Name:___________________________________
Activity to Determine Research Topic
Go through this list and write a brief opinion on each topic. Then on a scale of 1-10, indicate your interest
in researching this topic. 10 means you really want to research the topic (more than any other topic), 1
means you have close to zero interest in researching this topic. Please note, you may not get your first
choice.
Topic
Eric Garner case exampleprosecutors need to be
supervised
Poverty. Does section 8
housing create a cycle of
poverty?
Harlem Children Zone –
effective?
Abortion
Death penalty
Free community college
Open versus closed adoption
Gay adoptions
Pledge of allegiance- should
we say under god?
Is college worth the cost?
Athletes are paid too much?
Animal rights versus animal
testing
My opinion
On a scale of 1-10level of interest in
researching (10 being
extremely interested)
Obama’s executive order on
immigration
Americans do not value sleep
SHS should start one hour later
Juveniles should get life
sentences for non-homicidal
crimes
Doctor assisted suicide
Living on minimum wage
The misrepresentation of
women in media leads to
decrease in women in
politics/powerful positions
Affirmative action should be
used in college admissions.
Would we be safer with fewer
jails?
Should Palestine be recognized
as a state by the UN?
Homes for homeless?
Effective?
Should the drinking age be 18?
Silent Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of the top six topics you would like to research:
Your top six topics
Your position
Person who opposes you
Senior Research Paper
Topic: Essential Question on Current Event
You need to write a 5-6 page research paper answering an essential question that you developed.
Much of the time conducting research involves the process of collecting and reading the research
material collected and writing the manuscript from the data collected. The researcher often goes
back-and-forth between collecting, reading, and writing.
A sufficient research paper has many elements – thorough research, many sources (both primary
and secondary), and proper citations. However, the most important aspect of a solid research
paper is tension; this tension is created by the presence of a problem or mystery. * Why did
people do things the way they did? * How did their actions affect the present? *Did these actions
affect the future?* *Are these actions affecting our county’s future?* Without that tension, a
research paper is just an endless litany of facts and figures – boring to write and even more
boring to read. The good news is that once you create an essential question, you have
automatically started that all important process of analysis.
So let’s get started: your job in this particular research paper is to develop a thesis that responds
to your previously developed essential question.
Essential Questions
What is an essential question?
- An essential question lies at the heart of a subject, promotes inquiry and the uncovering
and investigation of a subject.
Essential questions…………
- Have no simple “right” answer
- Provoke & sustain inquiry
- Address conceptual or philosophical foundations
- Raise other important questions
- Stimulate vital, ongoing rethinking
In short, the essential question will be the anchor for your research.
Basic Essential Question Examples: (should be altered a bit. need to be more specific)
How has this issue impacted our society?
Does this issue change the lives of the average American?
Does this issue alter the potential future of America as a whole?
Does this issue affect the promise of America’s future?
Higher Level Essential Question Examples:
To what extent does the rise in minimum wage affect the average American?
Will the significant rise in the cost of college affect the United States’ middle class in the long run?
Does the increase in the number of states allowing doctor assisted suicide provide a gateway to
more questionable freedoms of Americans?
To what extent does the misrepresentation of women in media negatively affect our countries
political and economic future?
How beneficial will Obama’s idea of free community college be for the United States as a
whole?
Due Dates:
Essential Question Due Date: March 16
Outline Due: March 19
Annotated Bibliography Due: March 19
First Draft for Peer Review Due: March 26
Final Draft Due: April 2
Criteria
Thesis Statement
 Makes a clear and analytical argument
 Answers the research question
 Is 1-2 sentences and worded concisely
Evidence/Support
 All body paragraphs support the author’s thesis
 Author provides a substantial amount of evidence to
effectively support her/his thesis
 Evidence is accurate and comes from multiple, reliable
sources
Analysis
 Author avoids basic interpretation, is able to think
outside the box, be inventive
 Author makes connections for the reader and shows how
the evidence (s)he presents supports the thesis
 Author explains the significance of the evidence (s)he
presents and/or the connections(s)he makes
Academic Structure
 Introduction paragraph introduces the paper topic in a
broad way, includes a road map, and ends with the thesis
statement
 Body paragraphs begin with clear topic sentences (that
are arguable and connect to thesis statement)
 Ideas are organized throughout the paper
 Transitions connect body paragraphs
 Conclusion revisits the paper’s major arguments and
reinforces why the thesis statement is correct / discusses
implications for the future
Citations
 Author cites necessary information throughout in the
body of the paper with parenthetical citations
 Parenthetical citations are properly formatted according
to MLA
 Works Cited page is formatted properly according to MLA
 At least 6 sources were used, one of which is a primary
source
Writing Conventions/Format
 Paper is 5-6 pages
 Paper is formatted correctly according to MLA style
(double –spaced, one inch margins)
 Author uses proper spelling, grammar, punctuation
Total
Points Earned
Point Value
10
30
20
15
10
10
100