12 GP English
Research Paper
Assignment
I. Objectives
A. Research a topic of interest based on a contemporary issue
B. Express your ideas and the research through writing
C. Demonstrate proficiency of MLA style and format
II. Requirements
A. Length
1. Paper must be between 3-5 pages
B. MLA
1. Paper must be developed with 5 sources
2. Paper must contain quotes / in-text citations
3. Quotes must develop and support your CI
4. Paper may include no more than 2 Internet sources
5. Hard copy of Internet sources must be submitted with paper
C. Outline page
1. Single spaced
2. Properly formatted
D. Contents of actual paper
1. Introductory paragraph
a. Lead-in that gains the attention of reader
b. Central Idea that states what you will prove
c. Thesis that outlines how you will prove CI
2. Body paragraphs
a. Topic sentences that relate thesis back to CI
b. Supporting material
c. Quotations / In-text citations
d. Transitions
3. Concluding paragraph
a. Restates main points
b. Demonstrates paper has reached an end
E. Works Cited page
1. Title
2. Format
3. Five sources
F. Note cards
G. Format
1. Double space entire paper
2. Font size: 12 point
3. Font type: Times New Roman
4. Margins: 1 inch
5. Heading
6. Page numbers
H. Submit
1. Research paper
2. Works Cited
3. Outline
4. Hard copy of Internet source if used
I. Special Note
1. If absent on due date send paper to grabfder@eastpennsd.org
2. Paper must be received before 2:15 P.M.
3. Upon return to school, submit all hard copies
4. If you do not have email, have someone drop it off for you before 2:15
5. Each day late, paper loses 10%
6. Papers will not be accepted after four days
7. Papers with any form of plagiarism receive 0% and disciplinary referral
a. Regardless of intent
b. Regardless of amount
12 GP English
Research Paper
Checklist

_____Choose a contemporary issue
o _____Topics may be selected from the opposing viewpoints page
o _____No two people may write on the same topic

_____Sign up on list…first come - first served

_____Research paper due date is _________________

_____Library time for research is _____________________________

_____Receive research paper packet

_____Submit signature page

_____Rough draft, Revise, and Edit

_____Hand in paper, note cards, outline, Internet copies on due date
12 GP English
Research Paper
Topics
Abortion
Administration of Criminal Justice
Adolescence
Adolescent Sexual Ethics
AIDS
American Culture
Animal Experimentation
Animal Rights
Animal Rights Movement
Bioethics
Birth Control
Capital Punishment
Censorship
Child Abuse
Civil Rights
Crime
Cultural Conflict
Death
Eating Disorders
Ecology
Education
Elderly
Employment
Endangered Species
Environmental Policy
Environmental Protection
Environmental ism
Ethnic Relations
Euthanasia
Family
Family Life
Family Planning
Family Relationships
Feminism
Gambling
Gangs
Genetic Engineering
Gun Control
Health Care Industry
Health Care Reform
Health Insurance
Homosexuality
Human Reproduction
Juvenile Delinquency
Media Violence
Medical Care
Medical Ethics
Mental Disorders
Mental Health
Narcotics Control
Natural Resources
Pollution
Poverty
Public Assistance
Race Relations
Sex Education
Sexual Behavior
Sexuality
Social Values
Suicide
Teenage Pregnancy
Terrorism
United States Foreign Relations
Violence
Welfare Reform
Women’s Rights
Youth
12 GP English
Research Paper Rubric
__________ /35 Focus
/10 Lead In – gains the attention and interest of reader
/10 Central Idea – Clearly unites the work
/10 Thesis – anticipates / looks forward to the body paragraphs (3 arguments)
/5 Writer stays on topic throughout the paper; no irrelevant information
__________ /45 Content
/15 Writer completely addresses topic selected
/10 Writer develops a strong argument throughout the paper
/10 Writer skillfully and accurately uses research-based quotations and examples
to support ideas
/10 Writer incorporates a variety of sources
__________ /30 Organization
/5 Paper contains a clear introduction, body, and conclusion
/10 Body paragraphs contain topic sentence relating thesis to central idea
/5 Writer includes smooth transitions between topics
/10 Conclusion reinforces / expands upon the central idea
__________ /30 Style
/10 Writer invokes interest of reader
/5 Writer uses mature and varied sentence structures
/5 Diction and tone are appropriate to topic and audience
/10 Quotations are integrated smoothly into existing sentences / paragraphs
__________ /30 Mechanics
/30 Writer shows evidence of mastery through proper grammatical conventions
and spelling
__________ /30 Requirements
/10 Outline and note cards
/10 Works Cited (5 sources)
/10 MLA format
____________________ / 200 total point value
12 GP English
Research Paper
Format
Print:


Times New Roman
12 point
Paper:

8 ½ by 11 inch paper
Margins:
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
1 inch margins all around
o This does not include the page number
The page number is ½ inch from top
Indent the first word of a paragraph ½ inch or five spaces
Indent set-off quotations 1 inch or ten spaces
Spacing:

Entire paper is double spaced
o This includes heading, quotations, and the list of works cited
Heading and Title:


Do not use a title page
On first page- one inch from top and left type…
o Your name, your instructor’s name, the course number, and the date on
separate lines (Example of “date” 24 April 2002)
o Don’t forget to double space
o Double space and type the title of the paper
o Center title
o Do not underline, italicize, bold face, or use quotations for title
Page Numbers:
o Number all pages ½ inch from top and flush with right margin
o Type your last name before the page number
12 GP English
Mr. Grabfelder
CONSTRUCTING A CENTRAL IDEA
AND THESIS
THE CENTRAL IDEA
You have already written a number of central ideas this year. Your challenge for your
research paper, however, will be to identify what is significant about your novel on your
own as opposed to simply answering a question as in the past. To review, a central idea
must meet the following criteria.
1. It must be arguable. Someone else could disagree with your idea.
2. It must be a broad enough topic for you to write on. Remember, you need to
get 3-5 pages out of your idea.
3. It must be more than just an unsupportable opinion.
4. You must be able to find secondary support for this topic.
IDENITIFY THE PROBLEM WITH EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL
IDEAS.
1. “Young Goodman Brown” takes place in the famous town of Salem,
Massachusetts.
2. “The Cask of Amontillado” is by far Edgar Allan Poe’s most interesting and
intriguing story.
3. In “The Devil and Tom Walker,” the liver of Tom’s wife represents her choleric
attitude that permeates throughout the entire story .
4. Many of Melville’s works were not accepted by the public until after his death.
5. The Scarlet Letter introduces the reader to a number of different characters.
All of you have been finding information based on a particular theme or a topic. In order
to construct a central idea from that theme, you need to make a definitive, arguable
statement about it.
Examples:
1. If you are writing about a literary movement or philosophy…
Despite the fact that it was written during the earliest years of this literary
movement, William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis” is the quintessential Romantic
work.
2. If you are describing a writer’s purpose…
Herman Melville wrote “What Redburn Saw…” to promote social change by
illustrating the caustic attitude of many urbanites towards the poverty found
within the cities.
3. If you are writing about a literary style or structure…
In Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” he uses flashback
and ambiguity to illustrate the pointlessness of the Civil War.
4. If you are writing about a change in a character…
Throughout J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield learns
through his experiences in New York that it is impossible to hold onto one’s
innocence forever.
5. If you are drawing a parallel between the writer and his work…
In his poem “The Raven,” Edgar Allan Poe uses his own life experiences of
losing his wife to portray the intense sorrow of the poem’s speaker.
THE THESIS
You will most likely be unable to construct a thesis statement for your research paper
until you have completed taking your notes. However, your thesis should meet the
following criteria.
PURPOSE: The “map” of your paper. The thesis will outline HOW you will support
your central idea.
CONTENT: It should consist of 3-4 points. If you find yourself creating a thesis that
consists of 6 or 7 items, COMBINE those items into broader topics.
LENGTH: Ideally, your thesis should be one sentence in length. This will help to guide
your reader through the paper. If you absolutely CANNOT condense your ideas into one
sentence, see me so that we can work on it together.
EXAMPLES:
1. For the central idea on “Thanatopsis:
Bryant’s use of archaic language and reference to ancient times, his
knowledge of the hidden fears of the individual, and his celebration of the
healing and sustaining power of nature result in a work that clearly
demonstrates the key tenets of the Romantic movement.
2. For the central idea on Catcher:
Holden’s experiences in New York cause him to mature through his contact
with the adult world of prostitution, the profanity that appears in even the
most sacred of places, and the disappointment of the figures he trusted in the
most, all of which teach him that innocence is not eternal.
Essay Visual
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12 GP English
Research Paper
In-Text Citation
Throughout your research paper you will be using the thoughts and ideas of others
to add authority to your writing. You will be using direct quotations and indirect
quotations. A direct quotation occurs when you borrow the author’s exact words. You
must supply quotation marks, the author’s last name, and the page number of the source
when quoting directly. An indirect quotation occurs when you borrow the author’s idea /
research but not his or her words. You must supply the author’s last name and page
number of the source when quoting indirectly. (Information that is deemed “common
knowledge” does not need to be documented.) When you borrow another’s idea in the
text of your paper, it is called “in-text citation.” Below you will find common methods of
constructing in-text citations.
1. Introduce a quotation with the author’s name and close it with a page number, placed
within parentheses. (The following is an example of an indirect quotation.)
Conner Russell contends that Hemingway was a pioneer of the masculine novel (26).
This citation makes clear to the reader where the borrowed material begins and ends.
2. You may put the source’s name and page number at the end of the quoted or
paraphrased material. (The following is an example of a direct quotation.)
DNA must be copied exactly during cell reproduction, for “each DNA strand
provides the pattern of bases for a new strand to form” (Caden 815).
3. You may cite the title of the source along with the page number if no author is given.
NOTE: Shorten titles to a key word in the in-text citation.
Supporters of educational toys believe that “by learning to use the toys the child
stimulates mental development” (“Selling” 43).
4. You may cite a source quoted in another source.
Martin Greenberg contends, “The interventions can be construed by the adolescent
as negative, overburdening and interfering with the child’s ability to care for
himself” (qtd. in Peterson 9).
NOTE: Greenberg is the original author of the quote. You read it in Peterson’s book,
who was quoting Greenberg.
5. You may refer to several authors who address the same issue.
Several scholars agree with Hemingway’s assertion that all of American literature
begins with one novel- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Gavin 3; Spengler 1415; Kosaber 87).
6. If the Works Cited page contains two or more works by the same author, you’ll need
more than just the author’s last name in your parenthetical reference. Give the author’s
last name, a shortened version of the title, and the page reference.
The German foxholes dug during World War II were almost always deeper than the
American foxholes (Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers 257).
7. If you’re citing a source by two or three authors, give the last names of every author in
the same order that they appear on the Works Cited page.
Accordingly, a frequent cause of depression in middle-aged women is the care of
elderly parents with failing health (Gasda and Gambrill 1).
8. If you’re citing a source by more than three authors, give the first author’s name as it
appears on the Works Cited page followed by et al. or and others with no punctuation
between.
Methane gas trapped in ice crystals on the seafloor may be an important source of
fuel in the future (Suess et al. 80).
*Consult the MLA Handbook for other, specific examples
12 GP English
Research Paper
In-Text Citations
Helpful Hints and Suggestions:
If a word in a quotation is misspelled or incorrectly used, add the word sic in
brackets, meaning “thus,” to clarify that the error is not yours.
Too many quotations will make your paper choppy and undermine your authority on
your topic. Roughly 20% of your paper should be quoted material.
If a quotation you’ve selected to incorporate in your paper contains another quotation,
you must enclose the included quote in single quotations. Your quotation will be
punctuated as follows:
“The ultimate decision for apologizing is, according to Collins, ‘up to the
offending party’” (23).
Use the ellipsis “…” to represent the omission of a word or words. If the omission
occurs at the end of a sentence, a fourth period serves as the end mark.
Use brackets [like this] to insert your own words inside a quotation or to change
a word form (for example, from usual to usual[ly]).
Set off quotations of four or more lines by indenting ten spaces. Do not use
quotation marks around the indented material. Place the parenthetical citation
after the final period of the quotation, not inside the period.
In his book, A Time to Heal, Gerald Ford, who replaced Richard Nixon in the
White House, says he was angry and hurt that Nixon had lied to him, but he was
also bothered deeply about Nixon’s effects of the status of the Presidency:
What bothered me most was the nature of Nixon’s departure. In the 198
years of the Republic, no President had ever resigned, and only one other
Chief Executive-Andrew Johnson-had ever been the target of an
impeachment effort in the Congress. But Nixon, I had to conclude, had
brought his troubles upon himself. (Ford5)
Doe 5
Works Cited
Brindle, Reginald Smith. “The Search Outwards: The Orient, Jazz, Archaisms.” The
New Music: The Avant-Garde since 1945. New York: Oxford UP, 1975.
Gammond, Peter, ed. Duke Ellington: His Life and Music. 1958. New York: Da Capo,
1977.
Griffiths, Paul. A Concise History of Avant-Garde Music: From Debussy to Boulez
New York: Oxford UP, 1978.
Haase, John Edward. Beyond Category: The Life and Genuis of Duke Ellington. Fwd.
Wynton Marsalis. New York: Simon, 1993.
Hitchcock, H. Wiley. Music in the United States: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Englewood
Cliffs: Prentice, 1974.
Rattenbury, Ken. Duke Ellington, Jazz Composer. New Haven: Yale UP, 1990.
Tucker, Mark, ed. The Duke Ellington Reader. New York: Oxford UP, 1993.
---. Ellington: The Early Years. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 1991.
Note:
1. Margins are 1” on all sides.
2. 2nd (and all consecutive) lines of a bibliographic entry should be indented ½ inch.
3. All entries should be alphabetized.
4. Note the way to write a bibliography entry for 2 or more books by the same author. See
entries for books by Mark Tucker.
5. Note how to abbreviate University of Wherever Press. See final entry of working
bibliography.
6. Words such as “Publisher” and abbreviations like “Co.” and “Inc.” should be omitted.
7. Use the same header format as the one on this page.
12 GP English
Research Paper
Plagiarism
 Understanding Plagiarism
This guide will help you prevent any form of plagiarism. If, at any time, you are
unsure about plagiarism you need to ask for assistance.
 Definition of Plagiarism
“Plagiarism is the dishonest omission of such acknowledgment that makes
another person’s fact, idea, opinion, line of argument, or wording appear to be
your own” (Department of English, Lafayette College).
 Consequences of Plagiarism
Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment and disciplinary action.
 Avoiding Plagiarism
If you borrow a person’s original line of thought, give credit by citing his or her
name along with a page number of the source.
If you borrow a person’s thought and words, give credit by including all borrowed
words in quotation marks along with name and page number.
 Forms of Plagiarism according to MLA handbook
“The most blatant form of plagiarism is to obtain and submit as your own a paper
written by someone else. Other, less conspicuous forms of plagiarism include the
failure to give appropriate acknowledgement when repeating or paraphrasing
another’s wording, when taking a particularly apt phrase, and when paraphrasing
another’s argument or presenting another’s line of thinking” (71).
 Examples of Plagiarism
Direct quotation, documented- acceptable
In “The Stationary Tourist,” Paul Fussell contends that tourism “began more than
a century ago, in England, [when] the unwholesomeness of England’s great sootcaked cities make any place abroad…appear almost mystically salubrious,
especially in an age of rampant tuberculosis” (233-234).
Quotation without quotation marks- unacceptable even though documented
The English considered foreign travel almost mystically salubrious, according to
Fussell (234).
Partial paraphrase: only a few words changed- unacceptable even though documented
Tourism started more than a century ago in England. The great soot-caked cities
were so unwholesome that any place abroad seemed almost mystically healthful
by comparison (233-234).
Complete paraphrase: documented- acceptable
Paul Fussell believes tourism grew out of nineteenth-century urban squalor: cities
became so dirty and unhealthy that people took vacations to escape (233-234).
Paraphrase: undocumented- unacceptable
Tourism grew out of nineteenth-century urban squalor: cities became so dirty and
unhealthy that people took vacations to escape.
Works Cited
Fussell, Paul. “The Stationary Tourist.” The Random House Reader. Ed. Frederick
Crews. New York: Random House, 1981.