Tips for Research:
• Evaluate credible sources first! No Wikis, chat boards, blogs, etc.
• Choose sites that end in .org, .gov, .edu—these typically provide more
reliable information.
• Get enough information! Having more is better than not having
enough to write your research paper.
• Be sure to cite your sources!
• Use citationmachine.net
• Remember: you need AT LEAST 3 sources! (1 of those should be a
print source)
Tips for Writing Outlines:
• Remember this is your outline—not your rough draft! The only sentences
you should write out are your topic sentences and your thesis statement!
Everything else in your outline should just be ideas for now. You will
develop your sentences in your rough draft.
• Your thesis MUST be written when you come into the media center
tomorrow (Wednesday). I will review everyone’s thesis to make sure you
are on the right track.
• You will have all day Wednesday to finish typing your outline—it is due
Friday, April 3rd at the beginning of class—typed and ready to turn in—no
excuses!!
• Bring change to print or print at home! You will NOT be allowed to print in
my room.
Bell Ringer 4/6: Read the following thesis
statement. Write yes if it’s an effective one—no if
it’s not an effective one—and explain why.
Sample thesis: The Crucible and McCarthyism are alike because in both
situations people were killed, people were scared, and people were
accused unfairly.
An effective thesis statement:
Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible as an allegory for McCarthyism; even
though both situations occurred during different time periods in
America, the events could be labeled as “witch hunts” because
innocent citizens were accused unfairly, there was a severe lack of
concrete evidence, and many were either killed or “blacklisted.”
Tips:
• Be as SPECIFIC as possible!!
• Include citations from sources—this is a research paper!
• Maintain organization!
• Write clearly—as in watch your word choice.
• Don’t use I, you, or they.
• Use formal language and do not address your reader!
First Paragraph Structure:
• Sentence 1: This sentence should be an attention getter of some sort
(quote, question, interesting fact about Salem Witch Trials/McCarthyism).
• Sentence 2: Short explanation of Salem With Trials/McCarthyism, when it
began, who it involved, etc. (Be specific—don’t just say people were
accused…)
• Sentence 3: Same as sentence # 2—Salem Witch Trials/McCarthyism
• Sentence 4: This should be a sentence or two about how the two are
connected.
• Sentence 5: Thesis statement explaining the 3 similarities that you will
discuss in the body of your paper.
Second Paragraph Structure:
• Sentence 1: This sentence should be a topic sentence discussing what
the similarity is.
• Sentence 2: This should be an example of that similarity from SWT.
(Use in-text citation if necessary).
• Sentence 3: This should be an example of that similarity from
McCarthyism. (Use in-text citation if necessary).
• Sentences 4-5: Continuation from above.
• Sentence 6: Closing statement about the similarity between the two.
**At LEAST 3 sources used in your paper—1 should be a print source!