Name ______________________________________________________
Due Date _____________________________________
Grade 10 Research Paper
This Research Paper is an assignment that will count for both English and Social Studies classes. There
are multiple steps that are required to successfully complete this research paper, so it would be a good
idea to use your class calendar to keep on top of due dates.
Your Task:
Select and research a topic from the list of Global Conflicts provided. Then, complete in-class and outof-class assignments in which you will work with your texts and your topic. Establish a claim that
you will prove using evidence from your research. This paper is to be 3 to 5 pages in length. It must
be typed, double spaced, and follow MLA format with appropriate in-text citations and a Works Cited
page.
Your Topics**:
The Cambodian Genocide
The Holocaust/ WWII
Nanking Massacre
The Bosnian Civil War
The Armenian Genocide
Conflict in Burma
Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh
Civil Rights Movements and
Tienenmen Square (China)
Leaders (ie. Gandhi, Kenyatta,
Biko, Mandela)
**If you have a specific interest beyond these subjects, please see me personally after class.
Your Timeline:
Assignment/Step
1. Topic Selection and Proposal
2. Research and Informative Paper
3. Mini-Dialogue using three to four sources
4. Brainstorm/Word-Web
5. Thesis/Claim creation
6. Rough Draft
7. Peer Editing
8. Final Draft and Reflection
9. Post-Conference
Due Date
Grading Rubric:
Writing
Components
4 Exceptional
Introduction
Paragraph
Begins with an
interesting and
engaging hook
strategy that
effectively grabs
reader’s attention
and ends with a
strong thesis that
clearly states main
assertion.
Evidence and
Research
Research is strong
throughout.
Skillfully integrates
quotations and
citations while
maintaining the
flow of ideas. MLA
in-text citations
follow format
exactly.
Analysis/
Synthesis
Conclusion
Paragraph
3 Effective
Begins with a hook
strategy that is
related to the essay
topic and attempts
to capture the
reader’s interest,
but fails to engage
the reader. Thesis
is present, but
assertions could be
stronger.
Research is
present, but does
not support all
assertions
effectively.
Integrates
quotations, but
flow of ideas is
disrupted in places.
MLA in-text
citations follow
format.
2 Adequate
1 Unsatisfactory
Contains a hook
strategy that fails
to clearly relate to
the essay topic;
incomplete or fails
to engage reader.
Thesis is
incomplete and
does not present a
clear assertion.
Does not attempt a
hook strategy.
Thesis is absent or
unclear.
Research is too
general to
effectively support
your main
assertions. Quotes
are not integrated
effectively and
disrupt the flow of
ideas. Minor errors
in MLA citation
format.
Research is absent
or ineffective. No
attempt at
integrating quotes
into the body of
essay. Errors in
MLA citation
throughout.
Develops the main
Attempts to
ideas within the
develop main ideas
body of the
Most main ideas
through supporting
composition
are supported with
evidence; however,
through supporting
evidence; however,
analysis of that
evidence.
analysis and
evidence in relation
Synthesizes
synthesis of
to main assertion
information from
information is
lacks depth.
multiple sources
limited and would
Information from
and identify
benefit from
multiple sources is
complexities and
further
present, but
discrepancies in
development
synthesis of that
the information to
throughout.
information is
support main
limited.
assertions.
Flows from the
Does not flow
body of essay,
Flows from the
smoothly from the
effectively restates
body of essay,
body, restates only
main point and
attempts to restate
some of the ideas in
provides closure by
main points and
essay and/or fails
answering the “so
provides closure.
to provide closure.
what” question.
Main ideas are not
supported with
evidence.
Analysis\synthesis
absent and/ or
unclear.
Conclusion
paragraph absent,
underdeveloped or
ineffective.
Works Cited
Follows MLA
Follows MLA
format exactly.
format with minor
Reflects strong
format errors.
research, contains a
Contains some
variety of resources variety of resources
and meets all
and meets all
resource
resource
requirements.
requirements.
Attempts to follow
MLA format, but
contains minor
errors throughout.
Very little resource
variety.
Does not attempt to
follow MAL format.
Fails to meet
resource
requirements. Does
not reflect strong
research.
Mechanical
Elements
4
3
2
1
Grammar &
Spelling
(Conventions)
Final draft reflects
strong editing and
contains little to no
errors in grammar
and mechanics
(spelling,
punctuation, etc.).
Final draft reflects
some editing, but
still contains errors
in grammar and
mechanics (spelling,
punctuation, etc.).
Final draft contains
several grammatical
and mechanical
errors which distract
from meaning.
Further editing
needed throughout.
Final draft does not
reflect editing and
contains a large
number of
grammatical and
mechanical errors
which interfere with
meaning.
Sentence
Structure
(Sentence
Fluency)
Contains complete,
coherent, and varied
sentence structure
that that has an
effective and fluent
style marked by
syntactic variety.
Contains complete
and coherent
sentences with some
variety of sentence
structure that
displays some
syntactic variety.
Contains coherent
sentence structure
with minimal
sentence variety that
demonstrates
adequate use of
syntax.
Contains incomplete
and incoherent
sentences that
demonstrates limited
control of syntax.
Writer demonstrates
Writer demonstrates
effectiveness and
some variety of
variety of word
word choice. Grade
choice. Elevated
level diction used
diction used
throughout; adequate
throughout; strong
command of
command of
language/vocabulary
language/vocabulary
.
.
Writer demonstrates
little variety of word
choice. Lower level
vocabulary used
with some repetition
present; inadequate
command of
vocabulary.
Writer failed to
demonstrate word
choice variety and
uses a limited
vocabulary that does
not communicate
strongly or capture
the reader's interest.
Lacks basic
command of
vocabulary.
A variety of
thoughtful
transitions are used.
They clearly show
how ideas are
connected and create
a sense of "flow" for
the reader.
Some transitions
work well; but
connections between
other ideas are
unclear. Transitional
language needs to be
expanded
throughout.
The transitions
between ideas are
unclear or
nonexistent.
Word Choice
Transitions
(Organization)
Grade Translation:
A = 28 – 36 points
B = 19 – 27 points
C = 10 – 18 points
D = 1 – 9 points
F=0
Transitions clearly
show how ideas are
connected, but there
is little variety.
Transitional
language could be
expanded.