Mrs. Cosby
Mini Research Paper
Assignment:
Write a 2-4 page paper using parenthetical citation.
Assignment Topic:
Write a 2-4 page paper that supports the topic of your previous Oral History
Project. Details will be discussed in class.
Assignment Summary: The research paper supports, confirms and/or enhances the story told to you by
a family member. You are researching experiences that are similar to your own and providing evidence
that supports your original narrative and proves your thesis statement.
Skill Objective #1:
Practice using appropriate keywords & search locations of sources
Skill Objective #2
Practice note taking, paraphrasing and summarizing
Skill Objective #3:
Practice citing parenthetically (using parenthesis in a paragraph) and practicing
when to incorporate sources into your work
Skill Objective #4:
Practice developing a Works Cited page using MLA citation
Content Objective:
Research, understand and discuss the social, economic or political reason or
reasons your family immigrated to the United States. Formulate a research question based on your oral
history question.
Topic Sentence must state where, when and why your family came to live in the United States. Example
1: My family came to the United States from Ireland because of the potato famine. Example 2: My
family came to the United States from Mexico 15 years ago because there was no work and they wanted
to find work and give their children more opportunities.
Thesis Statement should clearly state a theory or opinion about your family’s experience as told during
the Oral History Interview. Example 1: Many Italian immigrants experienced numerous hardships as
they struggled to make it in America. Example 2: Russia today is, politically, socially and economically,
drastically different than it was in 1900. Example 3: After listening to my grandfather I have a better
understanding of the importance of creating the State of Israel because Jews had nowhere to go home
to after the Holocaust.
Types of Sources:
Magazines, Newspapers, Databases, Encyclopedias, Library Catalogs, Books,
Primary Sources, World Wide Web, Interviews, E mails, Journals, Videos
“Make me proud like I know you can.”
Mrs. Cosby
Library Assignment: Oral History Project Research Paper
Task List:
1. Create a Topic Sentence based on your family narrative. The topic sentence tells the reader
everything they need to know in one sentence. The topic sentence explains the reasons your
family immigrated to the United States. Sentence should include the when, why and where.
2. Think about and practice formulating research questions. What questions do you want answers
to after finishing your oral history project? Example 1: My family is still struggling to obtain
citizenship because they came to the US illegally so I want to know what is being done to help
with that. Example 2: What were the factors that made life so terrible for people in Russia that
made them want to leave?
3. Write a sentence that states what you’re researching. Tell the world what you’re trying to
prove. Decide what you want the reader to know about your story. An idea or theory is
sometimes called a thesis. Writers declare their idea in a sentence called a Thesis Statement.
Often a writer simply changes their research question from a question to a statement. Example
1: What caused so many people to leave Ireland and come to Boston? The Potato famine
caused widespread famine and Boston was the first port of entry for many that sailed to
America. Example 2: Why is it so hard for illegal immigrants to become US citizens even though
they have lived here for a long time? The problem of illegal immigration is complicated,
difficult, and emotional for many people.
Topic Sentence ________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Research Questions:
1.___________________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement ______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Everyone has a job to do.
Teacher’s Job: Create the lesson, assign the research, provide instructions or task list
Student’s Job: Decide on questions to ask about the assignment. Decide what you will be writing
about.
Librarian’s Job: Help students locate appropriate sources to answer/support research questions.
Librarian/Media Specialist’s Job: Help students use technology to locate sources efficiently.