THE JUNIOR RESEARCH

PAPER

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Thesis Statement

It MUST be arguable. It MUST connect 1984 to the outside

topic you chose. (Therefore, it must have the phrase “George Orwell’s 1984” and your topic choice in it.)

It MUST have before it or be followed by the rest of the Introduction paragraph, which makes at least 4 claims (these claims will most likely be your subcategories).

Thesis Statement Examples

Example #1: The misuse of technology in George

Orwell’s 1984 is very much like the level of monitoring and surveillance that exists in American society today. Similarities between Oceania and the United States in terms of technology abuse are numerous. They include the overuse of cameras around the country, the use of audio devices to listen to citizens, the creation of new American laws such as the Patriot Act, and the use of propaganda material.

Claim #1

Claim #2

Claim #3

Claim 4

Thesis Statement Examples Example #2:

In George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, the totalitarianism regime that is led by the Party shares many similarities to the policies and ideals held by North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il. Just as the Party does, Kim Jong-il puts much of his focus on the military, has complete control over the country’s economy, has very combative relations with other countries, and uses fear to control his citizens.

What is Plagiarism? Plagiarism is representing

someone else's work as your own. It's plagiarism whether you use: a whole document a paragraph a single sentence a distinctive phrase a specialized term specific data a graphic element of any kind

Plagiarism (cont.) “…[using] an idea developed by

another as if it were your own. If you use any work created by someone else as your own without acknowledging the creator, and if you hand in the work with your name on it, thus implying that it is your work, then you commit plagiarism” (VT.edu 5/11/12).

What is Citing? What is a Citation? CITING is giving credit to the source of the

information you are using. It didn’t come from your brain, so you have to give that person credit!!

A CITATION is the tag you put at the end of a piece of information you borrowed from another source. Even if the information you used is a paraphrase and you put it into your own words, you still MUST, MUST, MUST include a citation at the end of the sentence/paragraph. Without it, it’s plagiarism.

***NOTE: All citations within the research paper will also be extended and given a full entry on the Works Cited page.

Citation Example (Book)

O’Brien proved that the Party was evil when he said to Winston, “In our world, there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement” (Orwell 267). Notice how

the source information is in quotation

marks and it’s copied

exactly.

Notice how the period is

AFTER the citation.

The citation is in

parentheses, is the

author’s LAST name,

then no comma, then the page #

Citation Example (Internet)“President Barack Obama has decided that photos of the dead Osama Bin Laden should not be released” (BBC News 5/11/12).

If a quote or paraphrase comes from an Internet source, you put the author’s last name, a space, and then the DATE YOU WROTE THE NOTE DOWN (not the date the article was written, etc.) If no author is given (which happens a lot w/ Internet items), then put the article title in quotes, followed by the date. If you don’t get either, just put the website title as the author, followed by the date.

You Need to Cite When You… Use or refer to someone else’s words

or ideas (even if it’s not a direct quote)

Gain information through interviewing another person

Copy the exact words or a “unique phrase”

Reprint diagrams, illustrations, charts, pictures, videos, music

Use other people’s ideas (printed, or through conversations or email)

Ways to Use Information Direct Quotation: You use an

author’s EXACT words in your research paper, even if it’s just part of their sentence. The quote MUST match the source document word for word, must be in quotation marks, and must include a citation.

Example: Winston constantly wondered, “Was life better before the Revolution than it is now?” (Orwell 93).

Ways to Use Information (cont.) Paraphrasing: This is putting a

passage from a source into your own words. Even with a paraphrase, credit must still be given to the author through a citation (and on your Works Cited page).

Example:Original Text: A decline in standardized

test scores is but the most recent indicator that American education is in trouble (Sipher 1).

Paraphrase: The low scores on standardized exams are showing that American schools need some help (Sipher 1).

Ways to Use Information (cont.) Summarizing: This is putting the

main idea(s) into your own words, including only the point(s). Once again, it is required to give credit to the original source.

TO SUM UP, IF IT DIDN’T COME FROM YOUR BRAIN, CITE IT.

WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE!!!

Research Paper Notes

You will be required to take research notes using ONLY the sheets I provide you (no notebook paper, no note cards).

You will be required to complete 10 research note sheets to get the full points. They are double-sided. That counts as one sheet.

**Let’s look at one, and fill out the citation info. together.