Name:
Ms. Di Re
10R Period:
Date:
Book Banning Research Paper
What are the steps to writing a research paper?
1. Choose a TOPIC.
[In your case, the general topic is book banning or book censorship. Choose a book that you
have recently read or that is very familiar to you from the list attached or from the ALA
website.]
2. Go to the library and take NOTES on the following information:
I.
a. What is book banning or book censorship?
b. Who bans / censors books?
c. Why are books banned / censored?
d. OPTIONAL: BRIEF history of banning / censoring books
II.
a. Where, when, and why was your selected book banned / censored?
Be sure to provide reasons why your book was banned from credible Internet sources, books
from the library, and THE ACTUAL BOOK ITSELF!
III. Based on your research, should your book be banned / censored?
Be sure to give information from your sources and from THE ACTUAL BOOK ITSELF!
BE SURE TO CORRECTLY GATHER ALL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FOR THE
BIBLIOGRAPHY CARDS.
3. Using your notes gathered in the library during the research phase of this project,
create a THESIS STATEMENT.
A thesis statement is the one (1) sentence you will prove in your research paper.
(It cannot be a fact.)
For this research paper, your thesis is fairly simple:
The novel Blahblahblah by John Smith Jones should not be banned or censored. OR
The novel Blahblahblah by John Smith Jones should be banned or censored. OR
The novel Blah by John Smith Jones should be censored for those under the age of
.
4. Organize your notes by writing the topic of the note on the note card. See which topic
you have a majority of notes for and create an OUTLINE based on those topics. Eliminate
useless notes.
5. Write a ROUGH DRAFT based on your outline. Be sure to follow the correct format
for in-text citations.
6. Revise the draft and submit a FINAL COPY.
Where do I find credible sources to use/cite in the research paper?
1. THE LIBRARY
a. You must use the ala.org website. There are several links for you to click on to
gather information for your paper.
b. You must use the actual book for which you are researching the censorship issue.
c. You may choose a school data base for opposing viewpoints if you can find
information relevant to your novel in it.
The following is just a small part of a list of books that have been banned or challenged
at some point in time in the US and other countries. The books come from the ALA
website. You can find the rest of the books there.
Books you have read in school:
Books you may have read outside of school:
Of Mice and Men
1984
Lord of the Flies
A Separate Peace
The Outsiders
A Wrinkle in Time
The Giver
The Lord of the Rings
The Face on the Milk Carton
James and the Giant Peach
Goosebumps
Harry Potter
Bridge to Terabithia
Go Ask Alice
To Kill a Mockingbird
How to Eat Fried Worms
If you have another book in mind and can’t find it on the banned books list, see me or Mrs.
Rosenblum or Mr. Renner for help.
Each part of the research paper project will be collected and graded. Each section is worth
25 points [before extra credit].
Topic:
Due Dates:
Extra Credit Pts.
1.
20 NOTECARDS and
2-3 BIBLIOGRAPHY CARDS
Typed = +10
Early = +5
2.
THESIS STATEMENT
Early = +5
3.
OUTLINE
Typed = +15
Early = +5
4.
ROUGH DRAFT
Typed = +15
Early = +5
FINAL COPY [must be typed]
Early = +10
REALLY GOOD NEWS: If you need any help, at any time during the research paper
project, please come to the library during fifth period and I can help you in the best
place to be helped. I am free period 0, 1, 3, 7, and 10th (by appointment).
Good Luck and Have Fun!
Bibliographical Information:
Note 1:
Note 2:
Pg. #
Note 3:
Pg. #
Note 4:
Pg. #
Pg. #
OUTLINE
Introduction
Grabber:
Thesis:
Main Points:
I.
II.
III.
First Body Paragraph
Main Point I:
Details: A:
B:
C:
Second Body Paragraph
Main Point II:
Details: A:
B:
C:
Third Body Paragraph
Main Point III:
Details: A:
B:
C:
Conclusion
Restate thesis:
Sum up each main point:
Add a clincher (the last thought on your topic that you want your audience to think about.)
.