Developing a Research Paper

1
Developing a Research Paper

• Colleen Jones

2
Fact Note Card Workshop

• There are numerous ways to gather your facts for
  your research paper. We will concentrate on a
  style called MLA. MLA stands for Modern Language
  Association. MLA is used for student and
  professional papers focused on the Humanities
  Literature, Philosophy, History, etc
• http//www.mla.org/

3
Steps

• Materials needed to start the fact note card
  process
• -Index cards or paper cut up to about index card
  size.
• -List of your resources
• -Pen or pencil
• -Time!
• -A safe place to store your note cards such as an
  index box, paper clip system, or folder.

4
Reading or scanning for facts

• Next, as you read your references you will pick
  out facts that are relevant to the essay or your
  report. Try to focus your facts on the outline
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Bio/Timeline
• 3. Topics place during the I.R.
• 4. How the topic has changed the world
• 5. Conclusion

5
What is a fact?

• Do you know what a fact is? One of my favorite
  facts is that oxalis is not an endangered
  flowerand if you eat too much of it you will be
  visiting the bathroom a lot!
• Share with a neighbor your favorite fact!

6
Facts vs. Common Knowledge

• FACTS
• -Pieces of information you would not normally
  know unless you read about them or had a
  discussion with someone about it.

• COMMON KNOWLEDGE
• -Information that most people would know without
  much study.

7
List

• We will create our own brief class list on
  examples of facts and common knowledge now on the
  board.

8
So why does this matter?

• In your research paper, you will be expected to
  cite all of your facts, which means that you can
  tell the reader exactly where you found your
  awesome info so they can look it up later. You
  do not have to cite common knowledge.

9
But Wait!!!!

• If you are hesitant at all about whether it is
  a FACT or COMMON KNOWLEDGE cite it. It is better
  to be safe then sorry. All you have to do is
  write the page number of where you found the
  fact.
• Pretty simple.
• Plus, you can always ask me or another adult
  for fact vs. common knowledge advice.

10
Lets Practice

• -Grass is green.
• -Evergreens are green all year round.
• -You need to go to medical school to become a
  doctor.
• -Animals without a backbone are called
  invertebrates.
• -Clowns are truly scary!

11
Really, Ms. Jones, you think clowns are scary?

• Yes, but thats a different discussion. However,
  my own views on clowns, or oxalis, or which color
  in the universe is the best (green, by the way)
  is my own opinion. Opinions are not facts or
  common knowledge. Opinions must always be cited
  in your research paper, even if they are your
  own.

12
MLA Fact Note Cards

• We need 5 pieces of info to have a successful
  fact note card.

13
Step 1 Resource Number

• First, you need to create a list of your resource
  and give each one a number. I suggest following
  your requirements.
• 1Book
• 2Article
• 3Website
• 4Piece of art
• 5Encyclopedia article.

14
Step 2

• Go ahead and put the number of the resource you
  are working with on the top right corner and
  circle it. This way you will know exactly where
  you found your facts.

15
Step 3

• Now, on the top line of the card you will place a
  title for the fact that you are writing about
  such as
• Reasons why people believed
• muckrakers

16
Step 4

• Now is the time to get all your facts on paper.
  You can use bullet points or numbers. Such as
• -Muckrakers articles sold the most papers.
• -People were not as educated about media then and
  were not encouraged to question a writers facts,
  ideas, or truthfulness as we are today.

17
Step 5

• Lastly, make sure that you have the page number
  where you found the quote at the end of the line.
• Muckrakers sold the most papers p. 6
• If you cite a quote, make sure you include the
  persons name.

18
Your turn

• Lets practice on our worksheet

19
Day Two

• Thesis Statements
• ?The difference between the right word and the
  almost right word is the difference between
  lightning and a lightning bug.Mark Twain

20
What is a thesis statement?

• How do you share your main point in conversations
  with your friends, in your writing, with your
  parents, Ms. Montano, on your sports teams, etc
• Pair up with a buddy and talk about
• it for a few minutes.

21
Your Lifes Thesis (In progress, of course)

• Please think about three major life experiences
  that you have had and how they have changed your
  life.
• You can also think about your favorite character
  in a novel you have read.

22
Lifes Thesis Step Two

• Next, think about what types of qualities you
  have gained from these experiences? Free-write
  about them for a few minutes.
• If you get stuckWhat would your best friend say
  about you? a trusted adult?
• P.S. It is still cool to write about your
  favorite character.

23
Here is my example

• Experiences Qualities
• -Having 3 younger -Humor
• siblings
• -My parents divorce -Responsibility
• -Camp Homeward -Compassion
• Bound

24
Thesis Writing Time!

• Now, pick an experience and correlating quality
  that you have gained from that experience. It
  does not have to be the BIGGEST experience,
  because that is often a tough choice to make.

25
Thesis!

• Now, these two parts together by connecting them.
• Ms. Joness Example I am a goofy person because
  of my three siblings who have taught me to not
  take everything so seriously.

26
YOUR TURN

• Now it is time to create your own life thesis.
  Think about if you would like to share with the
  group.