Advanced English 9
Research Project
Third Nine Weeks 2014-2015
The topics of this research project are varied, but I (Mr. McCain) must approve your arguable topic AND your
parents must sign a sheet acknowledging the topic you choose. The project will include forming a research question,
developing a claim and counterclaim, collecting information, submitting a detailed outline, and completing required
drafts. We will have some time in class periodically to work on the project; however, you must not depend only on
class time to complete your project.
Supplies required: Once we begin the research project (Wednesday, January 7th) you are required to have these
items with you every day.
 note cards (3x5) OR legal sized pad/notebook paper for taking notes OR computer for taking notes
(McCain will provide note cards and legal pads)
 binder, pocket folder, or some other means of holding your research materials
 MLA Handbook, Seventh Edition (Bring YOUR book, not your friend’s - This is a must!)
 Any applicable research materials
 Any class handouts related to writing that you will need to produce a quality final product.
GUIDELINES FOR THE RESEARCH PROJECT:
Step One: Research Plan
You must have a minimum of 5 total sources and you must use 3 different types of sources that
may include, but are not limited to:
encyclopedia article
book
interview with someone working in your field of interest
Internet source
periodical
non-print source (videotape, documentary, lecture, etc.)
You will likely use source cards (3x5 cards) and note cards (3x5 cards) to keep track of your sources and the
information you will use in your project. Source cards are made for each source you consult. They should
contain information required for your Works Cited entry (see Appendices C, N, and S). If you choose an
alternate method of compiling your research, I must approve it. I will only allow 3 options that do not
require conferencing with me:



Source and note cards
A legal pad or notebook paper that follows a specific format we will discuss in class
A WORD document that uses a template that Mr. McCain has created
Note cards contain information that you believe will be useful for your project. Take your notes on 3x5
ruled index cards. Write the following information on each card:
(1) Slug - title or phrase telling what type of information is on the card
(2) Source card number
(3) Notes (see Appendix S).
(4) Page number in source
You are required to have a minimum of 5 source cards and 15 note cards. If you choose an alternate
option, you still must have 5 sources and a minimum of 15 slugs of research. If you do not know if you
have enough research, you probably do not.
1
Step Two: Preparing the Paper / Thesis
Your paper should have a thesis which should inform the audience of your opinion or argument (this is an
ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER) and approach to the topic. The thesis must answer not just "What is the topic?"
but also "What about the topic?"
For example: “Global Warming” is not a good thesis, but “Plastic production is the main culprit in global
warming” is. An even better thesis would be “Because plastic production is the main culprit in global
warming, the U.S. should lead a global initiative to curtail plastic production and make existing production
more environmentally safe.”
Before you begin to write, you need a map or plan. You must also create a detailed working outline after
you have developed your thesis (Understand that this outline will likely change). As you gather notes,
separate your note cards (or pages of research) into groups according to the slugs on your cards or your
pages. Decide which slugs go with each outline heading. Put aside cards or slugs that do not relate to the
topic no matter how interesting the information is. You may find that you need to return to a source for
more information. Make sure that your outline organizes the information in a logical way. When you
begin to write, you will be able to follow your outline and to refer to your notes for facts, information, and
quotations.
REMEMBER, your paper should contain the following information:
1. Introduction - Your introduction must grab the reader’s attention and then present your claims and relevant
counterclaims in your thesis statement. Your introduction must be interesting and direct.
2. Body – This will be the section of your paper that PROVES the point(s) in your thesis. The body will present
most of your support from your sources. There is not a set # of required paragraphs. You simply need to
provide enough information to support YOUR argument AND to explain he relevant counterclaims.
3. Conclusion – The conclusion will summarize the main points in your paper without presenting new information
that re-opens the argument. In the conclusion, you revisit the ideas from the thesis by restating your claim.
Step Three: Drafting your essay
Step Four: Evaluating and Revising:
Use the following tips to help you improve your paper. This is the self-editing/revising section of the paper.
You will later have someone else to read your paper (during the peer editing section).

Present your ideas in a logical order and use transitions to connect the ideas.

Define any unfamiliar words.

Stick to the points you are trying to prove.

Acknowledge the opposition to your thesis. This will give you credibility with your reader. It signifies
that you have done your research and your opinion has been carefully considered. If you show even the
smallest amount of empathy with your opposition, your thesis will be more carefully considered by your
reader(s).

Be sure that you support your ideas with facts, examples, and experts’ opinions.
2
GUIDELINES FOR THE ESSAY:
Your essay should be typed as you would type any essay: black ink, size 12 Times New Roman, Arial, or
Calibri font (or another approved font) with an MLA heading and header. You should include a Works Cited
page at the end of the paper; remember, the Works Cited page is a part of the paper and should be treated
as such. We will go over the format for this list in class. The directions are found in chapter 5 of your MLA.
Your paper must also contain at least two direct quotations.
DUE DATES and POINT VALUES
DUE DATE FOR
GRADING/APPROVAL
Monday 1/12
Wednesday 1/21
or Thursday 1/22
WHEN FINAL
DRAFT IS
SUBMITTED
Wednesday 1/28
or Thursday 1/29
WHEN FINAL
DRAFT IS
SUBMITTED
Friday 2/6
ASSIGNMENT
POINTS
Research question and proposal
Preliminary/Working Outline
13
32
Note and Source cards/ research pages
35
1st PEER EDIT – COMPLETE DRAFT DUE with Works Cited page-
40
Rough/first draft
Final Draft [This is the final day for accepting papers!]
Total Score
110
/230
*If you are going to be absent on the day the paper is due, you must submit your paper
early. No late papers will be accepted (except in the case of serious illness, personal
injury, or a death in the family)
Remember to check Appendix R for the rubric for each assignment
BEFORE you turn it in!
3
Appendix C: Notes on a Computer (using WORD)
4
Appendix N: Notes on a Legal Pad or Notebook Paper
Place the number of your
source here.
Source:
Draw a
line to
separate
your
source
from your
slugs and
notes.
Source 1
Number subsequent
pages for the same
source as 1a., 1b.,
etc.
Your citation will be in this space.
Slug 1 for this source
Place your notes for slug # 1 in this space
Slug 2 for this source
Place your notes for slug # 2 in this space
Continue slugs and notes as needed.
SEE THE NEXT PAGE FOR AN EXAMPLE.
5
6
7
Appendix S: Source Cards and Note Cards
Source cards are used to record the publication information for the sources you consult. Use your 3x5 cards for source cards.
The form used to record the information is the same as the form used on the list of works consulted, so you should consult
chapter 5 in your MLA as you make each source card. Notice that each card has a number in the upper right hand corner. You
will use this number on all note cards. If you go to more than one library to do your research, you will want to note which
library the book came from on the source card. You should also write down the call number of the book so that you can find it
again easily.
EXAMPLES:
Source card number
Source & its publication information
1
2
Craig, Grace J. Human Development.
Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1999. Print.
Nash, J. Madeline. “The Secrets of Autism”
Time 6 May 2002: 46-56. Print.
Emmett O’Neal Library 150.08
MBJH Library
Library
Call number
Use index cards for your NOTE CARDS. Each card should have a SLUG that tells what kind of information is on the card, the
NUMBER of the source the information comes from, the notes, and the PAGE NUMBER(S) where the information was found. To
avoid plagiarism, you must give credit to your source in the body of your paper, so be sure that you include all of this
information on each card! Each card should deal with one topic only. In other words, do not include information about two
different categories of information on the same card even though the information came from the same source.
There are three basic types of notes:
 Direct quotation- use this when the author has stated his idea so well that you want to use his exact words. Be sure to
enclose the quotation in quotation marks.
 Paraphrase- states all of the author’s ideas in your own words. You still must cite this in your paper.
 Summary- when the passage is very long, use summary to note only the most important ideas.
EXAMPLES:
Slug
Source card number
letter of card (first is a, second is b, etc.)
Ethics and research
1a
“Most people agree that experiments using humans are
necessary, especially if we are to understand and control the
impact of potentially harmful environments.”
p.37
Page number in the source
Vaccines and Autism
2a
Although some parents see a link between childhood from for
vaccinations and their children’s autism, the evidence is far
conclusive. The link is being studied by a number of groups
including the National Institutes for Health and the Center
Disease control.
p. 53
8
APPENDIX R
Name _____________________
OUTLINE
Points
Possible
Description
Superior outline
Good outline
Fair outline
Poor Outline
The superior outline demonstrates a thorough understanding of
logical thesis development. The superior outline is formatted
correctly, typed using MLA style. The superior outline is balanced;
a full, comprehensive paper could easily be written with the
superior outline as a guide.
The good outline resembles the superior outline, but may have
errors in formatting or MLA style. The good outline may have
errors in distribution of details; a decent paper could be written
from the good outline.
A fair outline possesses only the basic elements of an outline and
contains a variety of errors. It would be hard to create a solid
paper from a fair outline.
A poor outline reflects a poor attempt at organization with
numerous errors in formatting and topic arrangement
Points
Awarded
29-32
24-28
21-24
0-20
TOTAL
Sources
Notes
4 points –
Correctly
formatted
Source 1
Source 2
Source 3
Source 4
Source 5
Total Points
Number of correct
slugs and notes
(x 1 points)
Total points
_____
_____/15
35 possible points for cards
In order to get full credit on the
sources, they must be documented
correctly. In order to receive full
credit on your notes, they must
follow one of the suggested
formats.
____/20
Rough Draft (Which I will grade when I grade the final paper – McCain)
Header
Heading
Double-spaced
Margins
MLA format
(points)
(2 points each)
Good
Fair
Poor
Organization of Excellent
18-20
16-17
13-15
points
0-12
information
points
Works Cited
_____
points
Alphabetized
Separate Page
Hanging
indention
(2 points each)
Total points (40 possible)______
9
Proper
format
Parenthetical
documentation
20 possible
points
MLA header and title
(Works Cited)
Total
points
NAME ______________________
DATE _____________________
SCORE
/ 110
RESEARCH PAPER RUBRIC – FINAL DRAFT
Introduction (4 points per item)

Introduction effectively introduces the reader to the topic ____

Clear thesis statement containing an assertion to be proven
in the body of the paper with a claim and counterclaim _____
Body Paragraphs and conclusion (6 possible points per item)

Specific details to support ideas _____ (balance)

Commentary to connect the details to the thesis _____ (balance)

Paper is coherently reasoned _____ and organized _____ (makes sense)

Paper is free of factual errors ___________ (responsible use)

1st direct quotation apt and well-integrated _____

2nd direct quotation apt and well-integrated _____
Well done!
Good
Attempted
Not really!
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
Well done!
Good
Attempted
Not really!
6 points
4 points
3 points
2 points
_________________________________________________________________________________

Topic of each paragraph clearly stated in topic sentences _____

Paragraphs clearly support the topic sentence _____

Concluding paragraph effectively ends the paper _____

Opposing point of view addressed _____

Transition sentences where needed _____

Ideas flow smoothly within and between paragraphs (flow)
Well done!
Good
Attempted
Not really!
5points
4 points
3 points
2 points
_____MECHANICS

Any mistakes in grammar and mechanics do not interrupt the flow of the paper (10) _____

Mistakes in grammar and mechanics distract slightly from the effectiveness of the paper (5) _____

Mistakes in grammar and mechanics are a major distraction (0) _____
_____WORKS CITED PAGE
No errors 10 pts. One error 9 pts. Two errors 8 pts.
Three errors 7 pts.
More than three errors!
5 pts.
_____ OVERALL IMPRESSION
Phenomenal – meets all of the standards with few, if any, mistakes
Very good – meets all of the standards with a few mistakes that affect balance or the flow of ideas
Meets most of the standards, but lacks the polish of a paper expected from advanced students
Does not meet the standards for this assignment
10 points
9 points
8 points
0-7 points
_____UNNECESSARY DEDUCTIONS
Proofreading/getting paper ready to hand in: –5 for each X (These errors reflect poor planning/polish.)
 Major typos _____ Pages out of order _____ MLA a mess (incorrect parenthetical documentation, etc.) _____

MLA not a mess, but not totally correct (–3) _____
10