AP English III
MeSearch Research Paper
Due date: November 14, 2014
Grade weight: Summative
Assignment:
You will write a MeSearch Paper based on your research of the educational and career path
you choose for your future. This research paper will include why you are choosing this
career, specifically how you are going to achieve this goal, what steps you must take now,
why this career is a good fit for your personality and gifts, as well as a glimpse of your
anticipated future life.
You will incorporate facts, data, statistics (financial aid, projected growth in your field,
average salaries, GPA requirements, educational requirements, etc.) in your MeSearch
Paper. All of this information will be cited according to MLA guidelines. You will be required
to include a minimum of 5 citations. You must include a Works Cited page.
Important Notes!!!!:
1. Essays must be TYPED.
2. Essays must have parenthetical citations and a Works Cited page.
3. Your printed essay is due at the beginning of class on the due date, no exceptions.
If you miss class days during the research process, your paper is still due on the
due date.
4. This is an INDEPENDENT assignment. Any part of an essay that is the same or very
similar to another student, database article, or essay online will be considered to be
plagiarized.
5. All sources must be reliable. (Naviance, College Board, bls.gov, college websites,
etc.) Please see me if you have any questions about the acceptability of your
sources.
6. This grade is 50% process (see the Process Checklist) and 50% product (final draft).
Final Essay Requirements:
 Minimum of 5 paragraphs (see the Guide to Writing)
 Minimum of 3 sources with correct parenthetical documentation and Works Cited
page
 Strong thesis that includes your goal, how you will achieve your goal, and the
purpose of this choice. (see Examples on Guide to Writing)
 Correct MLA formatting
 Follow structure as found in the Guide to Writing page.
Create a Works Cited page. This should not be a separate document; it is the last page of
your paper. Please remember the following when completing your Works Cited page:
 The title is Works Cited. It should be centered and use 12pt. Times New
Roman font.
 The entries must be listed alphabetically according to the first word in the
entry.


Every period, comma, colon, and underline is important.
The entries must be completed in “reverse paragraphs” in which the first
line of the entry is not indented, but each subsequent line of the entry is
indented. After you add all the sources and are certain they are correct,
highlight all of the entries and right click. Choose paragraph and change the
indentation to hanging and 0.5.
 Double-space everything.
Research Essay Schedule
Budget Planning
Career Cluster Survey or Interest Profiler
MEF Speaker
Library Research
Begin Writing Essay
1st Draft Due (BEGINNING OF CLASS)
Revising/Editing
Library to type Final MeSearch Paper
MeSearch Paper DUE
Process Checklist:
Turn in the Following for PROCESS Grade:
Week of Oct 20-24
Week of Oct 20-24
Thursday Oct. 23
Thurs/Friday. Oct 30-31
Mon Nov 3
Mon Nov 10
Mon Nov 10
Wed/Thurs. Nov 12, 13
Friday Nov 14
Included:
(Place Career Cluster on the bottom; FINAL Draft should be on the top.)
Career Cluster Survey or Profiler Results Page
Budget Worksheets
Guide to Writing with highlighted questions you addressed
Rough Draft
Research Paper Checklist
Final, TYPED copy of MeSearch Paper
(NOT turned in)
RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST
This is not every detail, so follow the Guide to Writing, but review these items!
Introduction:
Introduction is indented (one tab space).
Your essay’s first sentence “hooks” the reader and grabs their interest.
The background information helps to establish the purpose for choosing your career.
Check Thesis Statement for clarity. Make sure it states your goal, how you will achieve
your goal, and the purpose of this choice in 1 sentence.
Body Paragraphs:
Body Paragraphs are indented (one tab space).
Check that assertions (first sentence of body paragraphs) are clear and follow the topics
in the Guide to Writing.
All text evidence is EMBEDDED with some words of your own and the text in one
sentence. Make sure that this is not a run-on!
Includes commentary (your explanation) of why the information is important, how it
will impact you, or why it’s necessary to know.
A parenthetical citation is included for every text evidence or paraphrased information.
Conclusion:
Conclusion is indented (one tab space).
Conclusion follows the Guide to Writing and reflects on your research project, explains
the kind of lifestyle you can afford, and addresses how your choices now impact your
future.
Internal Citations:
All Citations are located at the end of the related sentence right before the period.
All Citations consist of the author’s last name and page number, or if there is not an
author, it consists of the “Title of the Article” and page number.
Ex: (Anari 57) or
(“Jezebel” 53).
All internal citations match up with the sources listed on the Works Cited page.
Works Cited:
Works Cited starts at the top of a new page.
All sources used in your essay are listed.
All sources are alphabetized by the first letter of the entry regardless of author or title.
Includes hanging indentions for all entries.
Double-spaced from the title all the way until the end of the citations.
No EXTRA Spaces between words and punctuation.
Look at Sample Works Cited page for examples.
Make sure the book is listed on your Works Cited page. See below:
Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.
MLA: (Check after typing essay!!!!)
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt. ONLY
Spacing for essay: Double Spaced at 0 pts. (Make sure it is not set on multiple or 10 pt.)
DO NOT BOLD OR OVERSIZE OR UNDERLINE ANY TEXT IN YOUR ESSAY!
1 inch Margins all around
Have a title! Your title should NOT be “Research Paper”.
Make sure you have a header (above the dotted blue line) with your last name and page
number INSERTED (so it changes on each page)! Go to insert, page numbers, top of page,
#3 in Word.
Your heading (below the dotted blue line) (name, class, teacher, date) should only be on
the first page in the top left corner.