RESEARCH PAPER: HOW TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY…

•SOURCE CARDS•NOTE CARDS•THESIS STATEMENTS•FIRST PARAGRAPH•FIRST DRAFT•FINAL PAPER•DOCUMENTATION INFORMATION

Source Cards Source cards are sometimes called

Bibliography cards. You will need a total of 5 sources:

One is already done for you – The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman The other four:

Two books Two internet sources

You should list ALL SOURCES USED. Annotated means: “to furnish with

notes”

Sample: Source CardSmith, Carol, The Eye: How the Iris is the

Color of the Personality. New York: Trident Press, 1996. Print.

Another SampleGaines, Ernest, J. The Autobiography of Miss

Jane Pittman. New York: Bantam Books, 1971.

**** refer to Elements of Language text, pg 214. Yes, you were supposed to take note on this already.

Source Cards You should have 5 3 x 5 index cards. You must turn in Source cards April 25

and 26. This is for a grade. You are receiving a

grade everyday we are in the library or computer lab based on the work you are (or not) completing. Didn’t I tell you that before? My bad.

Each Source card should have its own number and correspond to your note cards.

Did you just ask:

“What are Note Cards?”

So glad you asked…

Note Cards You will have 20 or more 4 x 6 inch white lined

note cards. You MUST write in blue or black ink. There are three basic type of notes:

A direct quote repeats the words of the source exactly. Quotation marks are present around the quoted material. It must be documented.

A paraphrase repeats an idea from the source but uses different words. It must be documented.

A summary repeats in different words and at the same time condenses an idea taken from the source. It must be documented.

Note Cards Use a separate card for

each note so you can order and reorder them later on.

Try to limit each card to one or two sentences or a single idea or topic.

By focusing on one main idea, you can more easily group and reorganize your cards later.

Note Cards When quoting, it is very

important you copy each letter and punctuation mark exactly.

In paraphrasing or summarizing, you need to make sure that you put the material into your own words, you do not change the meaning.

Note Cards: Page References Give this reference for all written sources except

article in encyclopedias From a single page: write that number after the

quote From consecutive pages: write first and last numbers

as follows: 1-4 For numbers after 99: use only last two digits of

second number: 110-15 For nonconsecutive pages in periodicals: give

number of the first page followed by a plus sign: 76+

If there are no pages given, write: n. p.

Note Cards: A SampleGuideline Circled Source Card Number

Write your one quote, paraphrase or summary on the note card. Don’t forget the page number.

Note Cards: A Sample

Joe McCarthy: beginnings 1

Born 1908; Republican Senator from Wisconsin, served for ten years until 1957. Dropped out of school at age fourteen to help family farm; re-enrolled at age 20 and graduated the following year. 12

When are they due?We are going to check note cards

everyday we in the library.

Official checking date is My 2nd and 3rd.Yes, it is for a grade DeShon! What a silly question!

Thesis Statements One main reason thesis papers fail is due

to lack of a specific and clear thesis. The thesis is your main point – the

central idea of your paper. A thesis in NEVER A QUESTION. A thesis statement sums up in one

sentence what you are going to prove in your paper.

You must formulate your thesis before you begin writing. It helps you stick to your topic as you write.

Thesis Statements A good thesis statement is specific. This means that the statement indicates

exactly what the main point of your paper is but avoids vague generalities.

GeneralTeaching is a noble profession.

BetterThe first grade teacher is responsible for the most important skill we possess: reading.

Thesis StatementsGeneral:The United States should not be so

wasteful.

Better:Nearly every American wastes hundred of

pounds of paper each year.

Page Set upFirst Name Last name Last name, 1Mrs. YoungClass Color18 May 2012

Social Injustice Over Time

Ernest J. Gaines examines the changing times in his novel

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Supposedly

Typing Rules 12 font Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, Footlight,

Eras Light ITC. Double spaced 8 ½ x 11 white paper No folders One staple, upper left corner Must have a work cited and parenthetical

documentation or it will NOT BE ACCEPTED!!!!

Banished WordsYou may NOT use the following words in your paper: I You or your A lot Always Never & or other like symbols Abbreviations Contractions (do not instead of don’t) So Like** Of course if the word is in a direct quote, you may use

it.

Parenthetical Documentation and Works Cited Page

The “how to”

WHEN TO USE DOCUMENTATION DIRECT QUOTE

PARAPHRASING

SUMMARY

NOT YOUR OWN WORDS OR THOUGHTS

Okay - DUE TO LACK OF SPACE MY EXAMPLES ARE TYPED USING SINGLE SPACING –

YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOUR PAPERS MUST BE DOUBLE SPACED OR THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!!! REALLY NOT KIDDING ABOUT THAT EITHER -

WHEN TO USE DOCUMENTATION

EACH DOCUMENTATION MUST HAVE A SET OF PARENTHESIS ( )

EACH DOCUMENTATION MUST HAVE THE AUTHOR’S NAME OR THE TITLE

EACH DOCUMENTATION MUST HAVE THE PAGE NUMBER, IF PROVIDED

THERE ARE NO COMMAS IN THE DOCUMENTATION

THE END MARK FOLLOWS THE CLOSING OF THE PARENTHESIS ( ).

MORE RULES!!! If you use the author’s name in the text of your paper, simply place the page numbers in the ( ).

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin states that he prepared a list of thirteen virtues (135).

Need More Help?Go to my website and look under the

“Links” page.

Even though library sources give you the MLA format, you can go to these websites for additional help.

Questions?

Due DatesPapers are due by May 17 and 18. Make sure

you bring a hard copy, paper in hand to class. No one will be excused to “go print” with a flash/jump or any other type of drive!

Absence is NOT AN EXCUSE FOR NOT TURNING IN A PAPER.

DO NOT email or fax your paper. It will NOT BE PRINTED OR ACCEPTED.