ENG II Research Paper Packet
For our research paper you will be asked to research modern day controversial issue. The purpose of
high school is to prepare you to be educated society members. As you have learned throughout your
years, decisions are not always easy. Many times we realize that society contains many “gray”
issues; things are not as easy as “black and white.”
Materials: Handouts for Sources
Jump Drive (optional)
Research Topics - One student may choose one each class. Topics will be rewarded on a first
come, first serve basis.
Addiction
Censorship
Civil liberties
Death Penalty
Epidemics
Health Care
Juvenile crime
Mass media
Paranormal phenomena
Popular culture
Race relations
Sports and athletes
Surrogate motherhood
War on terrorism
Drinking age
Chemical dependency
Culture of beauty
Drug legalization
Gun Control
Illegal immigration
Legalized gambling
Media violence
Patriot act
Population
Recycling/Garbage
Student rights
Teenage pregnancy
Weapons of mass destruction
Due Dates
Biomedical ethics
Child abuse
Discrimination
Endangered Oceans
Hate Groups
Information revolution
Male/female gender roles
Mental illness
Pollution
Poverty
Sexual violence
Suicide
Tobacco and smoking
Welfare
Points
Notecards
_________________
50
Outline
_________________
50
Bibliography
_________________
50
Final Draft
_________________
50
___________/200
Failing to complete the research can result in a failing grade for the nine-weeks.
Plagiarism - Plagiarism is a VERY serious offence and will result in a 0% for the final draft. I am fully
aware of the ease papers may be copied from the web. I trust you to turn in YOUR WORK. No one
else’s work is as good as YOUR WORK. If you find information from a source, YOU MUST CITE IT
(even if it is not direct quote).
Sources and Note Cards - List each source on a separate note card. Source cards make research
and writing easier. You will use your source cards to prepare your works cited page. You are required
to use THREE sources in your paper: 1 Database source, 1 Book source (actual hardback book from
library), and 1 Internet source. You are required to have at least 25 note cards, although to write a
quality research papers, you will most likely need more.
Sample Source Cards
BOOK
Sample Note Cards
Outline – See handout
Making a report outline is essentially a matter of sorting your source handouts according to subject
heading so that they support your thesis statement. The headings can be single words, phrases or
complete sentences. Whatever your format, you MUST be consistent.
Writing your Rough Draft – We will type SOME in class
Follow your outline to write the body of your report. Your rough draft should be AT LEAST 5
paragraphs, handwritten in blue or black ink or typed. If handwritten, skip lines and do not write on
the back of your lined notebook paper. I EXPECT YOU TO USE AT LEAST 3 IN-TEXT CITATIONS!!
Use of Citations - Sources acknowledged within the body of the report are called citations. The
following will help you determine when to cite a source:
1. Cite a source when you QUOTE an author’s exact words.
2. Cite a source when you PARAPHRASE or SUMMARIZE an author’s words.
3. Cite a source when you give FIGURES or STATISTICS from a source.
When in doubt, cite. We will use the guidelines for citing sources set by the Modern Language
Association (MLA). Use this site for additional information:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Citing Procedure:
1. A citation within the body of the report consists of the author’s last name and the page number
on which the information is found, for example (Jones 35-36). Do NOT list all the pages of the
2.
3.
4.
5.
article as you did on the front of your note cards. Instead, list only the relevant pages that you
listed on the back of your note cards. Use NO PUNCTUATION between the author’s name
and the page number.
If there is no author, abbreviate the title of the source, for example (“Trains” 33).
Omit the page number when citing an article that is only one page in length or when there are
no page numbers, for example a web site (Smith).
If the author’s name is used within the paragraph, list only the page numbers, for example
(20).
Place the citation at the end of the summarized or quoted material, BEFORE the period, for
example: Thirty percent of Americans are overweight (Smith 24-25).
Works Cited Page – We WILL type in class
The list of works cited is the list of all the sources acknowledged in the citations. It is the last page of
the report, compiled from your note cards. Entries on the list of Works Cited follow the format used
for source listings. Do not print without my permission. Use the following guidelines to create a
Works Cited list.
1. Arrange your sources in alphabetical order, by author’s last name. (If no author is listed,
alphabetize by the title of the source, after words such as “the” or “a”). List your sources in this
order.
2. 0.5” from the top, using right justification type your last name and the page number. (If your
paper is 3 pages typed, it will be page 4.) Using center justification, type “Works Cited.”
3. Return 1 double-space using left justification and type your first source. The first line begins at
the margin and the rest of the lines for that entry are tabbed once. Do not number your
sources.
4. The entire Works Cited page should be double-spaced, 1” side margins.
5. See me with any questions. Do not print until final draft is complete.
Sample Works Cited Page:
Smith 4
Works Cited
Boseovski, Janet J. and Kang Lee “Children’s Use of Frequency
electric library
Information for Trait Characterization and Behavioral
Prediction.” Science Therory. New York: Greenhaven Press,
2006. Tennessee Electric Library. Web. 5 Nov 2009.
Ellis, Leslie. “The Adolescent Identity Crisis.” BC Parent News
Internet source
Magazine. 2008. Web. 11 July 2008.
Rushton, Alan, and Cherilyn Dance. “The Adoption of Children from
journal article,
Public Care: A Prospective Study of Outcome in Adolescence.” two authors
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 45 (2006): 877–83. Print.
Schlessinger, Laura. Bad Childhood—Good Life. New York:
HarperCollins, 2007. Print.
book
“Stages of Social-Emotional Development in Children and Teenagers.” Internet source with
2007. Web. 11 July 2008.
no author
6. example: Thirty percent of Americans are overweight (Smith 24-25).
Annotated Bibliography:
Elements to include in the annotation
Elements with asterisks are to be included in each annotation. You may also include any other
elements listed.
*Author Who is the author? What is his/her occupation, position, education, experience, etc? Is the
author qualified to write the article?
*Purpose What is the purpose for writing the article or doing the research?
*Content Briefly describe the information that the book or article contains.
*Intended Audience Is the article or book intended for the general public, for scholars, policy
makers, teachers, professionals, practitioners, etc?
*Bias or Weakness Does the author have a bias or make assumptions upon which the rationale of
the article or research rests?
Information Source What method of obtaining the data, or conducting the research was employed
by the author? Is the article (or book) based on personal opinion or experience, interviews, library
research, questionnaires, laboratory experiments, standardized personality tests, etc?
Author Conclusion At what conclusion does the author arrive? Does the author satisfactorily justify
the conclusion from the research or experience?
Relationship to Other Works How does the study compare with similar studies? Is it in tune with or
in opposition to conventional wisdom, established scholarship, professional practice, government
policy, etc? Are there specific studies, writings, schools of thought, philosophies, etc., with which this
one agrees or disagrees and that one should be aware?
Special Features Are there significant attachments or appendices such as charts, maps,
bibliographies, photos, documents, tests or questionnaires?
Sample Annotation:
Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. New
York: Anchor Books, 1995. Print.
Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life,
complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous
approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's
book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot
development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's
own internal critic. In the process, Lamott includes writing
exercises designed to be both productive and fun.
Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of
writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a
reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with
one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical
handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable
because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its
encouraging approach.
Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for
a writing class. Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the
writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students'
own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises
would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises.
Students should find Lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable.
Heading and Title - A research paper does not need a title page. Instead, beginning one inch from
the top of the first page and flush with the left margin, type your name, your teacher’s name, the class
name, and the due date on separate lines, double-spacing between the lines. Double-space between
the lines of the title and the first line of the text. DO NOT italicize, bold or underline your title. Titles
should be original, brief, and thought-provoking.
Page Numbers – All pages should have your last name and page number at the right-hand corner.
This is done in a header.
Smith 1
Jane H. Smith
Mrs. Bamberg
Honors English II
25 October 2012
A Stitch in Time
In today’s society, news breaks at lightening speed.
Teenagers often find themselves consulting their cell phones multiple
Final Draft – We will type SOME in class
After you have reviewed and revised your draft based on self-evaluation and teacher comments, you
will type your final draft. Adhere strictly to the RHS Manuscript Guide for typing procedures. The
paper should be AT LEAST 5 paragraphs with 5 sentences EACH. Your last name and page number
goes on the top of page one and on, 0.5” from the top. Your final draft should be turned in following
the following order: title page, research paper, works cited page. Your works cited page should
contain AT LEAST 3 sources. I WILL be grading you on correct format!
Outline
I. Introduction: Thesis Statement:
II: Topic sentence one:
Summary of text:
Quote from text:
How this quote proves my thesis:
Conclusion Sentence:
III: Topic sentence two:
Summary of text:
Quote from text:
How this quote proves my thesis:
Conclusion Sentence:
IV: Topic sentence three:
Summary of text:
Quote from text:
How this quote proves my thesis:
Conclusion Sentence:
V: Conclusion sentence for entire essay:
Name:___________________________________
Annotated Bibliography
Your Name: _________________________
Mrs. Bamberg
English II
Date: _______________________________
Annotated Bibliography Graphic Organizer
(You will complete the following information for EACH of your sources.)
Citation:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Introductory statement:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: (Main idea from each paragraph)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Concluding remark:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Combine your introductory statement, main idea sentences (in order of sequence), and concluding
statement into one 5 to 7 sentence paragraph.
Why is this a GOOD AND VALID resource for your topic? 2 to 3 sentence paragraph!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Annotated Bibliography
Your Name: _________________________
Mrs. Bamberg
English II
Date: _______________________________
Annotated Bibliography Graphic Organizer
(You will complete the following information for EACH of your sources.)
Citation:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Introductory statement:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: (Main idea from each paragraph)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Concluding remark:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Combine your introductory statement, main idea sentences (in order of sequence), and concluding
statement into one 5 to 7 sentence paragraph.
Why is this a GOOD AND VALID resource for your topic? 2 to 3 sentence paragraph!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Annotated Bibliography
Your Name: _________________________
Mrs. Bamberg
English II
Date: _______________________________
Annotated Bibliography Graphic Organizer
(You will complete the following information for EACH of your sources.)
Citation:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Introductory statement:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes: (Main idea from each paragraph)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Concluding remark:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Combine your introductory statement, main idea sentences (in order of sequence), and concluding
statement into one 5 to 7 sentence paragraph.
Why is this a GOOD AND VALID resource for your topic? 2 to 3 sentence paragraph!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________