RESEARCH PAPER
11 th Grade
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Select a topic
Library Training
10 Questions and
thesis statement
Outline or Tree Map
First Draft
Final Draft
March 23 (Wed)
March 30 (Wed)
April 12 (Tues)
April 15 (Fri)
May 6 (Friday)
May 24 (Tues)
 Use exposition, narration, description,
argumentation, or some combination of
rhetorical strategies to support the main
proposition.
 Analyze several historical records of a
single event, examining critical
relationships between elements of the
research topic.
 Explain the perceived reason or reasons
for the similarities and dif ferences in
historical records with information derived
from primary and secondary sources to
support or enhance the presentation.
 Include information from all relevant
perspectives and take into consideration
the validity and reliability of sources.
 Include a formal Bibliography (Works
Cited)
CA STATE
STANDARDS
2.4 Write
historical
investigation
repor ts
WRITE A 6-8 PAGE RESEARCH
PAPER ON AN IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL FIGURE
Objective
DETAILS
Develop an important historical
figure in American history or
literature.
Give essential biographical information
Discuss the impact that this individual
has had on American Life.
SOME EXAMPLES
(YOU MAY NOT USE THESE)
Political Figures
 Abraham Lincoln
 Richard Nixon
American Writers
 Ernest Hemingway
 Robert Frost
Artists
 Charles Schultz
 Andy Warhol
Sports Personalities
 Jackie Robinson
 Wilt Chamberlain
Inventors
 Thomas Edison
 Alexander Graham Bell
Notorious Figures
 John Wilkes Booth
 Jimmy Hoffa
 The research paper must
contain elements of exposition,
narration, and description.
 Information must be derived
from a variety of primary and
secondary sources.
 The research paper must be in
proper MLA format. Refer to the
following website for
supplemental information
clarifying MLA requirements:
 http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/i
ndex.shtml
 Include a formal Works Cited list
RESEARCH
PAPER
Elements
to include
SELECTING AND
NARROWING A TOPIC
STEP 1: PLAN YOUR TIME
Before beginning your research paper, it is
important to plan your time in order to
complete each step in the process and
meet any given deadline.
In this manner, you will be able to produce the
given product or document without sacrificing
an entire night’s sleep!!
DON’T LET
THIS
HAPPEN TO
YOU!!
STEP 2: NARROW YOUR TOPIC
1. Is it interesting to you? Do you want to learn more about the
topic?
 Keep in mind that the more interested you are in your topic, the less
painful this assignment is going to be.
 Chances are, if you don’t find your topic interesting, neither will
anyone else.
STEP 2: NARROW YOUR TOPIC
1. Is it manageable?
 Remember, you have a specified amount of time and
resources at hand; make sure you can handle everything you
take on.
 Although something may seem like a great idea, unless you
can follow through with the details, you may be headed for
trouble!
STEP 2: NARROW YOUR TOPIC
1. Is your topic original?
 Avoid selecting over-popular figures or making
common statements the general population
already agrees upon.
 We all know Abraham Lincoln was a great
president and influenced the development of
our country. Provide telling information about
the person the readers may not have heard
before.
Instead of this?
How about this??
STEP 2: NARROW YOUR TOPIC
 Note: This is a research paper not a biography. The purpose is
to enlighten and prove something to the reader.
 You will not be writing a 6-8 page paper on Abraham Lincoln’s life
story.
 It is highly suggested that you choose a topic that can be
converted into a question; as you write your paper, focus on
answering the question.
 Consider the following examples:
 How did Lincoln's Gettysburg Address single-handedly unify the
country?
 What personal events in Lincoln’s life lead him to intervene in the
Civil War?
 What characteristics did Lincoln possess that made it possible for
him to influence the end of slavery?
STEP 3: DO THE PRELIMINARY WORK
 Before you begin your serious work, do some preliminary
work. It will save you time and stress. The preliminaries
consist of three parts:
1. Do some preliminary reading to get information about your topic.
This will help you decide whether or not your topic is narrowed.
Consult one of the following:
a. A General Encyclopedia, like Encyclopedia Britannica or World Book
Encyclopedia
b. A Specialized Encyclopedia, like Encyclopedia of World Literature in the
20 th Century
c. Other General References, like Internet, Current Biography
STEP 3: DO THE PRELIMINARY WORK
 2. Write a research question that reflects the
purpose of your paper, like “How did the decisions
Lincoln made in his presidency affect the livelihood
of Americans?”
 Once you have finished your research, you will answer
the research question in the form of a thesis
statement.
 3. Prepare a working outline, which will help you get
organized.
REPORTING HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Pages
528-549
Read pages 528-549 in your Holt
Textbook.
Answer all worksheet questions.
As you read, think about possible topics
for your research paper and how you can
narrow the topic to create a thesis .
 Once you have selected your research person,
remember the five basic investigation questions…
 Who (Who influenced Lincoln’s development as a
politician?)
 What (What major contributions did Lincoln make to
the United States?)
 When (When did Lincoln begin to influence others?)
 Where (Where did he begin his career and where did
it take him?)
 Why (Why could one argue that Lincoln was the most
influential president ever?)
 Don’t forget the HOW (How did Lincoln’s influence
permanantly change life in America?)
TO BE CONTINUED…
WORLD BOOK ONLINE
 http:tryit.worldbookonline.com
 I.D.: california
 Password: primrose (thru 4/4); tulip (good 4/5-5/2)
WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT
A thesis is the conclusion or judgment you
make based on the analysis of your topic.
A thesis statement answers the question:
“What is the point?”
In other words, what is the point of writing
about your historical figure?
Why should we care about the impact this
person has had on America?
The thesis statement is the main idea of your
paper, but it is more than that. It argues a
conclusion you have reached about your topic .
Remember, the main idea of the paper is not
the biographical information about the
person. 90% of your paper should focus on
proving a theory about your historical figure.
EXAMPLES OF THESIS
STATEMENTS
PROBLEM: STATING THE OBVIOUS
Good
 If John F. Kennedy were
alive today, he would be
a republican
Bad
 LSD was one of the
most common and
potent drugs of the
1960s.
PROBLEM: USING QUALIFIERS
Bad
Good
 Does Lebron James' ability
to score, pass, and rebound
make him the league's most
valuable player?
 Lebron James' ability to
score, pass, and
rebound make him the
league's most valuable
player.
 Lebron James' ability to
score, pass, and rebound
just might make him the
league's most valuable
player.
Read more:
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k 12/articles/20762.aspx?p=2#ixzz1HvpmEnQQ
PROBLEM: NOT INCLUDING PURPOSE
 William Shakespeare
wrote King Lear.
 King Lear exemplifies
the finest development
of Shakespeare's
dramatic talent.
 Hemingway's war
stories are very good.
 Hemingway's war
stories helped to create
a new prose style.
PROBLEM: BROAD STATEMENTS
Bad
Good
 The government has the
right to limit free
speech.
 The government has the
right to limit free speech
in cases of overtly racist
or sexist language
because our failure to
address such abuses
would effectively suggest
that our society condones
such ignorant and hateful
views.
PROBLEM: LISTING
Bad
Good
 There are many reasons
we need to limit hate
speech.
 Among the many reasons
we need to limit hate
speech the most
compelling ones all refer
to our history of
discrimination and
prejudice; it is,
ultimately, for the
purpose of trying to
repair our troubled racial
society that we need hate
speech legislation.
BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE
 Bad:
 The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of
which were the same and some different.
 Better:
 While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the
North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its
own institutions.
 Best:
 While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against
tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of
slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self government.
10 QUESTIONS
 These questions should guide the outline of your research
paper.
 List 10 questions you want answered in your research.
 All questions should be in line with the thesis statement.
 Examples:
 Who (Who influenced Lincoln’s development as a politician?)
 What (What major contributions did Lincoln make to the United
States?)
 When (When did Lincoln begin to influence others?)
 Where (Where did he begin his career and where did it take him?)
 Why (Why could one argue that Lincoln was the most influential
president ever?)
MLA FORMAT
 See Library website (3 rd Place- Resources Link) for MLA
format. You will need to know:
 General guidelines for structuring your paper in MLA format
 How to build a Works Cited page
 How to cite sources within your paper.
 Remember****
 Your paper needs to have a total of 5 sources
 3 internet
 2 print
IN YOUR NOTE SECTION, MAKE A
WELL ORGANIZED OUTLINE OF THE
ITEMS LISTED- INCLUDE TITLES
Outline
Practice
3 MAIN CATEGORIES- EACH WILL DIVIDE
INTO SUB CATEGORIES
 Big Mac
 Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
 Thin crust
 Double-Double
 Golden Arches
 Extra Value Meal
 Home Delivery
 Cheese Lover’s
 Mighty Kids Meal
 4x4
 Pepperoni
 Animal Fries
 Palm Trees
 Classic milkshakes
 Supreme
 Happy Meal
 Deep dish
 Chicken McNuggets
EXTRA CREDIT
25 POINTS
2 nd
Semester
GIVE AN ORAL PRESENTATION OF YOUR
RESEARCH PAPER THROUGH POWERPOINT
 Assignment:
 You will give a 10-15 minute presentation about the American you
chose to research for your paper.
 The presentation will be given in PowerPoint format. You want your
presentation to be engaging and highlight key pieces from your
research paper.
 Requirements:






Minimum 20 slides
Reason behind choosing your American
Brief background
Thesis- What were you trying to prove about this person?
What were your findings?
What was the impact this person had on American Culture?