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.