Student name (print)__________________ Period __________
Spring 2014 Civics Research Paper
This research project will by the major project of this semester.
Topical Research: You will be selecting a topic / question to research that covers some aspect of civics. You can select from the list provided or you can come up with at topic of your own choosing.
Your paper will be between 900-1500 words (about 3-6 pages)
This project will last for two and a half months, evolves several weeks of due dates and as a result, is worth a total of 300 Points. There are specific tasks which must be accomplished by specific dates (see attached outline and calendar). Failure to do so will result in points being lost. Please refer to the rubric for the areas you will be graded in. Some parts will be accepted late, some will not.
Given the length of time students are given to complete the research paper, the following shall apply to the research paper:
This research project is designed to be a student directed research project. Part of learning is
discovering things for yourself. That being said, the project is designed with multiple guidelines and checkpoints in place so I could monitor and help those students who might be struggling. Each week, I will go over some of the components of the research that will be due that Friday. As each student has a unique paper, their access to resources and knowledge of the research paper writing method varies, I have found that over the years, this format has been the most effective. Each week, students will turn in a portion of their project, allowing me to see how they are progressing and that way I can give greater feedback to the students as they progress through the research process. I am available during Cav Block, on a first come, first serve basis. This is a time set aside so I can work one-on-one with students as they work on their research and will allow me to better help them with any questions that they may have. If Cav Block does not work, students are encouraged to speak to me during class so we can find a mutual time to meet.
Under no circumstances, will any paper be accepted beyond the due date without penalty (-10% = 20 pts per day). Students and their parents must notify me of these circumstances immediately for there to be any chance of an extension being granted.
This is the only class wide exception: Any student who meets all deadlines / due dates prior to the submission of the final draft and earned at least a 70% on each segment may turn in their paper with out a late point deduction any time up until the last scheduled day of school prior to spring break (April 25, 2014). This will give students up to 9 additional days to complete the paper
Computer, printer, USB, or email problems are not acceptable excuses. Papers that have been plagiarized in part or in whole will not be accepted and a grade of zero will be earned. Papers without any form of
documentation will be returned to the student and late points will follow when it is turned in complete.
Student Signature:_____________________________________________________
Topics selected: _______________________________________________________
Parent Signature:_____________________________________________________
Possible Topics for Civics Research Paper
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
Presidency / President(s)
Cabinet members
o Ex. Sectary of State, etc
House of Representatives
Senate
Congress
The Legacy of a statesman
A constitutional right
o Ex: speech, press, arms, due process, double jeopardy
Topic in the news
o Ex. Healthcare reform, state / federal budgets
Age specific laws Drinking
Droping out of school Driving Age
etc
Role of the government in daily life
Political Ideology; Right, Left, Center
Political Parties
o Democrats, Republicans Liberation, Green, etc
Political systems
o Ex. Socialism, communism, republicanism, democracy, monarchy etc
Court Cases
o Brown vs. Board, Tinker vs Des Moines, Mirnada vs.
Arizona, etc
Federalism
Primary System / Caucus
Presidential elections
Affirmative Action
Taxes
o Ex. Federal, income, property, IRS, Tax codes
The role of the media in government
Two party system vs multiparty system
Laws
Patriot Act, Brady Bill, No Child Left Behind Act, Stimulus Bill, Civil Rights Act
Equal Employment Act
American With Disabilities Act Dream Act
America Reinvestment Act, Obamacare
National Debt
Federal Reserve
Censorship
Civil Service
Selective Service / draft
Federal bureaucracy
Expressed vs. implied powers
Gerrymandering
Campaign finance reform
Presidency vs. Prime Minister System
Spoils System
Declaration of Independence
US Constitution
State Constitutions
Filibusters
Grassroots political organizations.
Student Rights
Equal Rights Amendment (never passed)
Electronic voting
Political Machines
Voting rights
Term limits
Electoral College
Forms of local government
o Town hall vs mayor vs city o manager
Eminent domain
Entitlement programs
o Ex. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, WIC
Interest groups
Lobbyist
Political Action Committees (PACs)
THE RESEARCH PAPER – 100 points
In order to earn a grade that you will be proud of the following criteria must be met.
Be 900 – 1500 words excluding direct quotes, formatting and works cited / bibliography pages.
(This tends to be about 3-5 pages when double spaced typed using Times-New Roman 12 point font).
o For every 1-100 words under or over the required word limit, students will receive a 10%
penalty. Ex. 1-100 over/under – 10% 101-200 over/under -20%
Use Times-New Roman 12 point font / Double spaced / Aligned Left
Page 1: title page (Students Name, Date Submitted, Name of Class / Period, Teachers Name and Title for research paper) in correct MLA format.
Use at least two book sources- one of which a journal will have written on.
Evidence of complex thinking must be present: This includes having a thesis clearly state (X is Y because of Z / X = topic, Y= opinion, z=reasoning backed by research) and underlined. Your paper must represent an accurate interpretation of your thesis statement / question.
Your paper is well organized and reflects a developed research paper where your thoughts are supported by your research (I don’t want a series of book reports!) and directly address the question.
Your paper displays historical / factual accuracy and connects the question of your research (which connects to the content of the class)
Your paper is properly documented and follows proper MLA Style documentation format.
This includes having correctly cited Work Cited Page (minimal 5 citations in the paper, with at least one from 4 different source) and in-text citation\
Contain a Work Cited page in MLA formatting
o http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_o.html is a great resource for how use citations and for a sample of what a research paper should look like.
This is the source I will be using to check your work.
Grading Criteria: rubric will be provided no later than 1 month prior to due day.
THE LAND OF LOST POINTS
Under no circumstances, except the most extreme, will any paper be accepted beyond the due date. Students and their parents must notify me of these circumstances immediately for there to be any chance of an extension being granted.
Computer, printer, disk, or email problems are not acceptable excuses. Incomplete
papers, papers without proper documentation, or papers that have been plagiarized in
part or in whole will not be accepted and a grade of zero will be earned.
Calendar of due dates for Civics Research Paper
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
January
26 27
Early Release Day First Day of Class
28 29 30 31 1
February
2 3 4
Go over research project
5 6 7 8
9 10 11
Early Release Day 12
Period 6 Class in Library
13
Period 5 Class in Library
14
Topics turned in and approved by start of
period. (10 pts.)
15
16 17 18 19 20 21
Bring in a minimum of one source (5 pts.)
22
23 24
No School 25
No School 26
No School 27
No School 28
No School 1
---Winter Break week of February 23rd to March 1st --- March
2 3 4
Final Day to change topic without 10%
penalty to final paper grade.
5 6 7
Present a preliminary thesis statement and final 3 sources– MLA
style (20 pts.)
8
9 10 11
Teacher Workshop Day / Town
Meetings
12
13
14Journal due (100 pts.)
15
16 17 18 19 20 21
An outline of your paper. (25 pts.)
Turn It In
22
23 24 25 26 27 28
Thesis and intro (20 pts.) Turn It In
29
April
30 31 1 2 3 4
Finalized rough peer review in class
(10 pts.)
5
6 7 8 9 10
Early Release 11
2nd rough draft ready for peer review in
class (10 pts.)
12
13 14
Paper Due – by start of class with Turn It In
( pts.
15
-10% 16
-20% 17
-30% 18
-50% 19
The Research– 200 points (Most are 3rd quarter grades) – You must turn in this paper each week as a part of your grade.
The following schedule is designed to keep your project on track. The listed points will be awarded as part of your grade if each task is completed on time and to your instructor’s satisfaction. Incomplete or late tasks will not be accepted.
2/14 You have selected a topic, topic selection sheet is signed and returned and your
research topic has been approved 10
2/21 Bring in a minimum of 1 source, preferably the book you will be using for your journal Name of book used for Journal:____________________________________
5
3/7 Present a preliminary thesis statement and the remaining 3 sources. By this point, one of the 4 sources should be a primary source. Name of book used for Journal (if not submitted week prior):___________________________________________
20
3/14 Journal Due - Students will read one book or a combination of 75 pages on their selected topic pre-approved by your Civics teacher on their selected topic. Will include facts, notes, quotes and the page numbers these things come from in addition to students’ thoughts on subject. See attached
100
3/21 An outline of your paper w/ thesis statement – electronically submitted - see bottom
of page for final / e-mail subject line 25
3/28 A well written introduction paragraph with thesis underlined, following the same criteria
as the final draft 20
4/4 Completed finalized hard copy of your rough draft typed, double spaced and ready for
peer review – Cannot be submitted late 10
4/11 Completed finalized 2nd hard copy of your rough draft typed, double spaced and ready for peer review. Must also bring in first rough draft with that was peer edited. – Cannot be submitted late
10
Extra
Credit Any student who has meet all of the above deadlines and earned at least a 70% on each segment will have until Spring Break to submit their paper (an 9 day extension) or if the grade on the paper is above an 80% and submitted on time, earn 10% extra credit
____ N ____ Y ____ EC
PART II: THE RESEARCH PAPER (4th quarter grade)
4/14 Completed paper submitted to Turn It In ____ / 100 When saving the paper, please name the file with your name, what the assignment is and your
topic. Ex. Trevor Duval_The Alamo_Final Draft
When saving the paper, please name the file with your name, what part of the project you are submitting and your the name of your topic. Exampes:
Trevor Duval_The Alamo_outline Trevor Duval_ The Alamo_intro Trevor Duval_The Alamo_Final Draft
Research worksheet
Students in encouraged to fill in this documents using the file saved on my website.
2/14 You have selected a topic, topic selection sheet is signed and returned ___ / 10 and your research topic has been approved.
My Topic Is:
2/21 Bring in a minimum of 1 source, preferably the book you will be using for your journal. ___ / 5 Source 1 in MLA citation(10 pts)
3/7 Present a preliminary thesis statement and the remaining 3 sources. ___ / 20 By this point, one of the 4 sources should be a primary source.
Thesis Statement: (10 pts) (note: if at any time you change your thesis, please write in on another piece of paper and resubmit it.)
Source 2 in MLA citation (10 pts)
Source 3 in MLA citation (10 pts)
Research Project – Student Journal for student selected text
3/14 Journal Due- Students will read one book or a combination of 75 pages on their ___/ 100 selected topic pre-approved by Mr. Duval on their selected topic. Will include facts, notes, quotes and the page numbers these things come from in addition to students’
thoughts on subject.
1. Correctly cite book(s) in MLA format. (5 pts)
2. What make the author / authors an authority on the subject enough for you to use their work in your research? I need more than they wrote a book! (5 pts)
3. Thesis creation: X is Y because of Z. Example: (X) George Washington was (Y) the greatest President (Z) because of all the precedents he established as our first
President.) (5 pts) X= topic
Y= your opinion
Z= reasoning for your opinion backed by research
4. Why did you select this book(s) as the centerpiece of your research project? (5 pts)
5. How did you find the book(s)? (be specific) (5 pts)
6. Is this source(s) a primary or secondary source(s)? How do you know? (5 pts)
7. 20 facts and or statistics from sources(s) with page number for each. This equals out to be about 1 fact per every 2.5 pages. (20 pts)
Attach if necessary
8. 5 direct quotes that you feel will be helpful in supporting your thesis from source(s) with page number and who is quoted for each. This equals out to be about 1 quote for every 15 pages. Explain why you like the quote for your paper. (30 pts)
Attach if necessary
9. Did the work(s) support or disprove your original thesis? Explain. (10 pts)
10. Would you recommend this book to someone doing similar research in the future?
Why or why not. (10 pts)
Outline format
Below is the general formula for the outline. The only place a complete sentence is necessary is for the thesis statement and for the quotes. Remember, at least 2 quotes are needed and I want to see 5 in text citations from at least 4 sources. This is as close as I get to reading your drafts without you scheduling time with me, so here is where you need to lay out your paper so I can tell if your thesis is supported by the research and if your research connects to the course.
1) Intro a) Idea 1
i) Detail 1 - In text citation 1 b) Idea 2
c) Thesis 2) Body 1
a) Fact 1 b) Fact 2
i) Quote:”___” in text citation 2 c) Fact 3
i) Detail 1 ii) Detail 2 3) Body 2
a) Fact 1 i) Detail 1
b) Fact 2 – in text citation 3 c) Fact 3 in t
d) Fact 4 4) Body 3
a) Quote “______” – in text citation 4 b) Fact 1
c) Fact 2 d) Fact 3 5) Body 4
a) Fact 1
b) Illustration 1 – in text citation 5 c) Fact 2
i) Detail 1 ii) Detail 2 d) Fact 3 6) Conclusion
a) Point 1 b) Point 2
