Victorian Era Research Project
In preparation of reading Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations (1860-61), we will be
independently conducting research on the Victorian Era in England (1837-1901).
The work schedule below is a minimum. You may work ahead of schedule on any part. The
due dates are set, so do not waste valuable class time talking or doing work for another class.
Diligence and following directions are expected throughout this project and will lead to its
successful completion.
Monday, 1/8
Tuesday, 1/9
LIBRARY
LIBRARY
In the library,
look for 5
sources of
research for
your topic.
Finish gathering
sources and
complete your
source cards.
Read to gather
information and
begin taking
notes.
Continue
reading and
taking notes.
Due by the
end of the
period: One
source card.
Monday,
1/15
Due by the end
of the period:
The remaining 4
source cards
Tuesday,
1/16
Due by the end
of the period:
Detailed notes
from 5 sources
Wednesday,
1/17
Martin Luther
King Holiday
Wednesday
1/10
LIBRARY
DUE TODAY:
Typed Outline
that includes
your thesis
statement
EXAMS
Thursday, 1/11
COMPUTER LAB
#104
Friday,
1/12
LIBRARY
Type up Works
Cited List.
PUNCTUATION
MUST BE
PERFECT.
Organize your
notes and begin
constructing your
outline. No more
library time after
class today.
Due by the end
of the period:
Completed
Works Cited
Page
Thursday,
1/18
Due by the end of
the period: Your
Thesis Statement
Friday,
1/19
EXAMS
EXAMS
What I Will Be Collecting:
-5 Source Cards
-Works Cited Page
-5 pages of notes
-Typed up Outline
Worth A Test Grade
Due: Tuesday, 1/9
Due: Thursday ,1/11
Due: Friday, 1/12
Due: Tuesday, 1/16
25%
25%
25%
25%
100%
1
I. RESEARCH TOPICS (Choose one):







Industrial Revolution (England, 1700s)
and Factories (England, 1800s)
Diseases/Health Issues in 1800s
Working conditions, workforce
(Labor/hours)
Reform acts (1800s)
Daily life for Victorians
Victorian Fashions (clothes)
The life of Charles Dickens and other
works of literature he wrote









Other Victorian Writers of the time
period
Penal System; treatment of Convicts
Social Status
Victorian Etiquette
Social class, tradition, money
Orphanage/Orphans
London during the 1800s
Schools and Education
Marriage customs
II. Finding Sources
You need a minimum of 5 sources, and you must include at least one Encyclopedia, one traditional Book,
and one Electronic Source (website or database). The other two sources are your choice. Pay close attention
to the Media Specialist as she explains how to find your needed information.
III. Creating Source Cards
Your work will be made much easier if you take care to get complete information as you work. Going back
to find missing information later is unnecessary and time-consuming. In addition, if you need to consult a
reference work at a later date, a complete bibliography will help you relocate the material as quickly as
possible.
1
Simmonds, George W. “Joseph Stalin.” Grolier Online.
Online. University of Detroit. 13 Sept. 2002
<http://gi.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_stalin.html>.
2
Pleshakov, Constantine. Stalin's Folly: The Tragic
First Ten Days of World War II on the
Eastern Front. New York: Houghton Mifflin
Books, 2005.
INTERNET
Book
SOURCE CARD CHECK LIST
 I have used 5 different sources.
 One source is an encyclopedia article.
 I have used one Internet article.
 I have used one book (print) source.
 I have followed the proper format as described above.
 All punctuation is perfect.
 Each source card is numbered in the upper right-hand corner.
 Spelling on the card is exactly as it appeared in the source.
2
IV. Taking Notes
The information you require from your 5 sources will provide the “meat” for your outline. Therefore, you
need to take thorough and detailed notes that paraphrase or summarize what each source says. Do not write
verbatim what is on the page; that would be considered plagiarism.
I am requiring a minimum of 5 pages (not front and back) of notes. You need to have notes from EACH
SOURCE and you must label your notes accordingly. If you are copying a direct quote, be sure to use
quotation marks. For quotes, specific facts, and statistics, you must also obtain page numbers.
Sample Note-Taking
From Stalin’s Folly …



Stalin was Russia’s political leader from 19291953 (when he died.) p. 2
Stalin is responsible for the murder of
approximately 43,000,000 people from 19291953. p. 72
“Stalin was arguably the worst leader in history.”
Quote by historian John Frick, p. 88
Note Taking CHECK LIST
 My notes are labeled to reflect that I have obtained information from each of my five
sources.
 My notes are summarizing the information; not directly copying (plagiarism).
 I have provided the page numbers for all statistics, quotations, and facts that I
obtained from each source. (Internet sources do not apply here.)
 If I directly quoted something, I was sure to use quotation marks.
V. Works Cited Page
If you prepared your source cards correctly, creating a Works Cited page is a cinch!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sort your cards alphabetically according to the first word on each one.
Type your information (keeping in alphabetical order).
Double space everything.
If the entry is more than one line long, indent the second and all subsequent lines one-half
inch (use tab button) from let margin.
5. Underline the titles of books; place quotation marks around the titles of articles.
6. Copy internet addresses with great care; they must be accurate!
7. DO NOT number your entries.
3
Sample Works Cited Page
Works Cited
Dent, J.M., ed. Baudelaire: Selected Poems. London: The Orion Publishing Group, 2003.
Pleshakov, Constantine. Stalin's Folly: The Tragic First Ten Days of World War II on the Eastern
Front. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books, 2005.
“Priapus.” The Ares Press. Online. Aug. 1998
<http://www.arespress.com/AresPages/Priapus/Priapus.html>
Simmonds, George W. “Joseph Stalin.” Grolier Online. Online. University of Detroit. 13 Sept. 2002
<http://gi.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_stalin.html>.
Tyack, David and Larry Cuban, Tinkering Towards Utopia. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press, 1995.
VI. Outline (with Thesis Statement).
The following is an example of an outline structure. Use this same format; but use complete sentences for
the topic of each paragraph, and provide ample evidence from all of the notes you took in the media center.
Title of Paper
Your Name
I. Introduction
a. Opening Sentence: Catches the reader
b. Background Information
c. Any terms need defining about your topic?
d. Thesis Statement (Think Subject, Opinion, Blueprint)
II. Argument 1
a. Topic Sentence for paragraph
i. Evidence
You may have more evidence for
ii. Evidence
one argument than another, and
iii. Evidence
that’s okay. This structure just
III. Argument 2
a. Topic Sentence for paragraph
gives you an idea of what I’m
i. Evidence
looking for.
ii. Evidence
iii. Evidence
Right-click on your mouse and use
IV. Argument 3
the “Bullets and Numbering”
a. Topic Sentence for paragraph
i. Evidence
function to get the computer’s help
ii. Evidence
with this structure.
iii. Evidence
V. Conclusion
a. Restatement of thesis
b. Summarize arguments
c. Powerful concluding statement
4