Formal Essay Rules
Research Papers
AP Research Paper
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Use the formula for the MP 1 Essay
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Plot + Device = Meaning
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Your paper will be an expanded version of the
MP 1 essay, using 2 works of literature and
supporting criticism.
You must include 5 works of criticism and 2
works of literature in the final paper.
Approaching History for
Research
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Don’t think of this as a simple report
stating what happened.
Your job is to explain why it happened.
Narrow Your Topic!
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General topic: Immigrants in Canada
More specific: Immigrant workers in
Canada 1830 – 1940
More specific: British pauper children as
indentured workers in Canada 1830-1940
Questions
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Why were British pauper children used as
indentured workers in Canada between
1830 and 1940? Why did the practice end
in the 1940s?
Preliminary Thesis
British pauper children filled an important
labor shortage on Canadian farms between
1830 and 1940.
Refined Thesis
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Canada’s practice of importing young child
laborers was the controversial result of
Britain’s attempts to deal with the poor
and to fill Canada’s labor needs. Changing
public perceptions of childhood eventually
led to the demise of child labor
importation.
Paper Requirements
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5 sources (minimum) in final paper.
2 books, and 1 database source
(minimum).
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CP: 4-5 pages
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H: 5-6 pages
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AP: 7-8 pages
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Reports Due in October
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Have a working thesis statement. Tell the
class your idea for an argument on this
topic at the beginning of the essay.
Write an in class essay covering the basic
information from one major book source.
Directions for Making an Outline
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Use Roman numerals, letters and numbers
to indicate the major sections of your
paper.
Include citations and a revised works cited
sheet with your outline on the due date.
Outline Example
Thesis:
I Topic Sentence
A. Fact (Citation)
1. My analysis
2. My analysis
B. Quote (Citation)
C. Specific Detail or Statistic (Citation)
What is Common Knowledge
and Doesn’t Need to be Cited?
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If in doubt, cite it!
You may consider it “common knowledge”
- If you can find the fact in multiple
sources
- AND IT IS SOMETHING OTHER
PEOPLE IN THE CLASS WOULD KNOW
WITHOUT LOOKING AT SOURCE
MATERIAL!
Common Knowledge - Fiction

You do not need to cite basic plot points
of works of fiction. Assume you are
writing for an audience that has an
academic understanding of fiction.
Final Thoughts at This Point in
the Process
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Your outline should be detailed, explaining
what material you plan to cite and the
order of the information.
I should be able to determine the logic of
your argument based on the outline.
Points deducted for lack of detail!
Outline Reminders
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Show me a clear plan for the body of your
paper.
Include all direct quotes, statistics, and
general facts from your sources.
After each piece of information from a
source, include the citation.

(Reynolds 5).
Citations
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When there is no author, cite by title. You
may use a key word in the title if it is very
long.
Check rules for other variations!
Three Ways to Cite
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Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was
marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful
feelings" (263).
Romantic poetry is characterized by the
"spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings"
(Wordsworth 263).
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Wordsworth extensively explored the role of
emotion in the creative process (263).
Language
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No vague language (“things,” “good,”
“bad,” “stuff”).
Do not begin sentences with “so,”
“then,” or “well,” “and,” or “but.”
Use the literal and precise meaning of
words. (No “on the other hand”)
Sentences
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All sentences should be complete with a
subject and a verb.
Vary sentence structure.
Avoid linking verbs (“is,” “are”)
Use present tense for literature and past
tense for history.
Avoid passive voice (no “the ball was
thrown by Paul”).
Paragraph Structure
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Paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence
(state what the paragraph is about), should
have supporting details that describe all
important information about the topic, and
should end with a concluding thought in YOUR
OWN WORDS!
All body paragraphs should have at least one
short quote from the literature or source
material. However, the bulk of the paragraph
should be YOUR OWN WORDS!
Tone
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Use a formal tone and quality vocabulary (you
are not writing a text message to a friend)!
Do not use the words “I” or “you.”
Do not make any “announcements” in your
essay (In conclusion, In this essay I will write
about, This essay is about, As stated above).
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Use quality vocabulary - if a 2nd grader can
read your entire essay and understand EVERY
WORD, you are not writing like an adult!
Introduction and Conclusion
Introduction paragraph should end with the
thesis statement.
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Anecdotal: Tell a story.
Contrast: Argue against the common belief. (Most
people believe that America deserves all the credit
for bringing WWII to an end. However, were it not
for the British effort…)
Funnel: Start with a broad topic sentence and
slowly lead up the thesis statement.
Conclusion should contain a reworded thesis
statement and sum up main points of the
essay.