Developing a Research Paper

1. Developing a Research Paper Colleen Jones

2. Fact Note Card Workshop • There are numerous ways to gather your facts for your research paper. We will concentrate on a style called MLA. MLA stands for Modern Language Association. MLA is used for student and professional papers focused on the Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, History, etc… • http://www.mla.org/

3. Steps… Materials needed to start the fact note card process: -Index cards or paper cut up to about index card size. -List of your resources -Pen or pencil -Time! -A safe place to store your note cards such as an index box, paper clip system, or folder.

4. Reading or scanning for facts • Next, as you read your references you will pick out facts that are relevant to the essay or your report. Try to focus your facts on the outline: • 1. Introduction • 2. Bio/Timeline • 3. Topic’s place during the I.R. • 4. How the topic has changed the world • 5. Conclusion

5. What is a fact? • Do you know what a fact is? One of my favorite facts is that oxalis is not an endangered flower…and if you eat too much of it you will be visiting the bathroom a lot! • Share with a neighbor your favorite fact!

6. FACTS -Pieces of information you would not normally know unless you read about them or had a discussion with someone about it. COMMON KNOWLEDGE -Information that most people would know without much study. Facts vs. Common Knowledge

7. List • We will create our own brief class list on examples of facts and common knowledge now on the board.

8. So why does this matter? • In your research paper, you will be expected to cite all of your facts, which means that you can tell the reader exactly where you found your awesome info so they can look it up later. You do not have to cite common knowledge.

9. But Wait!!!! If you are hesitant at all about whether it is a FACT or COMMON KNOWLEDGE cite it. It is better to be safe then sorry. All you have to do is write the page number of where you found the fact. Pretty simple. Plus, you can always ask me or another adult for fact vs. common knowledge advice.

10. Let’s Practice -Grass is green. -Evergreens are green all year round. -You need to go to medical school to become a doctor. -Animals without a backbone are called invertebrates. -Clowns are truly scary!

11. Really, Ms. Jones, you think clowns are scary? • Yes, but that’s a different discussion. However, my own views on clowns, or oxalis, or which color in the universe is the best (green, by the way) is my own opinion. Opinions are not facts or common knowledge. Opinions must always be cited in your research paper, even if they are your own.

12. MLA Fact Note Cards We need 5 pieces of info to have a successful fact note card.

13. Step 1: Resource Number • First, you need to create a list of your resource and give each one a number. I suggest following your requirements. • 1=Book • 2=Article • 3=Website • 4=Piece of art • 5=Encyclopedia article.

14. Step 2 • Go ahead and put the number of the resource you are working with on the top right corner and circle it. This way you will know exactly where you found your facts.

15. Step 3 • Now, on the top line of the card you will place a title for the fact that you are writing about such as: Reasons why people believed muckrakers

16. Step 4 Now is the time to get all your facts on paper. You can use bullet points or numbers. Such as -Muckrakers’ articles sold the most papers. -People were not as educated about media then and were not encouraged to question a writer’s facts, ideas, or truthfulness as we are today.

17. Step 5 • Lastly, make sure that you have the page number where you found the quote at the end of the line. • Muckrakers sold the most papers p. 6 • If you cite a quote, make sure you include the person’s name.

18. Your turn… • Let’s practice on our worksheet…

19. Day Two Thesis Statements 
”The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”~Mark Twain

20. What is a thesis statement? • How do you share your main point in conversations with your friends, in your writing, with your parents, Ms. Montano, on your sports teams, etc… • Pair up with a buddy and talk about it for a few minutes.

21. Your Life’s Thesis (In progress, of course) • Please think about three major life experiences that you have had and how they have changed your life. • You can also think about your favorite character in a novel you have read.

22. Life’s Thesis: Step Two • Next, think about what types of qualities you have gained from these experiences? Free-write about them for a few minutes. • If you get stuck…What would your best friend say about you? a trusted adult…? • P.S. It is still cool to write about your favorite character.

23. Here is my example • Experiences: Qualities: -Having 3 younger -Humor siblings -My parents’ divorce -Responsibility -Camp Homeward -Compassion Bound

24. Thesis Writing Time! • Now, pick an experience and correlating quality that you have gained from that experience. It does not have to be the BIGGEST experience, because that is often a tough choice to make.

25. Thesis! • Now, these two parts together by connecting them. • Ms. Jones’s Example: I am a goofy person because of my three siblings who have taught me to not take everything so seriously.

26. YOUR TURN • Now it is time to create your own lifethesis. Think about if you would like to share with the group.