Mini Senior Project
11th Grade Research
Mrs. Medina
Mrs. Garcia
Name _____________________________
Presentation Date ____________________
1
Table of Contents
Overview
Pages 3-4
Questions to Think About
Page 5
PHS Research Process
Page 6
What is a Thesis Statement?
Pages 7-8
Thesis Statement
Page 9
Research Proposal Worksheet
Page 10
Sample Research Proposal
Page 11
Evaluation Tool #1
Pages 12-13
Evaluation Tool #2
Pages 14-15
Evaluation Tool #3
Pages 16-17
Note Cards
Page 18
Outline
Page 19
Research Paper Checklist
Page 20
Sample MLA Works Cited Page
Page 21
Research Paper Format
Page 22
Databases
Pages 23-24
Parenthetical Documentation Cheat Sheet
Page 25
Paraphrasing
Page 26
MLA Works Cited
Pages 27-31
Scoring Sheet & Rubric
Page 32
2
Assignment
For this project you will:
 Select an issue from the list attached
 Research the statistical information regarding the issue
 Write a two - three page research paper which defends your thesis
 Present your research to the class
Topic Choices:
You may choose a topic that does not appear on the list attached, but it must be approved before you begin your research.
No two people in the class will be allowed to work on the same topic. REMEMBER: you need statistical data to back
up your argument. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PROJECT THAT YOU DO THIS YEAR CANNOT BE DONE FOR
YOUR SENIOR PROJECT NEXT YEAR!
Binder Requirements
Your binder will contain all your research for this project. This will count as one quiz grade for the third quarter and will
be submitted the day you present to the class. In this binder you should have:

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a final copy of your research paper in the front of the binder
a copy of this packet
all versions of your thesis statement including the final typed one
your research proposal
your note cards and scoring sheet
your three evaluation tools along with the articles
your outline
your typed introduction
copies of your research notes (this may include printed pages off the internet that you have highlighted, your own
handwritten notes, etc.)
Paper (Due upon presentation)
Your research paper will count as two test grades for the third quarter. You must include a cover page with your thesis
statement on it, along with your name and the name of your teacher(s). Your paper will be written on a topic of your
choice that has been approved by your teacher. Keep in mind that this paper will be written in several steps so you should
never feel overwhelmed. The process of writing this paper will consist of small tasks assigned throughout. No one should
be writing this paper the night before it’s due.
A high quality paper:

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
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Is well-written, well-organized, and is completely free of grammatical/mechanical errors.
Uses language that is engaging and sophisticated.
Incorporates research (via citations) that is relevant and varied.
Sheds “new light” on the subject. It must go above and beyond a simple report.
Provides critical analysis based on the research.
Is written in MLA format and contains a properly formatted Works Cited page (see attached).
As far as sources are concerned, it is definitely in your best interest to consult a number of sources since this will provide
you with an expanded perspective on your subject. You must have a minimum of four sources (3 articles and 1 print
source). REMINDER: Encyclopedias are not acceptable sources. The following is a list of potential sources that can be
used for this project:



Research journals and books
Accredited Internet sites (no personal web pages)(.edu, .org)
Additional non-fiction print sources where relevant.
3
A Word on Plagiarism
It goes without saying that plagiarism will not be tolerated. If it is determined that you are guilty of plagiarism, you will
receive an automatic zero for the paper. There will be no chance to re-do a plagiarized paper for a passing grade. If you
are unsure of how to cite sources, please see your English teacher. In addition, an MLA style works cited guide can be
found at the back of this packet so that you may refer to it as you are writing your paper.
Presentation
You will be defending your thesis and presenting your research to the class. This will count as two test grades for the
third quarter. There will be two presentations per class period so plan on having your presentation run NO LONGER than
15 minutes. The rubric for the presentation is included in this packet. PLEASE refer to it as it tells you exactly what is
expected. NOTE: YOU ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE THE CITATIONS FOR YOUR RESEARCH ON EACH SLIDE.
ANY TIME YOU PUT STATISTICS ON A SLIDE YOU MUST CITE IT SOMEWHERE ON THE SLIDE. YOU ARE
ALSO EXPECTED TO HAVE A WORKS CITED PAGE AT THE END OF YOUR POWERPOINT.
Reminders

You MUST submit your paper to Turnitin.com before you submit the binder in class. Failure to do so will result
in 10 points off for each day that it is not submitted. After three days, you will receive a 0.

If you do not have the binder and the paper on the day you present, you will lose 10 points each day it is late, and
it will not be accepted after three days!

If you do not comply with the binder requirements your binder will not be accepted. You will resubmit it and lose
points for lateness.

If you are not ready or not in class the day you are to present, you will receive a zero for the presentation.

Failure to have the proper citations on the slides is called plagiarism and will result in a zero for your presentation
grade.
4
Questions to Think About
Is capital punishment moral?
Should search and seizure be legal in the school system?
Should sterilization be mandatory for the mentally ill?
Is corporal punishment moral?
Should teenagers be tried and sentenced as adults for
felonies?
Should parole be denied after certain crimes?
Should Meagan’s Law be modified?
Should censorship be allowed in cd labeling and movie
rating?
Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal purposes?
Should drug testing be mandatory?
Should AIDS testing be mandatory?
Should hate groups be publicly censored?
Should the US be involved in Afghanistan and Iraq?
Should politicians be allowed to accept donations from
lobby groups?
Should there be a flat tax? Will it help the rich?
Should welfare be reformed?
Should Affirmative Action be allowed?
Is sexual harassment adequately addressed in our
society?
Are older people discriminated against in the work
force?
Do girls and boys receive equal education?
Should Title IX exist?
Should prostitution be legalized?
Is pornography victimization?
Should there be dress codes in schools?
Should physical education be mandatory?
Is law enforcement racist?
Should there be a mandatory draft?
Should euthanasia be legalized?
Should women be allowed in combat?
Should surrogate motherhood be allowed?
Should animal experimentation be allowed?
Should terminally ill patients be allowed to take
experimental (not approved) drugs?
Should there be a ban on nuclear testing?
Are academic standards strict enough?
Should schools expel students with repeated discipline
problems?
Should parents be fined/punished for their child’s
wrongful acts?
Are state/local curfews unconstitutional?
Are human beings being used as guinea pigs by the
FDA?
Should adults who engage in sex with minors serve
prison time for statutory rape?
Is the media biased against minorities and women?
Should interracial adoption be illegal?
Should foster care be reformed?
Should children be able to sue their parents?
Should condoms be distributed in schools?
Should health care be denied to illegal immigrants?
Should businesses who hire illegal aliens be prosecuted?
Should the insanity defense be allowed?
Should there be immigration quotas? How should they
be imposed and regulated?
Should genetic manipulation/experimentation be
allowed?
Should the FCC be able to regulate and censor/fine radio
and TV shows?
Should adoption records be sealed?
Is it moral to sell sperm/eggs?
5
PLAINEDGE HIGH SCHOOL RESEARCH
PROCESS
1. Choose, Define, and Focus Project
 What are some appropriate topics?
 What questions do I need to ask?
 What information will I need?
 What do I want to know?
End Products
Choose a general topic
Develop research questions
Write a research proposal
Create an initial thesis
2. Locating and Accessing Information
 What are all the possible sources to check?
 What are the best sources of information for my thesis?
 Where can I find these sources?
 Where can I find the information in the source?
 Have I included non-print sources?
End Products
Annotated bibliography (minimum of 10 sources)
Evaluation sheets (one per source)
Refine research questions
Refine thesis statement
3. Use of Information
 Which sources best answer my research questions?
 What information is in this source?
 What information from the source is relevant to my thesis?
End Products
Note sheets
Note cards (aligned with research questions)
4. Synthesis
 How will I organize my information?
 How will I present my information?
End Products
Final thesis revision
Outline
Rough draft or final paper
Presentation
5. Evaluation
 Did I complete all the steps of the project?
 Did I fully address my thesis statement?
End Products
Conferencing (minimum of one)
Self-reflection
The "Big6™" is copyright © (1987) Michael B. Eisenberg and Robert E. Berkowitz. For more information, visit: www.big6.com
Handout created by: Barbara J. Shoemaker, School Media Specialist, Mill Road Elementary, K-2
Red Hook Central School District, Red Hook, NY
Handout modified by: Plainedge High School teachers, Plainedge UFSD, North Massapequa, NY
7
8
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement
 is an opinion that will be proven
 is a statement that answers a controversial question
 summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached on the chosen topic
A thesis statement is not
 a question
 a fact
 a topic
Sample Thesis Statements
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college
in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
The government has the right to limit free speech in cases of overtly racist or sexist language because our failure to
address such abuses would effectively suggest that our society condones such ignorant and hateful views.
There should be no restrictions on the 1st amendment if those restrictions are intended merely to protect individuals from
unspecified or otherwise unquantifiable or unverifiable "emotional distress."
What you should be aiming for (double sided thesis)
Although the BCS has made college football billions of dollars a year and has nearly doubled its viewership, a
playoff system is needed to fairly decide a National Champion.
Although Wal-Mart has benefitted society, its economically and morally corrupt policies have had a hand in
ruining society.
Although genetically modified foods are said to be the answer to many of the world’s food problems, the
overall effects of these foods are more hurtful than helpful to humans economically, physically, politically,
environmentally and morally.
9
Research Proposal
Name ________________________________
Teacher ______________________________
Period ______
Directions:
Complete the worksheet below using as much detail as possible. In addition, you must type your proposal
and submit it to Turnitin.com or it will not be accepted. A model of the typed proposal is attached.
Staple this worksheet to the back of your typed proposal.
Topic
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Initial Thesis Statement
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Research Questions (You must have a minimum of 10 questions which cannot be answered with a simple yes or no)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
10
Research Proposal Sample
Topic: The topic I have chosen argues that horse racing needs to be regulated in order to make it safer for the animals. It
is abusive in that the horses’ bodies are being pushed past their limit. They are also being drugged, and less-valuable
horses are physically mistreated. We are seeing more horses now getting hurt and put down due to racing injuries. Once
horses are no longer being used, some are carelessly sent to slaughter, even after a successful career. Horses are also bred
improperly creating unhealthy horses. I chose this topic because it is something I am interested in and something I care
about. I already have some knowledge of it and I have the access to explore it further. I also think that promoting more
awareness of it is important. I do not believe that the sport needs to be eliminated, but regulations need to take place in
order to make it safer for the horses.
Initial Thesis Statement: The sport of horse racing needs to be regulated by the boards of horse racing across the world
to better ensure proper treatment of the horses. This must be done through the creation of new rules and the strict
enforcement of them, for currently, the sport of horse racing is abusive.
Research Questions:
1) What rules are currently in place in the sport of horse racing?
2) What has been done recently in order to better protect racehorses?
3) What are the purposes of the different drugs administered to racehorses?
4) What can be done now to protect the horses?
5) How can the sport be improved to be less demanding on the horses’ bodies?
6) How is the sport abusive?
7) What is the history of horse racing?
8) Who is in charge of horse racing?
9) What is the process by which rules and regulations are established?
10) Who creates these laws?
11
Evaluation Tool #1
Name _______________________________________________
Date _______________
Research Topic ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Site ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article Title _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article Author(s) _____________________________________________________________________________________________
OR
Book Title __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Book Author(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions:
For each question in sections I – II, place an x in the appropriate box. In section III, write out the topic of
the article. You will use these evaluation sheets to create your own thesis statement and annotated
bibliography down the road. All answers should be in the YES column for this to be a viable resource. If a
NO is checked, a conference must be held with the teacher and a strong case made as to why this source
should be allowed in the research paper.
I. Credibility
YES
NO
YES
NO
1) Is there an author, organization, or agency that takes credit for the information?
2) Is the source reputable (a college site, governmental organization, database, etc.)?
3) Is the tone of the source free of humor, sarcasm, and informal language?
4) Is the source free of careless errors/editing (documents without dates, misspelled words, bad grammar,
etc.)?
5) Is the source age-appropriate for a high school research paper?
II. Accuracy
1) Is the information objective (not obviously biased)?
2) Does the information acknowledge other viewpoints?
3) Is the information factually based (supportable with facts, not pure opinion)?
4) Is the information up-to-date?
III. Overview (Write 1-2 sentences on the main idea of the article)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12
IV. Facts/Ideas (List five facts or ideas that you found in the article that make this site appropriate for your purpose. You MUST
include a citation and an explanation)
1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13
Evaluation Tool #2
Name _______________________________________________
Date _______________
Research Topic ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Site ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article Title _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article Author(s) _____________________________________________________________________________________________
OR
Book Title __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Book Author(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions:
For each question in sections I – II, place an x in the appropriate box. In section III, write the main idea of
the article. You will use these evaluation sheets to create your own thesis statement and annotated
bibliography down the road. All answers should be in the YES column for this to be a viable resource. If a
NO is checked, a conference must be held with the teacher and a strong case made as to why this source
should be allowed in the research paper.
I. Credibility
YES
NO
YES
NO
1) Is there an author, organization, or agency that takes credit for the information?
2) Is the source reputable (a college site, governmental organization, database, etc.)?
3) Is the tone of the source free of humor, sarcasm, and informal language?
4) Is the source free of careless errors/editing (documents without dates, misspelled words, bad grammar,
etc.)?
5) Is the source age-appropriate for a high school research paper?
II. Accuracy
1) Is the information objective (not obviously biased)?
2) Does the information acknowledge other viewpoints?
3) Is the information factually based (supportable with facts, not pure opinion)?
4) Is the information up-to-date?
III. Overview (Write 1-2 sentences about the main idea of the article)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14
IV. Facts/Ideas (List five facts or ideas that you found in the article that make this site appropriate for your purpose. You MUST
include a citation and an explanation)
1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15
Evaluation Tool #3
Name _______________________________________________
Date _______________
Research Topic ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Site ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article Title _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article Author(s) _____________________________________________________________________________________________
OR
Book Title __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Book Author(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions:
For each question in sections I – II, place an x in the appropriate box. In section III, write out the main idea
of the article. You will use these evaluation sheets to create your own thesis statement and annotated
bibliography down the road. All answers should be in the YES column for this to be a viable resource. If a
NO is checked, a conference must be held with the teacher and a strong case made as to why this source
should be allowed in the research paper.
I. Credibility
YES
NO
YES
NO
1) Is there an author, organization, or agency that takes credit for the information?
2) Is the source reputable (a college site, governmental organization, database, etc.)?
3) Is the tone of the source free of humor, sarcasm, and informal language?
4) Is the source free of careless errors/editing (documents without dates, misspelled words, bad grammar,
etc.)?
5) Is the source age-appropriate for a high school research paper?
II. Accuracy
1) Is the information objective (not obviously biased)?
2) Does the information acknowledge other viewpoints?
3) Is the information factually based (supportable with facts, not pure opinion)?
4) Is the information up-to-date?
III. Overview (Write 1-2 sentences about the main idea of the article)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
16
IV. Facts/Ideas (List five facts or ideas that you found in the article that make this site appropriate for your purpose. You MUST
include a citation and an explanation)
1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
17
Note Cards
These will be done typed on a Microsoft Word document instead of actual notecards. This will make it easier for you to
turn your outline into an essay.
Is the US spending too much money on the
military?
How does the media influence teen
perception?
“…military spending for 2010 almost
[doubled] the already astronomical budget
from fiscal year 2000, which was
approximately $280 billion” (Engler par. 5).
The expenses and need for more weapons is
growing each and every year.
“The acute and constant bombardment of
certain images in the media is apparently
quite influential in how teens experience
their bodies” (Hurley 81). These ideas of
beauty are what teens base their ideal body
image off of and the main reason why they
are unhappy with themselves.
Each page will have a separate research question and the quotes and explanations will be listed underneath the question.
Online Source (Author’s last name or title)
Print Source (Author’s last name or title and page #)
18
Outline
Thesis:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence _______________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Citation #1 with explanation
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Citation #2 with explanation
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Citation #3 with explanation
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19
Research Paper Checklist
No Plagiarism
Thesis/Introduction
_____ All sources are well documented
_____ Quotations are marked with quotation
marks, author’s last name and page #
_____ Facts and statistics are documented
_____ Documentation is through parenthetical
citation
_____ Clear focus of paper is expressed
in the thesis
_____ Introduction lays out a road map for
the paper
_____ Purpose of paper is clear in the introduction
_____ Topics to be covered are included in
the introduction
Vocabulary
Body
_____ Terminology suited to topic and grade level
_____ Spell and use terminology properly
_____ Use sentence variety with effective word choice
_____ Follows research paper format as directed
_____ Proper length to cover topic
_____ Is well documented with parenthetical citations
Focus/Organization
Conclusion
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Logical order of sequence
Paragraphs deal with one subject
Logical transitions
Clear purpose
Clarity of ideas
Thesis dealt with completely
Mechanics
_____
_____
_____
_____
Follow prescribed format of research paper
Spelling, punctuation, capitalization
Proper grammar
Complete sentences
_____ Thesis has been proved
_____ Includes reaction to thesis
_____ Purpose of the paper has been met
Works Cited
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Follows standards from manual
Uses MLA format
Alphabetical order of sources
Double space between listings of sources
Meet minimum number of sources
20
A Sample MLA Style Works Cited Page
Works Cited
Anderson, J. "Keats in Harlem." New Republic 204.14 (8 Apr. 1991): n. pag. Online. EBSCO. 29 Dec. 1996.
Angier, Natalie. "Chemists Learn Why Vegetables are Good for You." New York Times 13 Apr. 1993, late ed.: C1. New York Times
Ondisc. CD-ROM. UMI-Proquest. Oct. 1993.
Anzaldua, Gloria. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. San Francisco: Spinsters/ Aunt Lute, 1987.
Astin, Alexander W. Achieving Educational Excellence. Washington: Jossey-Bass, 1985.
Burka, Lauren P. "A Hypertext History of Multi-User Dimensions." MUD History. URL: http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/lpb/mudhistory.html (5 Dec. 1994).
Christie, John S. "Fathers and Virgins: Garcia Marquez's Faulknerian Chronicle of a Death Foretold." Latin American Literary
Review 13.3 (Fall 1993): 21-29.
Creation vs. Evolution: "Battle of the Classroom." Videocassette. Dir. Ryall Wilson, PBS Video, 1982. (MLA) 58 min.
Darling, Charles. "The Decadence: The 1890s." Humanities Division Lecture Series. Capital Community College, Hartford. 12 Sept.
1996.
Feinberg, Joe. "Freedom and Behavior Control." Encyclopedia of Bio-ethics, I, 93-101. (MLA) New York: Free Press, 1992.
Hennessy, Margot C. "Listening to the Secret Mother: Reading J.E. Wideman's Brothers and Keepers." American Women's
Autobiography: Fea(s)ts of Memory. Ed. Margo Culley. Madison, WI: U. Wisconsin P, 1992. 302-314.
21
Research Paper’s Format
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
Margins:
Except for page numbers (see below), leave one-inch margins all around the text of your paper – left side, right side, and
top and bottom. Paragraphs should be indented half an inch; set-off quotations should be indented an inch from the left
margin (five spaces and ten spaces, respectively, on standard typewriters).
Spacing:
The MLA Guide says that “the research paper must be double-spaced,” including quotations, notes, and the list of works
cited.
Heading and Title:
Your research paper needs a title page which includes your name, the name of your teacher(s), the date, and your thesis
statement. At the top of the first page, at the left-hand margin, type your name, your instructor’s name, the course name
and number, and the date – all on separate, double-spaced lines. Then double-space again and center the title above your
text. (If your title requires more than one line, double-space between the lines.) Double-space again before beginning your
text. The title should be neither underlined nor written in all capital letters. Capitalize only the first, last, and principal
words of the title. Titles might end with a question mark or an exclamation mark if that is appropriate, but not in a period.
Page Numbers:
Number your pages consecutively throughout the manuscript (including the first page) in the upper right-hand corner of
each page, one-half inch from the top. Type your last name before the page number. Most word processing programs
provide for a “running head,” which you can set up as you create the format for the paper, at the same time you are
establishing things like the one-inch margins and the double-spacing. This feature makes the appearance and consistency
of the page numbering a great convenience. Make sure the page-number is always an inch from the right-hand edge of the
paper (flush with the right-hand margin of your text) and that there is a double-space between the page number and the top
line of text. Do not use the abbreviation p. or any other mark before the page number.
22
Databases
Database
URL
(go to library webpage for links to databases)
NewsBank
http://infoweb.newsbank.com
Infotrac
http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/plainedgehs
From home / Remote User: URL same as
above
Wilson
Web
http://hwwilsonweb.com
EBSCO
Databases
http://search.epnet.com/login.asp?group=empire
SIRS
http://sks.sirs.com
CQ
Researcher
Facts on
File
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher
User ID /
Login
Password
6433
6433
Articles from
U.S. regional
& national
newspapers,
& magazines
plainedgehs
plainedgehsrpa
plainedge
plainedge_rpa
Newspaper
& magazine
articles
SSNY117582
Articles from
over 330
popular
general
interest
journals from
the US &
Canada.
AUN29
plainedgehs
plainedgehs
Magazines,
newspaper,
& journal
articles
NY0062H
22657
Newspaper
& magazine
articles
cqel
Mini report
(20 – 30
pages & lots
of valuable
information)
L1brary
Articles and
reports from
Facts on File
News
plainedge101
http://www.facts.com
Issues & Controversies
Today’s Science
Type of
Information
plainedge
Description
Topics cover
social, economic,
environmental,
government,
sports, people, the
arts, health, and
science issues and
events (from 1992
– current)
Info on current
events, the arts,
science, popular
culture, health,
people,
government,
history, sports, and
more (from 1985
to present)
Wide range of
topics are covered;
can limit search to
peer reviewed
journals.
(Full-text coverage
begins in January
1994 for most
titles)
Wide range of
topics are covered;
can limit search to
peer reviewed
journals
For articles on
social issues and
current events;
includes leading
issues with
overview and
pro/con articles.
For mini reports on
current
controversies &
issues; including
topic overview,
background info,
proc/con, current
situation, contacts,
etc.
Reports on leading
issues and
controversies;
information is in
23
Oxford
English
Dictionary
http://dictionary.oed.com/entrance.dtl
Power
Media
Plus
http://www.powermediaplus.com
C.E.R.F.
www.cerfinfo.com
Plainedgehs
plainedgehs
PHS student
plainedge
plainedge
library
Service
report form with
overview, related
articles, key news
events, contacts,
bibliography, &
more
Dictionary
Online dictionary
Digital video
& audio
Websites
Video & audio
clips, images,
podcasts, and
resources
Professionally
evaluated &
cataloged websites
24
Parenthetical Documentation Format Cheat Sheet
Narration

“She backs out of sight and disappears. There is the sound of a blow. Stella cries out” (Williams 57).

He can tell that he has hit a nerve when “Her face expresses a faint shock” (Williams 77).
One Character

“‘...you left! I stayed and struggled! You came to New Orleans and looked out for yourself. I stayed at Belle
Reve and tried to hold it together’” (Williams 25).

“‘He acts like an animal, has an animal’s habits! ... There’s even something – sub-human – something not quite
to the stage of humanity yet! Yes, something ape-like about him...’” (Williams 72).
One Character and Narration

“’Oh, my baby! Stella! Stella! Stella for Star!’ She embraces her again. ‘I thought you would never come back
to this horrible place!’” (Williams 19).

“She enters the bedroom with the drinks and the candle. ‘Sit down! Why don’t you take off your coat and loosen
your collar?’” (Williams 88).
More Than One Character

When Blanche tells this to Mitch, he is able to understand her pain as he too has lost a love:
Mitch:
Blanche:
Mitch:
Blanche:
Mitch:
(Williams 53)
There’s a story connected with that inscription.
It sounds like a romance.
A pretty sad one.
Oh?
The girl’s dead now.
Sharing a common loss and the pain that goes along with the loss draws the two of them together. They can both
relate to how the other is feeling and this understanding serves to cement their relationship.

The Varsouvianna was the polka music that Blanche and her husband were dancing to the night that she
confronted him and he killed himself. Presently, whenever Blanche is feeling overwhelmed or anxious, she begins
to hear the Varsouvianna playing in her head:
Stanley:
You were married once, weren’t you?
[The music of the polka rises up, faint in the distance.]
(Williams 31)
It triggers the guilt that Blanche has been carrying around with her, and is a constant reminder of what was the end
result of her cruel words.
25
Paraphrase: Write it in Your Own Words
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_paraphr.html)
A paraphrase is...
 your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
 one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source.
Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...
 it helps you control the temptation to quote too much.
 the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.
Steps to Effective Paraphrasing
1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the
top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential
information in a new form.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to
incorporate the material into your paper.
Sample
The original passage:
Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final
[research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore,
you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D.
Writing Research Papers. 2nd ed. (1976): 46-47.
A legitimate paraphrase:
In research papers students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since
the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 4647).
An acceptable summary:
Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material
in a research paper (Lester 46-47).
A plagiarized version:
Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research
paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important
to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.
26
MLA Works Cited
Courtesy of: http://owl.english.purdue.edu



Alphabetize each entry by first letter
Put quotation marks around the titles of poems, short stories, and articles
Indent the 2nd line, the 3rd line, and all subsequent lines of each citation
Double-space all entries … the examples which follow are single-spaced only to save room
on this handout
Type of Citation
Correct Citation
Album names are italicized. Provide the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date (or n.d.,
if date is unknown). List the appropriate medium at the end of the entry (e.g. CD, LP, Audiocassette).
Album – entire
Foo Fighters. In Your Honor. RCA, 2005. CD.
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Medium of publication.
Article - magazine
Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70-71. Print.
Cite a newspaper article as you would a magazine article, but note the different pagination in a newspaper. If there is
more than one edition available for that date (as in an early and late edition of a newspaper), identify the edition
following the date (e.g., 17 May 1987, late ed.).
Brubaker, Bill. "New Health Center Targets County's Uninsured Patients." Washington Post 24 May
2007: LZ01. Print.
Article – newspaper signed
If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name and state in brackets after the title of
the newspaper.
Behre, Robert. "Presidential Hopefuls Get Final Crack at Core of S.C. Democrats." Post and Courier
[Charleston, SC] 29 Apr. 2007: A11. Print.
Cite the article title first, and finish the citation as you would any other for that kind of periodical.
Article – newspaper
unsigned
Article - reference book
"Aging; Women Expect to Care for Aging Parents but Seldom Prepare." Washington Post 10 May 2007:
18. Print.
For entries in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works, cite the piece as you would any other work in a
collection but do not include the publisher information. Also, if the reference book is organized alphabetically, as
most are, do not list the volume or the page number of the article or item.
"Ideology." The American Heritage Dictionary. 3rd ed. 1997. Print.
Author(s). "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume. Issue (Year): pages. Medium of publication.
Article – scholarly journal
(print)
Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in Mahasweta Devi's Bashai
Tudu." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature 15.1 (1996): 41-50. Print.
MLA requires a page range for articles that appear in Scholarly Journals. If the journal you are citing appears
exclusively in an online format (i.e. there is no corresponding print publication) that does not make use of page
numbers, use the abbreviation n. pag. to denote that there is no pagination for the publication.
Article – scholarly journal
(online)
Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social
Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal 6.2 (2008): n. pag. Web. 20 May 2009. <urladdress>.
Cite articles in online scholarly journals that also appear in print as you would a scholarly journal in print, including
the page range of the article. Provide the medium of publication that you used (in this case, Web) and the date of
access.
Wheelis, Mark. "Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention." Emerging Infectious Diseases 6.6 (2000): 595-600. Web. 8 Feb. 2009. <urladdress>.
27
Provide the author name, article name in quotation marks, title of the Web magazine in italics, publisher name,
publication date, medium of publication, the date of access, and the URL address. Remember to use n.p. if no
publisher name is available and n.d. if not publishing date is given.
Article – web magazine
Bernstein, Mark. "10 Tips on Writing the Living Web." A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites. A
List Apart Mag., 16 Aug. 2002. Web. 4 May 2009. <urladdress>.
Give the name of the specific edition you are using, any editor(s) associated with it, followed by the publication
information.
Bible
The New Jerusalem Bible. Ed. Susan Jones. New York: Doubleday, 1985. Print.
Book – corporate author
A corporate author may include a commission, a committee, or a group that does not identify individual members on
the title page. List the names of corporate authors in the place where an author’s name typically appears at the
beginning of the entry.
American Allergy Association. Allergies in Children. New York: Random, 1998. Print.
List by title of the book. Incorporate these entries alphabetically just as you would with works that include an author
name.
Book – no author
Encyclopedia of Indiana. New York: Somerset, 1993. Print.
Gl Last name, First name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.
Book – one author
Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science. New York: Penguin, 1987. Print.
Cite the book as you normally would, but add the editor after the title.
Book – one editor
Book – republished
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Margaret Smith. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.
Books may be republished due to popularity without becoming a new edition. New editions are typically revisions of
the original work. For books that originally appeared at an earlier date and that have been republished at a later one,
insert the original publication date before the publication information.
Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble. 1990. New York: Routledge, 1999. Print.
Last name, First name. "Title of Essay." Title of Collection. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication: Publisher,
Year. Page range of entry. Medium of Publication.
Book – single work from an
anthology
Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers." A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One.
Ed. Ben Rafoth. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000. 24-34. Print.
Cite the book as you normally would, but add the number of the edition after the title.
Book – subsequent edition
Book – three or more
authors
Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 3rd ed. New York:
Pearson/Longman, 2004. Print.
If there are more than three authors, you may choose to list only the first author followed by the phrase et al. (Latin
for "and others") in place of the subsequent authors' names, or you may list all the authors in the order in which their
names appear on the title page. (Note that there is a period after “al” in “et al.” Also note that there is never a period
after the “et” in “et al.”).
Wysocki, Anne Frances, et al. Writing New Media: Theory and Applications for Expanding the Teaching
of Composition. Logan, UT: Utah State UP, 2004. Print.
Cite the book as you normally would, but add the editors after the title.
Book – three or more
editors
Carlson, David et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Animal Life. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1985. Print.
Cite as you would any other book. Add "Trans."—the abbreviation for translated by—and follow with the name(s) of
the translator(s).
Book – translated
Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Trans. Richard
Howard. New York: Vintage-Random House, 1988. Print.
28
The first given name appears in last name, first name format; subsequent author names appear in first name last name
format.
Book – two authors
Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring. Boston: Allyn, 2000.
Print.
Cite the book as you normally would, but add the editors after the title.
Book – two editors
Lockhard, David J. and Charles Heimler, eds. The Oregon Trail. New York: Bonanza Books,
1992. Print.
List works alphabetically by title. (Remember to ignore articles like A, An, and The.) Provide the author’s name in
last name, first name format for the first entry only. For each subsequent entry by the same author, use three hyphens
and a period.
Book – two or more by the
same author
Palmer, William J. Dickens and New Historicism. New York: St. Martin's, 1997. Print.
---. The Films of the Eighties: A Social History. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1993. Print.
Cite articles from online databases (e.g. LexisNexis, ProQuest, JSTOR, Science Direct) and other subscription
services just as you would print sources. Since these articles usually come from periodicals, be sure to consult the
appropriate sections of the Works Cited: Periodicals page, which you can access via its link at the bottom of this page.
In addition to this information, provide the title of the database italicized, the medium of publication, and the date of
access.
Database
Junge, Wolfgang, and Nathan Nelson. “Nature's Rotary Electromotors.” Science 29 Apr. 2005: 642-44.
SIRS Researcher. Web. 5 Mar. 2009. <sks.sirs.com>.
Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal 50.1
(2007): 173-96. ProQuest. Web. 27 May 2009. <www.proquest.com>.
Cite as you would any article in a periodical, but include the designators "Editorial" or "Letter" to identify the type of
work it is.
Editorial
"Of Mines and Men." Editorial. Wall Street Journal east. ed. 24 Oct. 2003: A14. Print.
Give the author of the message, followed by the subject line in quotation marks. State to whom to message was sent,
the date the message was sent, and the medium of publication.
E-mail
Kunka, Andrew. "Re: Modernist Literature." Message to the author. 15 Nov. 2000. E-mail.
Neyhart, David. "Re: Online Tutoring." Message to Joe Barbato. 1 Dec. 2000. E-mail.
Film – in theater
List films (in theaters or not yet on DVD or video) by their title. Include the name of the director, the film studio or
distributor, and the release year. If relevant, list performer names after the director’s name. Use the abbreviation perf.
to head the list. List film as the medium of publication.
The Usual Suspects. Dir. Bryan Singer. Perf. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen
Baldwin, and Benecio del Toro. Polygram, 1995. Film.
Film – DVD or video
List films by their title. Include the name of the director, the distributor, and the release year. If relevant, list
performer names after the director’s name. Use the abbreviation perf. to head the list. End the entry with the
appropriate medium of publication (e.g. DVD, VHS, Laser disc).
Ed Wood. Dir. Tim Burton. Perf. Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette.
Touchstone, 1994. DVD.
Government Publication
Cite the author of the publication if the author is identified. Otherwise, start with the name of the national
government, followed by the agency (including any subdivisions or agencies) that serves as the organizational author.
For congressional documents, be sure to include the number of the Congress and the session when the hearing was
held or resolution passed. US government documents are typically published by the Government Printing Office,
which MLA abbreviates as GPO.
United States. Cong. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearing on the Geopolitics of
Oil. 110th Cong., 1st sess. Washington: GPO, 2007. Print.
29
Image – painting, sculpture,
photograph
Individual Song
Provide the artist's name, the work of art italicized, the date of creation, the institution and city where the work is
housed. Follow this initial entry with the name of the Website in italics, the medium of publication, the date of access,
and the URL link.
Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. Museo National
del Prado. Web. 22 May 2006. <urladdress>.
Citations begin with the artist name. They might also be listed by composers (comp.) or performers (perf.). Otherwise,
list composer and performer information after the album title. Use the appropriate abbreviation after the person’s
name and a comma, when needed. Put individual song titles in quotation marks. Album names are italicized. Provide
the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date (or n.d., if date is unknown). List the
appropriate medium at the end of the entry (e.g. CD, LP, Audiocassette).
Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind. Geffen, 1991. Audiocassette.
Personal interviews refer to those interviews that you conduct yourself. List the interview by the name of the
interviewee. Include the descriptor Personal interview and the date of the interview.
Interview – personal
Purdue, Pete. Personal interview. 1 Dec. 2000.
Interview – published
List the interview by the name of the interviewee. If the name of the interview is part of a larger work like a book, a
television program, or a film series, place the title of the interview in quotation marks. Place the title of the larger
work in italics. If the interview appears as an independent title, italicize it. Determine the medium of publication (e.g.
print, Web, DVD) and fill in the rest of the entry with the information required by that medium. For books, include
the author or editor name after the book title.
Gaitskill, Mary. Interview with Charles Bock. Mississippi Review 27.3 (1999): 129-50. Print.
When citing an introduction, a preface, a forward, or an afterword, write the name of the author(s) of the piece you are
citing. Then give the name of the part being cited, which should not be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks.
Farrell, Thomas B. Introduction. Norms of Rhetorical Culture. By Farrell. New Haven: Yale UP, 1993. 113. Print.
Introduction, Preface,
Foreword, or Afterword
If the writer of the piece is different from the author of the complete work, then write the full name of the principal
work's author after the word "By."
Duncan, Hugh Dalziel. Introduction. Permanence and Change: An Anatomy of Purpose. By Kenneth
Burke. 1935. 3rd ed. Berkeley: U of California P, 1984. xiii-xliv. Print.
Lecture
Provide the speaker’s name. Then, give the title of the speech (if any) in quotation marks. Follow with the name of the
meeting and organization, the location of the occasion, and the date. Use the descriptor that appropriately expresses
the type of presentation (e.g. Address, Lecture, Reading, Keynote speech, Guest Lecture). Remember to use the
abbreviation n.p. if the publisher is not known; use n.d. if the date is not known.
Stein, Bob. Computers and Writing Conference. Purdue University. Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette,
IN. 23 May 2003. Keynote address.
When citing only one volume of a multivolume work, include the volume number after the work's title, or after the
work's editor or translator.
Multivolume Work – citing
one volume
Harris, Muriel. "Talk to Me: Engaging Reluctant Writers." A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One.
Ed. Ben Rafoth. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000. 24-34. Print.
When citing more than one volume of a multivolume work, cite the total number of volumes in the work.
Multivolume Work –
multiple volumes
Painting, Sculpture, or
Photograph
Quintilian. Institutio Oratoria. Trans. H. E. Butler. 4 vols. Cambridge: Loeb-Harvard UP, 1980. Print.
Include the artist's name. Give the title of the artwork in italics. Provide the date of composition. If the date of
composition is unknown, place the abbreviation n.d. in place of the date. Finally, provide the name of the institution
that houses the artwork followed by the location of the institution.
Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV. 1800. Museo del Prado, Madrid.
30
Cite the title and publication information for the pamphlet just as you would a book without an author. Pamphlets and
promotional materials commonly feature corporate authors (commissions, committees, or other groups that does not
provide individual group member names). If the pamphlet you are citing has no author, cite as directed below. If your
pamphlet has an author or a corporate author, put the name of the author (last name, first name format) or corporate
author in the place where the author name typically appears at the beginning of the entry.
Pamphlet
Women's Health: Problems of the Digestive System. Washington: American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, 2006. Print.
Your Rights Under California Welfare Programs. Sacramento, CA: California Dept. of Social Services,
2007. Print.
Last name, First name. "Title of Poem." Title of Collection. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication: Publisher,
Year. Page range of entry. Medium of Publication.
Poem
Burns, Robert. "Red, Red Rose." 100 Best-Loved Poems. Ed. Philip Smith. New York: Dover, 1995. 26.
Print.
Whitman, Walt. "I Sing the Body Electric." Selected Poems. New York: Dover, 1991. 12-19. Print.
Last name, First name. "Title of Short Story." Title of Collection. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication:
Publisher, Year. Page range of entry. Medium of Publication.
Short Story in an Anthology
Kincaid, Jamaica. "Girl." The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories. Ed. Tobias Wolff.
New York: Vintage, 1994. 306-07. Print.
Carter, Angela. "The Tiger's Bride." Burning Your Boats: The Collected Stories. New York: Penguin,
1995. 154-69. Print.
Television or Radio (live)
Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series or program in italics. Also
include the network name, call letters of the station followed by the city, and the date of broadcast. End with the
publication medium (e.g. Television, Radio).
“The Blessing Way.” The X-Files. Fox. WXIA, Atlanta. 19 Jul. 1998. Television.
Television – recorded
Cite recorded television episodes like films. Begin with the episode name in quotation marks. Follow with the series
name in italics. When the title of the collection of recordings is different than the original series (e.g., the show
Friends is in DVD release under the title Friends: The Complete Sixth Season), list the title that would be help
researchers locate the recording. Give the distributor name followed by the date of distribution. End with the medium
of publication (e.g. DVD, Videocassette, Laser disc).
"The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends: The Complete Sixth Season. Writ. Andrew Reich and Ted
Cohen. Dir. Kevin Bright. Warner Brothers, 2004. DVD.
Give the instructor name. Then list the title of the course (or the school catalog designation for the course) in italics.
Give appropriate department and school names as well, following the course title. Remember to use n.d. if no
publishing date is given.
Web Site – department
Felluga, Dino. Survey of the Literature of England. Purdue U, Aug. 2006. Web. 31 May 2007. <www.purdue.edu>.
English Department. Purdue U, 14 May 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2009.
Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number. Name of institution/organization
affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of
access. <URL>.
Web Site – entire
Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory. Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003. Web. 10 May 2006.
<www.purdue.edu>.
For an individual page on a Web site, list the author or alias if known, followed by the information covered above for
entire Web sites. Remember to use n.p. if no publisher name is available and n.d. if no publishing date is given.
Web Site – page
"How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow.com. eHow, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2009. <www.ehow.com>.
31
Mini Senior Research Paper
Name _____________________________
Date due __________
Date submitted __________
Paper was submitted to Turnitin.com ______
_____
_____
Checklist Skills Grade (out of 40)
_____
Rubric Content Grade (out of 60)
_____
TOTAL PAPER GRADE
(6 points) Mechanics:

Cover sheet is present and includes your name, teacher’s name(s), and the thesis statement

Paper is typed and 2-3 pages

Font is Times New Roman 12

Margins are 1” on all sides

Paper has the proper heading and page numbers

Receipt from Turnitin.com has been stapled to the back of the paper
_____
(15 points) Parenthetical documentation is formatted correctly.
_____
(3 points) Citations are intermixed with the writer’s words, are not randomly placed in the paper and support the thesis.
_____
(8 points) The works cited page is formatted correctly.
_____
(3 points) The research contains a minimum of four sources (three articles and one print).
_____
(5 points) Each source that appears on the works cited page is used in the paper.
DIMENSION
60-46
45-31
30-16
15-0
Chooses a thought
provoking and relevant
topic
Searches for answers for
well-developed questions
Clear, specific focus
Topic chosen is relevant, but
does not have clear, specific
focus; too broad, too limited
Topic chosen is adequate
Formulated questions lack
focus
Has chosen an appropriate
topic
Completely lacks focus
Content
Research has a clear,
specific purpose
Research insightfully
answers research questions
Demonstrates mastery of
subject
Demonstrates higher level
thinking skills
Research has a specific
focus
Research is focused to
answer research questions
Demonstrates good
understanding of the subject
matter
Demonstrates higher
thinking skills
Research has some focus
Research addresses the research
questions, but does not
necessarily answer them
Demonstrates understanding of
subject
Research is largely unfocused
Research does not adequately
address the research questions
Demonstrates superficial
understanding of the topic
Organization
Presents information in an
organized, logical plan
Has as exemplary, thought
provoking opening and
conclusion
Transitions from topic to
topic and sentence to
sentence is smooth and
skillful
Presents information in an
organized, logical plan
Has an effective opening
and conclusion
Has transitions
Presents information in a fairly
well-organized plan
Has introduction and
conclusion
Addresses the topic but lacks
organization
Has no clear introduction or
conclusion
Topic Selection
Comments:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
32