finish with a strong conclusion. The rough draft must be typed and submitted to Turnitin.com by the due date.

Introduction paragraphSentence #1: Begin with a broad, general statement about your chosen topic.Sentence #2: Relate it to your work of nonfictionSentence #3-4: Touch upon the ideas you will present in your main body paragraphsSentence #5: Thesis statement

The Concluding Paragraph

Concluding paragraphs can be the most difficult part of an essay to write. In some ways, writing a conclusion is like writing an introduction in reverse. There are a few key points to remember when writing conclusions.

A conclusion should:• rephrase the thesis statement in the first sentence• review key ideas from your essay• provide a graceful exit from the paper to the “real world” (Universal Level) • provide a sense of completion

There are several techniques that you can use in writing a conclusion. You conclusion might include:

• A challenge or suggested course of action • A summary of the paper’s main points • A circular reference to the introduction• An expression of the importance of the thesis • An affirmation of hope • A strong vivid visual image

Your conclusion should NOT:• Start off in a new direction or introduce a new topic • Contradict your thesis• Make exaggerated/absolute claims (always, never)

Turnitin.com Instructions

If you’ve never logged in to Turnitin.com, you will need to create an account before you can submit a paper. Make sure you enroll in the correct class period using the class/section IDs below:

1st period: 10768242 The enrollment password4th period: 10768258 for ALL class periods is 5th period: 10768268 krueger6th period: 107682858th period: 107682929th period: 10768303

Turning in your work Once you’re logged in to Turnitin.com, click on your class name

Find the assignment you are turning in and click “Submit” At the top of the page, make sure “Submit: Single File Upload” is selected ; if not, click

the blue drop down menu and select “Single File Upload” Fill out the required information and then click “Choose from this computer” Find your essay file and click “Open” Click “Upload”

Once your file uploads, wait for the confirmation page to appear. Check to make sure everything is correct. Then click “Confirm” and a message confirming your submission should appear at the top of the page. Once your essay is submitted, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you used to register for Turnitin. Check your email to verify that your essay uploaded correctly. If you did not get a confirmation email, submit your essay again. You do not need to print your digital receipt.

After you submit your paper to Turnitin, make sure you view the Originality Report. This report will tell you how much of your paper is similar to outside sources. The similarity percentage MUST be between 10% and 22% and all outside sources used MUST be cited properly.

Hint: If your percentage is too high, it means you need more commentary.

If you submit your research paper and the Originality Report shows that you are not meeting these requirements, you can resubmit a paper and it will override the original one, as long as it is resubmitted before the due date of December 18 at midnight.

IF YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH TURNITIN.COM, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBLEM-SOLVE. MAKE IT WORK!

WRITING YOUR FINAL DRAFT

What should I consider as I revise my rough draft?Everything. When you revise a paper, you should consider improving all aspects of the essay, including:

1. Thesis statement2. Organization (following the shaping sheet format)3. Topic sentences4. Support and development of ideas5. Effective quotes from the text6. Logical progression of ideas7. Use of transitions8. Stylistic matters (word choice, tone, sentence variety, etc.)9. Mechanics (correction of errors, the correct format, use of a title, etc.)

Note that your research paper final draft must demonstrate both "deep-level" and "surface-level" revisions.

Deep-level revision involves improvements to the thesis, organization, and support and development of ideas. In general, deep-level revision involves changes to the content of essays. Deep-level revision to an essay includes the following:

Changing the approach to the topic and the main ideas presented Reorganizing the ideas and paragraphs Deleting or adding passages or even entire body paragraphs Using more or better supporting evidence Deleting ineffective supporting evidence Developing ideas more effectively with better explanation

Surface-level revision involves changes at the sentence level and the correction of errors. Surface-level revision to an essay includes the following:

Rewriting sentences Improving word choice Adding/improving transitions Embedding quotations Correcting spelling errors Correcting citations

Note: Writers are most often successful with their revisions if they begin with the larger aspects of a paper, such as the thesis and organization, as opposed to beginning with the sentence-level matters like spelling and mechanics.

Errors in your final draft will substantially reduce your grade. PLEASE proofread carefully! PLEASE review the notes from The Scarlet Letter essay! You must submit your final draft to Turnitin.com no later than midnight on December 18, 2015.