Senior Project Notes
Due: November 5
Warm Up 10-2-13
• What will be the biggest obstacle to overcome
relating to your senior project?
• Why is this an obstacle? Explain
2-4 sentences
Sr. Project Notes Guidelines p18
• Two deadlines for notes:
– 1St Notes – Nov.5 : Background/History of Topic
– 2nd Notes – Dec 17: Two Sides of Controversy.
Notes Step 1: Read, then take notes
• When you find material you think will be
useful, it is important to do some background
reading before you take notes.
• You should not take notes the first time you
read a source.
• If you determine that the source will give you
useful information for your paper, then take
notes and write out quotations related to your
thesis.
• READ FIRST, NOTES SECOND!!!
Notes: Keep track!!!
• Keep track of your notes using a computer file or
a notebook.
• Also keep track of publication information
including author, titles, publication date,
publisher, page numbers, and date of access.
• Copies of articles must be submitted with your
notes. They will not be accepted without them.
• Notes submitted for grading must follow the
format on page 19.
TAKE OUT PAGE 19.
Notes: Divided by type.
• Take notes on:
• 1)background/history on the issue. (Nov 5)
• 2)arguments on the opposing side, and
arguments supporting your position. (Dec 17)
• Make sure each fact clearly relates to your
thesis. Think in advance where it might be
placed in your paper.
Notes: Divided by type
Breakdown should be as follows:
• Maximum 25% of notes can be on
background on the topic.
• Approximately 40% of notes should be on
your position on the controversy and support
for your position.
• Approximately 35% of notes should be on the
opposing side of the controversy.
Notes: What to Write Down???
• Record important details and quotations.
• Paraphrase and summarize as much of the
information as possible, using your own words
and sentence patterns.
Notes: What to Write Down??? Cont.
• If you find wording that you’d like to quote, be
sure to enclose it in quotation marks to
distinguish your source’s words from your own.
• Double-check your notes to be sure any wordfor-word material is accurately quoted and that
you have not accidentally plagiarized your notes.
• DIRECT QUOTES: No more than 25% of your
notes should be direct quotes.
• Every time you include a quote, include an
explanation in your own words.
Notes: Labeling
• Label each fact or detail with the appropriate
citation information on the notes pages
(author, title if no author, and page number).
• Source: authors last name or title of article if
no author is provided.
• Page #: Only necessary for print sources, if
from the web, label: WEB.
Notes: Works Cited Page
• Create a Works Cited page, in MLA format,
containing the sources you took notes from.
• ONLY the sources you used should be on the
Works Cited page!
• See pages 37-40 for MLA format for source
citations and page 28 for Works Cited page
format guidelines.
• You are not limited or bound to the sources
you put on your proposal.
Quotes: Advice from your teacher
• There should be no more than1-2 quotes per
paragraph.
• Use quotes sparingly. So don’t fill your notes
with only quotations. Use a variety of
paraphrase, summaries, and quotations.
• Paraphrase sources that are not worth quoting
but contain important details.
• Summarize longer passages whose main
points are important, but details are not.
Sources and Notes: HOW MANY?
• You should use a minimum of two sources for
your background and history notes.
• Minimum 45 notes on background.
• Your should fill up four pages of notes.
What are background/history notes?
• Remember the person reading your paper is
ignorant about the subject matter.
• What information would the reader have to
know before they could even begin to
understand the 2 sides/arguments.
Examples: historical information, important
terms, concepts, people, and events.
Credibility
Indicators of Lack of
Credibility
Accuracy
Indicators of a Lack of
Accuracy
Reasonableness
Author's Credentials - Author's education, training, and/or experience in a field relevant to the
information.
The information should contain: trustworthy source, evidence of quality control, known or
respected authority, and organizational support.
Goal: an authoritative source, a source that supplies some good evidence that allows you to trust it.
Anonymity, lack of quality control, only critical reviews, bad grammar or misspelled words.
The information should be: up to date, factual, detailed, exact, comprehensive, audience and
purpose reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy.
Goal: a source that is correct today (not yesterday), a source that gives the whole truth.
No date on the document, vague or sweeping generalizations, old date on information known to
change rapidly, very one sided view that does not acknowledge opposing views or respond to them
The source should be: fair, balanced, objective, reasoned, no conflict of interest, absence of
fallacies or slanted tone.
Goal: a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably, concerned with the truth.
Indicators of a Lack of
Reasonableness
Intemperate tone or language ("stupid jerks," "shrill cries of my extremist opponents"), overclaims
("Thousands of children are murdered every day in the United States."), sweeping statements of
excessive significance ("This is the most important idea ever conceived!"), conflict of interest
("Welcome to the Old Stogie Tobacco Company Home Page. To read our report, 'Cigarettes Make
You Live Longer,' click here." or "The products our competitors make are dangerous and bad for
your health.")
Support
The source should contain: listed sources, contact information, available corroboration, supported
claims, documentation.
Goal: a source that provides convincing evidence for the claims made, a source you can triangulate
(find at least two other sources that support it).
Indicators of a Lack of
Support
Numbers or statistics presented without an identified source for them, absence of source
documentation when the discussion clearly needs such documentation, you cannot find any other
sources that present the same information or acknowledge that the same information exists (lack of
corroboration)
Grading of Notes
Scoring Rubric:
(Adviser: please circle one)
Advanced
Student meets all of above criteria. Notes are thorough and detailed. Work is high
quality and scholarly, worthy of a grade of A.
Proficient
Student meets minimum requirements and meets a majority of above criteria. Work
is of average or above average quality, worthy of a grade of B.
Basic
Student barely meets minimum requirements and/or meets approximately half of
above criteria. Work is of below average quality, worthy of a grade of C or D.
Below Basic
Student does not meet minimum requirements and/or does not meet a majority of
above criteria. Work is of below average quality, worthy of a grade of F.
Paper Organization
Introduction/Thesis: ½-1 page
Background/History: 1 page
Opposing Arguments: 1 ½-3 pages
#1, #2, #3, #4
Supporting Arguments: 1 ½ -3 pages
#1, #2, #3, #4
Conclusion/Personal Opinion: ½-1 pages
5 complete pages minimum