Name__________________________ Hour _______
Requirements for Middle Ages Research Paper
1. You will need to write a minimum 5 paragraph essay (introduction, sub-topic, and
conclusion paragraphs) over your Middle Ages topic and sub-topics.
2. You will pick a topic and then through research you will develop your sub-topics.
3. You will need to have a minimum of 3 sources not counting encyclopedias. You may
use encyclopedias, but they will not count in your list of minimum sources. You must
use at least 2 books.
4. Proof of research: You will need to show your teacher your set of note cards on the
assigned due dates. Students will be graded on proper form (see attached page).
Minimum note cards = 30 (10 for each sub-topic). Students will be using both
Communication Arts periods and Social Studies class to work on research.
5. Students will be writing their report using the attached grading guide. Time will be
given in Communication Arts and Social Studies classes to work on organizing and
the beginning steps of the writing process. Kids will have to complete the paper on
their own time at home.
6. Students will also be expected to include a title page and an accurate work cited
page on the assigned due date.
GRADE: 50 points possible. This grade will count in Social Studies and in your
Writing class.
Parent Signature: __________________________________
Student Signature: _______________________________
1
Middle Ages Research Topics
1. Vikings
2. Magna Carta
3. Medicine in the Middle Ages
4. Kids in the Middle Ages
5. Peasants in the Middle Ages
6. Charlemagne and the Franks
7. Byzantine Empire
8. King Richard I
9. Saladin
10. Francis of Assisi
11. Monks and Monasteries
12. William the Conqueror
13. Pope Benedict
14. Samurai
15. Thomas Aquinas
16. Black Death
17. Spanish Inquisition
18. Castles of the Middle Ages
19. The 100 Years War
20. The Holy Roman Empire
21. Emperor Henry IV
22. Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain
23. Pope Urban II
24. The Crusades
25. The Inquisition
26. Code of Chivalry
27. Feudal System
28. Knights
29. Eleanor of Aquitaine
30. Women in the Middle Ages
31. Pope Gregory VII
32. Joan of Arc
33. Reconquista
34. Medieval Fairy Tales
2
How do I Start?
1. Become familiar with your topic and work on creating your sub-topics. You
will do this by researching in the library here at school, at your own public
library, internet and through classroom resources.
2. You will need to create 30 note cards (20 facts for each sub-topic) with 2
facts on each card. PLEASE USE 4x6 or 5x7 INDEX CARDS. You will have a
total of 60 facts when the research is done.
A. Remember to fill in bibliography information for each source
you use. You will need to identify on each card what source
you are using.
B. It is REQUIRED that a formal work cited page be turned in
with your essay. You should use www.easybib.com to help you
create the page.
While students aren't required to use all 60 facts
on the note cards, published pieces must have a
minimum of 45 facts.
3. Once your note cards are completed, begin to plan your report. You will
need to organize your note cards. You will be given class time to do this.
3
The Research Process
Step 1: Find an Overview of Your Topic
Before you begin researching, get a quick overview of your chosen topic. You
may only have a sketchy idea of what your topic is. Go to an encyclopedia and read the
entry for your topic. Or go to several on-line websites…at this time you are just getting
an overview of your topic. Pay attention to names, dates, places, definitions, and other
important events. The purpose of this step is to help put your topic into the big picture.
Step 2:What do you want to know?
What do you want to know about your topic? Think of all the questions you have
about your topic.. Fill out this KWL chart for what you already know about your topic,
what you want to know, and then later fill in what you have learned.
K
W
L
4
Step 3: Generate Keywords and Questions
Begin by writing down questions about your topic that you need answered.
Keywords are just words or phrases you use to search for answers to your questions.
Never limit yourself to only one or two words or phrases. Make a list of at least 8 words
and search repeatedly in a database for variations of these.
Write 5 questions you have about your topic
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5
Now, write a list of 8-10 key words about your topic
Step 4: Create 3 Sub-topics
After completing your initial investigation of your topic, you will now create 3 sub-topics
to focus your research.
You will then create a starter thesis. Your thesis statement should be specific and
preview what you will talk about
Thesis Statement:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Step 5: Taking Notes on Note Cards (4x6 or 5x7 cards)
Now that you have 3 approved sub-topics, it is time to begin your main
research. You will take notes on your note card – no more than 2 facts per card.
Remember to identify on the note card what source you got your information. You will
need to record ALL sources on your “work cited help page.”
Middle Ages Planning Sheet
Directions: Place an X on the lines to the left as you complete each item.
6
_____ Topic and sub-topics chosen. Write them below.
Topic - ________________________
teacher initial _____
Sub-topic
1. ________________________
teacher initial _____
2. ________________________
teacher initial _____
3. ________________________
teacher initial _____
_____ 30 Note Cards (with citations) completed. TOTAL OF 60 Facts.
1st set of note cards are due ______
teacher initial _____
2nd set of note cards are due ______
teacher initial _____
3rd set of note cards are due ______
teacher initial _____
______ You have completed your KWL chart
______ You have taped down and ORGANIZED your note cards.
______ You have written an introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
______ You have created a rough draft of your paper.
______ You have edited your rough draft.
______ You have typed up your final draft of your report.
______ You have completed an accurate TITLE page and WORK CITED page.
_____ You have typed in Times New Roman using 12 point font.
Work Cited HELP PAGE
7
On the back of each note card you must include your work cited
information to keep an accurate account for your work cited page
OR you can number your work cited information (see attached
sheets) and number your note cards accordingly.
Once you are done researching you will need to record your
information from your “work cited help page” into one of the
following engines to create a FORMAL WORK CITED PAGE THAT
IS DUE THE DAY YOU TURN IN YOUR PAPER.
www.easybib.com
www.knightcite.com
www.citationmachine.net
Remember that your paper WILL NOT be graded if your work
cited page is not attached to your paper.
Work Cited Help Page for a WEB PAGE
8
Author
(Last, First, Middle initial)
Title of Web Doc.
Title of Website
Publisher/Sponsor
Date of Website/Doc.
Date of Access
Author
(Last, First, Middle initial)
Title of Web Doc.
Title of Website
Publisher/Sponsor
Date of Website/Doc.
Date of Access
Author
(Last, First, Middle initial)
Title of Web Doc.
Title of Website
Publisher/Sponsor
Date of Website/Doc.
Date of Access
9
Work Cited Help Pagefor a PRINT
SOURCE
Author
(Last, First, Middle Initial)
Title of Book
Place of Publication
Publisher, Year
Author
(Last, First, Middle Initial)
Title of Book
Place of Publication
Publisher, Year
Author
(Last, First, Middle Initial)
Title of Book
Place of Publication
Publisher, Year
10
Name __________________________________
Middle Ages Research Preparation Grades
Assignment
KWL Chart (step 1)
Possible Points
10
Generate Keywords and
Questions (step 3)
10
Selected 3 sub-topics
10
1st set of 20 facts
20
2nd set of 20 facts
20
3rd set of 20 facts
20
Rough Draft
20
Points Earned
If any of the above assignments are not turned in on the due date, your grade will be
penalized. 10% will be taken off for every day late….so if your 1st set of note cards are 2
days late you will lose 20% of your grade. Phone calls will be made if your note taking
falls behind.
11
What is Plagiarism?
In a middle school science classroom, a girl named Cheryl read aloud her report on
pearls. The last words she read were, “Related articles in World Book include: Birthstone,
Button, Carbonate, Conch, Gem (color picture), Mollusk, Oyster.” Cheryl had copied her
report, the last sentence was a dead give away.
Cheryl was guilty of plagiarism. What is plagiarism? It is a form of stealing. It is
the stealing of another person’s words of ideas and using them as your own. Cheryl had
plagiarized her report because she had pretended the World Book article was her own work.
Plagiarism is a serious offense:
Plagiarism is against the law. Of course it is unlikely that the police are
going to come into a school and arrest a boy or girl for plagiarism, even if the
student is guilty. However, older students and adults who are caught plagiarizing
can get into serious trouble-losing lawsuits, having their careers ruined, flunking
courses, being expelled from school.
For example, in 1987 Senator Joe Biden withdrew as a candidate for
President because of plagiarism charges. One example was a speech he gave to the
California State Democratic Convention. The speech was remarkably similar to a
speech give by Robert Kennedy in 1968. Biden was criticized for the speech
because he did not give Kennedy credit for the words he used.
Give Credit to your sources:
There is nothing wrong with using the words of another- if you give that
person credit for the words. There are a number of ways to do that. The simplest
way is just to say so. Tell who you are quoting, and then put quotation marks around
the person’s words.
What about change a word here or there? Many students think that if you
change “a” to “the” in a sentence you are not copying. THEY ARE WRONG! You are
still plagiarizing, even if you change several things slightly but leave the material
essentially the same.
Plagiarism applies to ideas, as well as words:
Plagiarism can exist even if you don’t copy at all! Using someone’s ideas as
your own is plagiarism.
Suppose that a Dr. Joe Schmoe writes a newspaper article with a suggestion
for improving the U.S. economy. He suggests that all students be required to drop
out of school between the ages of 12 and 15, to save school districts money and to
allow students more time to spend money at local malls. You think that sounds like a
great idea, so you write an English paper suggesting the same thing- but never
mentioning Dr. Schmoe. Even if you don’t use Dr. Schmoe’s words, you have
plagiarized his ideas.
Copyright @1994 ~Cottonwood Press, Inc. ~305 West Magnolia, Suite 398~Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
12
Knights – The Man Behind the Armor
By Jennifer Walters
Social Studies (Walters) / Communication Arts (Harness)
April 5, 2010
What is Plagiarism?
13
In a middle school science classroom, a girl named Cheryl read aloud her report on
pearls. The last words she read were, “Related articles in World Book include: Birthstone,
Button, Carbonate, Conch, Gem (color picture), Mollusk, Oyster.” Cheryl had copied her
report, the last sentence was a dead give away.
Cheryl was guilty of plagiarism. What is plagiarism? It is a form of stealing. It is
the stealing of another person’s words of ideas and using them as your own. Cheryl had
plagiarized her report because she had pretended the World Book article was her own work.
Plagiarism is a serious offense:
Plagiarism is against the law. Of course it is unlikely that the police are
going to come into a school and arrest a boy or girl for plagiarism, even if the
student is guilty. However, older students and adults who are caught plagiarizing
can get into serious trouble-losing lawsuits, having their careers ruined, flunking
courses, being expelled from school.
For example, in 1987 Senator Joe Biden withdrew as a candidate for
President because of plagiarism charges. One example was a speech he gave to the
California State Democratic Convention. The speech was remarkably similar to a
speech give by Robert Kennedy in 1968. Biden was criticized for the speech
because he did not give Kennedy credit for the words he used.
Give Credit to your sources:
There is nothing wrong with using the words of another- if you give that
person credit for the words. There are a number of ways to do that. The simplest
way is just to say so. Tell who you are quoting, and then put quotation marks around
the person’s words.
What about change a word here or there? Many students think that if you
change “a” to “the” in a sentence you are not copying. THEY ARE WRONG! You are
still plagiarizing, even if you change several things slightly but leave the material
essentially the same.
Plagiarism applies to ideas, as well as words:
Plagiarism can exist even if you don’t copy at all! Using someone’s ideas as
your own is plagiarism.
Suppose that a Dr. Joe Schmoe writes a newspaper article with a suggestion
for improving the U.S. economy. He suggests that all students be required to drop
out of school between the ages of 12 and 15, to save school districts money and to
allow students more time to spend money at local malls. You think that sounds like a
great idea, so you write an English paper suggesting the same thing- but never
mentioning Dr. Schmoe. Even if you don’t use Dr. Schmoe’s words, you have
plagiarized his ideas.
Copyright @1994 ~Cottonwood Press, Inc. ~305 West Magnolia, Suite 398~Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
14
Name _________________________
Middle Ages Research Project Grading
Guide
Criteria
Historical Content: Is there evidence of research or are
the “facts” simply your own opinions? Did you
highlight interesting facts? Did you stay on topic?
Possible Pts
15
Organization: My introduction grabs the reader’s
attention and contains a strong thesis statement.
5
Organization: My conclusion links back to my
introduction and restates my thesis.
5
Sentence Fluency: I used transition words to move from
idea to idea. I varied sentence length and structure.
5
Organization: My paragraph show where my sub-topics
begin and end.
5
Conventions: Mechanics, grammar and spelling.
5
Accurate work cited page included.
If this is not included …paper will not be graded.
12pt Times New Roman font used/ Cover Page/ 1 inch
margins/ double spaced
Total Points
5
Earned Pts
5
50 points
15
16