CAREER RESEARCH PAPER REQUIREMENTS
1.
Choose a career to research which you can see yourself pursuing someday and/or that you would like to
know more about so you can eventually make an informed decision about your future. Any legitimate
career is an acceptable topic. You may choose one of your parents’ careers if you wish. Choose a
career you have not previously researched for another class.
2.
The paper will research the following things:
 Job description and duties
 Educational and training requirements/certificate/licensing/exam/experience
 Physical requirements and suitable personality types
 Working environment/clothing and equipment/etc.
 Salary/benefits/job market
 Advantages and disadvantages
 Eventually you will draw some conclusions about whether and why this would be a good career
for anyone to pursue, and particularly for you.
3.
Your research paper must include at least five secondary sources. Secondary source research is the
more traditional type of research: library, magazine, encyclopedia, newspaper, nonfiction books,
internet sources, etc. You will need to make at least one trip to a public or college library for some of
your resources. Make arrangements with your parents now to do so. At least five secondary sources are
required, at least three of your sources need to be from 1, 2, and 3. At least two need to be from 4.
1) print periodical (newspaper, magazine, or journal)
2) nonfiction book
3) specialized encyclopedia or reference book (no standard encyclopedia sources will be allowed)
4) internet source (must be a valid, authoritative source, absolutely no Wikipedia allowed)
4.
This is a “by the book” research paper. You will learn how to complete each step; it is imperative that
you do each step as taught. If you learn how to write a research paper the standard way, then all future
papers will be easier.
5.
We will use MLA guidelines for our final drafts. This handout has much of the basic information you
need. In addition, some class time will be given for you to learn the steps of the paper and ask questions
as needed.
6.
Requirements (see rubric for additional information):
a. 4-5 pages not including illustrations/visual elements, outline, or Works Cited
b. typed formal outline
c. MLA style: typed, double spaced, one inch margins, etc.
d. at least five sources as outlined above
e. parenthetical documentation and Works Cited page.
f. well-organized:
 Introduction ending with thesis/preview statement
 Body paragraphs with topic sentences, logical order, quality support, etc.
 Conclusion which restates thesis and draws final conclusions.
7.
We will focus on writing responsibly and avoiding plagiarism. Plagiarism—intentional or
unintentional—can result in a required rewrite, a zero on the paper, a discipline step/meeting with the
principal, and so on.
8.
This is an essential project for English 9. Students who do not turn in a research paper will not receive
an incomplete for this class.
9.
Tentative due date schedule:
A
B
a. Guidelines/Handouts
Thursday, April 1st
Friday, April 2nd
b. Media Center Beginning Research
Monday, April 6th
Tuesday, April 7th
c. 5+ bibliography cards or Works Cited draft
Thursday, April 9th
Friday, April 10th
d. first 10 notecards
Thursday, April 16th
Friday, April 17th
e. second 10 notecards
Monday, April 20th
Tuesday, April 21st
f. thesis statement and typed, formal outline
Thursday, April 23rd
Friday, April 24th
g. Works Cited typed rough draft (all sources)
Monday, April 27th
Tuesday, April 28th
h. whole paper typed rough draft
Monday, May 5th
Tuesday, May 5th
i. final draft, including all parts & final outline
Thursday, May 14th
Friday, May 15th
Using library and Internet resources, you will gather information about a career that you are interested
in pursuing. Try to address as many of the following questions as possible. At the end of your paper,
include a reference to the source(s) you used in appropriate MLA format.
EDUCATION & TRAINING

What is the minimum education required for this job? Maximum?

How many years of study are involved? At what cost?

Where would you obtain this education? (On-the-job training, junior college, technical school, college, or
university?)

What are the entrance requirements for these training schools? How many years? Post graduate?
JOB SKILLS, TALENTS AND EXPERIENCE

What special skills, talents, or personality traits are necessary for this occupation?

Where could you gain experience?

In what ways are you suited for this career?

What personality characteristics or skills do you currently possess that you believe will benefit you in this
career?
EARNINGS

What is the standard beginning wage for this job? In this area? Elsewhere?

What is the maximum salary you can expect? Here? Elsewhere?

What factors effect the salary range?

What expenses are involved in setting yourself up in this profession?

How can these start up costs be financed, underwritten, or deferred?
BENEFITS/HEALTH FACTORS?

What health benefits are available to employees?

What health and safety issues are involved in this occupation?

What other benefits might this occupation include: vacation time, retirement plan, perks?
EMPLOYMENT

What is the prospect for employment in this occupation?

What factors influence the availability of jobs in this field?

What is the growth potential for this job?
TYPICAL DAY

Describe a typical day for a person in this job.

What are the usual hours?

What are the best parts of the day?

What would be the most challenging?
APTITUDE (Your inherent ability/talent for the job)

What personality traits/skills do you possess that would make you suited for this job?

What "real life" experiences have you had that have prepared you?
Basic MLA format
(MLA = Modern Language Association)
In High School English, and especially on the university level, you will be required to present your papers in a specific,
highly detailed format. For English papers, this format will be MLA. While this paper will not include ALL there is to know
about MLA style, it will serve as an introduction to many of the conventions you will be required to follow in years to come.
Requirements:
Typed: Times New Roman Size 12, black only
Double spaced
Heading on first page only (see below)
Last name and page number on each page (see below)
Title centered (see below)
Works Cited page (see example provided)
Vacation 1
Header with
last name and
page number
Anita Vacation
Pre-AP English
Heading: Name,
course, instructor,
date double spaced.
Ms. Gantt
Title – centered and only significant
words in CAPS
April 1, 2009
Oedipus Rex - Bliss in Ignorance
One of the most memorable and meaningful Socratic quotes applies well when in context of Sophocles' Theban
Trilogy. "The unexamined life is not worth living," proclaims Socrates. He could have meant many things by this
statement, and in……
**A NOTE ON PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is using anything that is not your own work and attempting to pass it
off as yours. You may use others’ ideas, but you MUST put it in your own words. This includes material and
information from books, magazines, pamphlets, the Internet, and anything that you did not write or think up
yourself. When you use others’ ideas you must change it substantially. You cannot just change a word here
and there; that is still plagiarism. If you want to use a direct quote, put it in quotation marks and give credit to
the source.
Sample Works Cited Page:
“Works Cited”
means you list all
the sources you
used/cited in your
paper
Title centered;
entire page
double spaced
Works Cited
Chen, Jan. “Oedipus Rex: The Myth." http://www.tvs.com/annie/oedipus.html
(a website: author if known, title, address, date
(January 2001).
accessed)
Fuddle, Ernesto James. Classical Greek Literature. California: Macmillian Press, 1976.
(A book: author; title; state; publishing company; copyright year)
“Oedipus Rex.” Encyclopedia Americana. 1980 ed.
Walter, William, ed. Plays of Sophocles. California: Macmillan Press, 1976.
Zebub, B. L. “The Questions in Oedipus Rex.” Literary Criticism. New York: McGraw Hill Publishing
Company, 1967, 290-297.
Notice that the list is
alphabetical by last name
and is not numbered
Notice the HANGING INDENT format.
The first line starts at the margin and
subsequent lines are indented.
There are
periods at
the end of
the each
citation.
Check MLA
format for
proper order
& location of
other
commas,
periods, etc.