Research Paper: Grade 5
Students are responsible for writing their papers as explained in class. Students will
hear a presentation in class about writing their paper including the following topics:
 Learning to narrow a topic for research
 Learning to formulate questions about the topic chosen
 Learning to write a thesis statement
 Learning to write and know the difference between topic sentences and
detail sentences
 Learning to take notes using a graphic organizer
 Learning to outline from the graphic organizer
 Learning to write concluding paragraphs
 Learning to write a Works Cited page.
Topic: What invention and inventor has had the biggest impact on your life today?
Purpose:



To inform: give information about your chosen person, summarizing
factual information from a variety of sources.
To analyze: evaluate the research and present your conclusions. The
research you include from other sources in your paper should support
your conclusion that the inventor you have chosen is relevant to
today’s world. It is important to remember that this is not a paper
where you have room to include your own opinions, particularly if
they are not based on research. Even if you know something about
your topic, you must back it up with the research found in your
sources.
To persuade: write in such a way that you convince your audience
that your invention and inventor is significant to your life today.
Audience: your peers and teacher. Even though you are addressing your peers,
you must use formal language. Slang and contractions are NOT allowed.
Point of View: Third person. Do not use any 1st or 2nd person pronouns such as
“I” or “you”. Instead, write in an objective format. For example: Instead of saying, “I
believe the inventor and invention that has the biggest impact on my life today is….”
Use this, “The inventor and invention that has the biggest impact on middle school
students is…”
Length: Five (5) paragraphs of at least 5 – 7 sentences @ paragraph (not counting
your Works Cited page)
Sources: At least 3 reliable sources



No more than 1 website (can choose to have none, but NOT a search engine)
No more than 1 encyclopedia (NO WIKIPEDIA ALLOWED)(May use links
from online Encyclopedia Britannica http://school.eb.com/ for additional
info)
Other options: books, newspapers, magazines, almanacs, Interviews with
experts, pamphlets, brochures
Remember: This paper is about having an impact on the life of a middle school
student today. Therefore, the more recent the copyright days of your sources, the
more reliable your sources will be.
Remember: Plagiarism is illegal! All sources used in paper must be
cited correctly, as indicated in class.
Some Internet websites for free professisonal periodical/journal articles:
Find Articles: www.findarticles.com
Directory of Open Access Journals: www.doaj.org
Ideas for Paper Topics: (These are a few. Feel free to suggest your own.)
Steve Jobs & Steve Wozniak – Apple, ipod, itouch, iTunes, etc.
Bill Gates – Microsoft, Word
Bill Bowerman & Phil Knight – the modern athletic shoe
Roberta Williams – computer games
Sergey Brin & Larry Page – Google (PageRank)
Robert W. Gundlach – modern photocopier (copy machine)
Robert Watson-Watt – radar
Tim Berners-Lee – World Wide Web (WWW)
Willis Haviland Carrier – air conditioner
James Naismith – Basketball
Alexander Joy Cartwright – Baseball
Levi Strauss – blue jeans
Leonard S. Cutler – clock
John Pemberton – Coca-Cola
Ole Kirk Christiansen – LEGOS
Robert Cade – Gatorade
Frozen Pizza Crust – Rose Totino
Leo Baekeland – Plastic
Philo Farnsworth, Valdimir K. Zworykin – Electronic Television
Ralph Baer – Video Games
Whitcomb Judson – zipper
Robert Oppenheimer – atomic bomb
Alfred Nobel – dynamite
Felix Hoffman – aspirin
James Hillier – Electron microscope
Alexander Fleming – Penicillin
Rene Laennec – stethoscope
Allen Breed – Airbag, Automobile
Elisha Otis – Elevator
Garrett Morgan – traffic signal
Robert H. Goddard – Liquid fueled rockets
Timeline and Important Dates
Note: Dates are subject to change depending on the amount of time
required for students to understand the material.
Assignment
Topic proposal
Approximate due Date
Monday, March 18th
At least 3 sources & 18 new note cards
Monday, March 25th
Works Cited (source) cards completed
Wednesday , March 27th
15 completed fact note cards
Wednesday, April 8th
Thesis statement, outline typed, Works Cited
(informal citations)
Teacher/Student conferences
Monday, April 15th
Typed rough draft including Works Cited
(formal citations)
Final Draft Due
Oral Presentations
Tuesday – Thursday
April 17th – 19th
Monday, April 29th
Monday, May 6th
Wednesday-Friday
May 8th – 10th
Specific instruction on how to complete each of the following assignments will be
given in class.
Some work will be done in class, but you must also plan to work on all phases of
your research paper at home.
All work related to research paper must be kept in your folder (Proposal, Works
Cited (source) Cards, Note (fact) Cards, Outline, drafts, etc.)
FINAL PAPER
Format:





Typed
Double spaced (No extra spaces between paragraphs)
Indented paragraphs
12 point Times New Roman font
One inch margins
Contents:

Heading: Name and AM period number in upper left hand corner of 1st page

Title: Centered in middle of page, below heading. No underlining or bold.

Introduction: Hook or Grabber; Statement of invention; Background
information: When was this invented? Who is affected? How many? End
with your thesis sentence (last sentence of introduction).

Body: The body of your paper should contain 3 paragraphs. Each paragraph
will most likely be at least 7 sentences. All information in these sections
must come from your sources.
1. Cause behind invention: What were the main reasons, or
problems present that motivated this inventor?
2. How and where did this (these) inventors solve their
problem? Who or what was important in their research and
invention efforts?
3. Consequences of this invention: Who or what was affected
by this invention? Positive or Negative? How does this
invention affect middle school students presently?

Conclusion: Transition sentence from last paragraph then restate the topic
sentences in paragraphs 2,3, & 4; end with a restatement of your thesis
sentence.
Works Cited: This is a list of all the Sources used in your paper. This is the
last page of your paper. The title for this page is Works Cited. Further
information on the format for your citations will be presented in class.
