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Topic Commitment Form and Parent Letter---Pages 2-4
Requirements and Expectations ---Page 5
Content and Organization---Page 6-8
Note Card Instructions---Page 9-12
Typing Instructions---Page 13-14
Bibliography Instructions ---Page 15
Do’s and Don’ts ---Page 16
Presentation ---Page 17
Grading ---Page 18
Schedule ---Page 19-20
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(
TOPIC COMMITMENT FORM & PARENT LETTER
(Part One)
To The Student:
For the next few weeks you will be writing a research paper. Many of you have had little, or no, experience in writing a research paper. Remember that the process of doing the background work and writing the paper is just as important, if not more important, that the final research paper itself. In the future, you will be asked to write larger papers in the 8th grade and high school. The little research paper that we are about
to do will help you when you are asked to write bigger projects later on.
I will go through each page of this guide with you as well as all of the steps required for writing a research paper as a whole class. There will be many activities that we will do before composition, during composition, and after composition. Because we will spend many hours composing in the computer lab, it is important that you understand that you must use the time given in the lab conscientiously. It is very important that you keep your attendance positive during this time. Finally, if you feel you need additional time in the computer lab, there will be extended hours when I will supervise students who wish to come in early or stay after school to use the computer lab for this project.
By this time, each of you is considering a specific topic related to WWII or the decade in which WWII took place to research. As I have suggested, consider weapons, specific battles, military equipment, a particular general, fashion, music, sports, women, American workforce, etc.
(Remove and Return the Bottom Portion of This Page)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I confirm that I have read this information packet and am aware of my responsibilities. I am also aware of the schedule, grading rubric, and all other expectations for this project.
The WWII Topic I WILL Be Researching
_____________________________________________________________________________
TOPIC COMMITMENT FORM & PARENT LETTER
(Part Two)
To The Parents:
Please take some time to review the entire contents of this packet. In addition, please speak with you student about the topic he or she has chosen, the resources they might use, and the essential questions they might want to answer in their paper.
You can help your child the most in three ways. One, help them select a WWII related topic that would be easy to research. Second, remove the “Parent Copy” of the schedule at the back of this packet and place it on the refrigerator at home. Support their work and efforts at school with the project by asking for updates, helping with note cards, resources, notes, the rough draft, and perhaps providing transportation to the library or assistance with research on the computer at home. Third, help them focus what they write about so that it reflects what they want to tell about the topic they are researching.
This entire Research Packet is available on my teacher website:
www.mrssargeant.net
You are also welcome to send a note with your son or daughter, call me at school, call me at home, or email me at my personal email:
[email protected]
(Remove and Return Bottom Portion)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This confirms that I have read through the research packet and that I am aware of my child’s responsibilities and expectations regarding this research project. I also confirm that I am aware of the ways that I can be of assistance to my son or daughter. I have discussed his or her WWII related topic choice. I am also aware of the schedule and grading rubric for this project assignment.
REQUIREMENTS & EXPECTATIONS
A title page with graphic Outline
A revised, 750-1500 word document
(3 pages minimum – not more than 5 pages) A “Works Cited” page (Bibliography)
20-50 note cards.
(Rule of thumb = 3-5 cards per page of typed work, or main idea, and one card for each source you use)
A minimum of three sources but more are allowable
~ Books, internet, interviews, pamphlets, movies, television, encyclopedia, periodicals, and magazines
~ MUST include ONE book and ONE internet source ~ Wikipedia will not be allowed as an acceptable source ~ One source must be annotated
Document must be completed on word processors/ computers at school during school hours or extended lab times with Mrs. Sargeant A report cover (optional)
CONTENT & ORGANIZATION
Title Page
Please put the following information on the title page of your research paper: ~ A creative title
~ A graphic ~ Your name ~ Mrs. Sargeant
~ 7th Grade Research Paper
~ May, 2009
You may use an acceptable size font, word art, color, etc. Please follow the order given above. Remember that everything on the title page should be centered.
Outline
Prepare a “dirty” outline and submit to Mrs. S. by the specified due date. This may be done on notebook paper. However, once you receive the approved “dirty” outline, please rewrite it on the special outline form provided by Mrs. S. This outline will be turned in with your research paper.
The most important thing about your outline is that it will guide you through the writing part of this project. But, how will you know what to write in your paper? What questions will you try to answer about your topic? These questions provide the backbone of the entire research project. Your most important job is to think of some good ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
about the topic, find the answers when you do your research, then write it all down.
Create your outline based on your ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS.
Introduction
This research paper is to inform or explain. It is an expository. However, you still need to prepare a strong thesis statement that clearly defines your purpose for writing this paper. Therefore, your introduction will be a minimum of 100 words with a formal thesis
statement written as the last sentence. A complete thesis statement for this research paper should include:
1) The World War II topic 2) A fact about the topic
3) What do I expect the class to learn about this topic
Besides the thesis statement, remember that the introduction is your big chance to “hook” the reader. Think of a creative way to approach this by using some of the tricks we have learned:
~ use a quote ~ use an anecdote ~ use a statistic
~ use a shocking or surprising fact ~ ask a question
All must relate to the WWII topic and then transition to the thesis statement. Let me know if you need help with this!
Body Paragraphs
Use the information you wrote on your note cards to help you form your body paragraphs. Follow your outline. You will need one body paragraph for each ESSENTIAL QUESTION. Find the answers to as many of the ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS as possible. If you have trouble finding something, let me know and I will look for it.
Conclusion
As you recall from other writing we have done this year, the conclusion is simply a
summary of the other information in your paper. The conclusion should be 3-6 sentences in length, and they should be strong sentences…not weak and puny. USE ACTIVE VOICE!! You need to end your paper with a strong statement that leaves the reader with something to remember or think about. I always say that if you misspelled some words or even wrote some sentences that didn’t make sense, they might remember that. But, you can be sure that if you DO NOT have a strong introduction and conclusion then you did a lot of work for nothing. Those are the parts that get and keep the reader even after they have finished reading your paper.
Some good techniques to use for writing a solid conclusion include:
~ Find a way to connect back to the story you might have told in the introduction ~ Share an interesting or shocking fact
NOTE CARDS – USE AND INSTRUCTIONS
Use of Note Cards
The number of note cards you will need will depend on two things. One: Your essential questions and the notes you take in answering them will require the most note cards. Two:
The number of sources you have will also require an equal number of note cards.
If you look back at page 6, you will recall that you must develop 10 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
to respond to. You are going to need one paragraph for each of these and 2-3 details in each paragraph. You have to write your notes on the note cards. Consider this example:
1. EQ #1 asks, “How did World War II influence fashion for women in the United States between 1940 and 1945?”
2. Let’s say one source you used told about clothes, hats, and hair.
3. You would need a note card for each of these fashion items and a list of 2-3 facts/notes on each note card.
4. If there are three fashion items, then you would need three cards just for that EQ to have notes for that paragraph.
5. In addition, you would need one card for the source information so you can use it do prepare your bibliography.
6. All together, for that Essential Question, you are going to use four note cards.
7. You have 10 Essential Questions to respond to. 10 x 4 = 40. This number is just for the body paragraphs. If you used information from a source for the introduction, such as a statistic, then that might require 2-3 note cards; one to two for the notes and one for the bibliography information.
8. For this research assignment, it is not beyond reality to expect to use up to 50 or 60 note cards, but you will probably not need that many.
Instruction For Filling Out the Note Cards
BIBLIOGRAPHY CARDS
1. Use a separate note cards for EACH source you acquire.
ENCYCLOPEDIA:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card # “Name of Article”
Name of Encyclopedia (Ex. World Book Enc.)
Volume Number or Letter, Page Number Edition: Year of Publication
Note: Some encyclopedia articles have the author’s name and some do not. Most do not. If it is available, provide the author’s last name first, then first name.
1 “Fashion”
World Book Encyclopedia Volume 6, Page 100 20th Edition: 2000
MAGAZINE OR PERIODICAL:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card # Last Name, First Name of author(s)
“Title of Article” Title of Magazine Date: Page Number(s)
2 Sargeant, Fred and Sandra Sargeant
“How Our Parents Dressed in the 1940’s” Vogue Magazine
January, 2009: Pages 50-51
INTERNET:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card # Last Name, First Name of author(s)
“Title of Article”
On-Line Source: Internet Date you read article
Website Address (either with http or www or both)
3 Pierce, Matthew
“Fashion, Females, and Foxholes” On Line Source: Internet
April 30, 2009 http//:Fashionista
INTERVIEW:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card #
BOOK:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card # Author’s Last Name, First Name
Title of Book City: Publisher Year of Publication
5 Green, Irene
Those Were the Days
New York City: Parkerhouse Press 1989
TELEVISION PROGRAM OR MOVIE:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card # “Name of Program or Movie”
Channel viewed on
Date you watched program or movie: time
6 “The Military is in My Closet”
PBS – Channel 47
Sunday, April 19, 2009: 7 P.M.
DVD OR VHS MOVIE:
EXAMPLE:
Source Card # “Movie Title”
DVD (Date of release)
Date your viewed the movie
7 “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and My Shorts” DVD (1995)
Note Cards
(with notes you collected from your research)
EXAMPLE
II (Roman No.)
Hair Fashion - 1
(This card has notes that your will use in paragraph
2
) (This is the main topic of par.II
and this is the first card with notes written about hair fashions)___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________
Information you want to write
______________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________p. 15
WORD PROCESSING (TYPING) INSTRUCTIONS
Page Set-Up
WARNING!!!
SAVE all pages in YOUR STUDENT FILE on the server.
ADD the title page, outline, and bibliography TO THE TEXT DOCUMENT.
DO NOT make a new file for each part (title pg., outline, bib.)
ONE – FORMAT THE TITLE PAGE
ON TOOL BAR: Select the CENTER button
RETURN eight times Type the Title
Add the Graphic
RETURN eight times
Type your name and press “Enter” twice (do not type BY) Type Mrs. Sargeant and press “Enter” once
Type 7th Grade Research Paper and press “Enter” once
Type May, 2009
TWO – FORMAT THE TEXT
Select “Format”: Choose “Times New Roman”, “Bookman Old Style,” or “Palatino” Select “Format”: Choose 12 or 14 pt. font size
Select “Format”: Change spacing to double spacing
REMEMBER: 2 spaces after a period and one space after comma
THREE – FORMAT THE BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE
On the master tool bar at the top of the screen, click on the “Align Center” button.
Type WORKS CITED and press “Enter” three times.
On the master tool bar at the top of the screen, click on “Align Left” button. Place your source cards in alphabetical order by first word on the card. Type the cards in this order.
Press “Enter” after you type all the information for the whole card.
SAMPLE BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE
WORKS CITED
“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and My Shorts”. Boy George, 1995. DVD
Crick, Mary Lou. Young bride of a sailor in U.S. Navy during WWII. Personal interview. April 29, 2009.
“Fashion”. World Book Encyclopedia: Vol. 6, pg. 100. 20th Edition: 2000.
Green, Irene. Those Were the Days.
New York City: Parkerhouse Press, 1999.
Pierce, Matthew, Phd. “Fashion, Females, and Foxholes”. Fashionista. On Line. Internet. April 30, 2009.
Available: http://www.fashionista.org
Sargeant, Fred and Sandra. “How Our Parents Dressed in the 1940’s”.
Vogue Magazine. January, 2009: pgs. 50-51.
“The Military is in My Closet”.
DO’S & DON’T’S
DO have a catchy opening. Check-out the hand-out in your packet, Good
Beginnings. You only have one chance to make the reader want to read your paper.
DO have a solid ending. Check-out the hand-out in your packet, Happy Endings”. Make sure everything is wrapped up and summarized, AND, you leave the reader with something cool to think about.
DO have solid facts, statistics, quotes, etc. Write deliberately with active voice so you will appear as though you are an “expert” on the company you have chosen to
research.
DO have a strong thesis statement in your introduction.
DO us strong transitions to let the reader know you are beginning a new part of your paper.
DO proofread. Running “Spell Check” is a good thing, BUT, it is VERY important that you read your entire paper even after running “Spell Check”. Start at the title page and go all the way to the bibliography. You can’t always rely on “Spell Check”. For example, if you type “their” but you meant “there” it won’t catch the wrong usage. It only checks for spelling and “their” is spelled correctly. Also, while proofreading, make sure subject and verb agreement is right. You can avoid confusing the reader this way.
DO make sure you indent your paragraphs. Follow your outline and indent each time you start typing a new paragraph about a new Essential Question.
DO NOT use abbreviations and symbols in the body paragraphs unless you check with me first. Write out every word.
DO NOT use slang. Please write using Standard, Formal Register English. If slang is part of a quote or something, check with me first.
DO NOT use contractions. Again, type out all words completely. Remember,
“When In Doubt, Write It Out”.
DO NOT use “I am going to tell you about a company…”, I, me, you, we, stuff, thing, like. These are overused and will make your paper sound lazy and immature.
DO NOT use questions in your writing except in the introduction. Facts and good information supported by lots of details and good sources will make you sound like an authority on the company, not asking questions and giving answers.
PRESENTATION
You will prepare and give a presentation about your WWII topic. The audience for this presentation will be your language arts classmates and me. Be sure to sign up for your presentation date and begin preparing in advance so you will be ready on your assigned day. Unless you are absent, no presentations can be made up.
1. Use an outline or note cards to do your speech
2. Just as in your paper, you need to make sure you have a good beginning, plenty of information in the middle, and a great ending
3. Prepare a 3-5 minute presentation 4. Discuss all of your Essential Questions
5. Prepare some type of visual. You may use Power Point. If you use Power Point, you must have a minimum of eleven slides: Title slide plus one slide per paragraph. 6. You will make your presentation during language arts class
GRADING
1. Schedule and Student/Parent Signatures Completed 2. Content: Accuracy of information
3. Focus: Introduction, conclusion, stay on topic
4. Organization: Paragraphing, topic sentences, ending sentences 5. Support: Explanations, examples, information
6. Conventions: Grammar, style, mechanics, spelling, revisions 7. Homework: Note cards, outline, “dirty” drafts
8. Word Processing: Typing, indenting, spacing, margins
9. Formatting: Proper title page w/graphic, proper bibliography, proper outline, proper pagination, proper font, pages in order…
10. Requirements: On time, title page w/graphic, outline, body paragraphs, 750-1500 words, bibliography, three sources, 30-50 note cards, drafts
WWII RESEARCH PAPER SCHEDULE
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE POINTS POSSIBLE
♥ Research Proposal
♥ Thesis Statement
♥ April 23
♥ April 24
♥ 20 Points – Proposal
♥ 10 Points – Thesis (30)
♥ Key Ideas
♥ 10 Essential Questions
♥ April 27
♥ April 28
♥ 10 Points – Ideas
♥ 20 Points – Essential ?’s (30)
♥ 30-50 Note Cards (notes)
♥ 3 Note Cards (sources)
♥ April 30 ♥ 30 Points – Note Cards
♥ 10 Points – Source Cards (40)
♥ Outline
♥ Introductory Paragraph
♥ May 1 ♥ 10 Points – Outline
♥ 20 Points – Into Par. (30)
♥ Rough Draft (typed)
♥ Title Page
♥ May 8 ♥ 50 Points – Draft
♥ 10 Points – Title Page (60)
Final Paper Due!
♥ 3-5 Pages (typed)
♥ This does not include the additional title page and bibliography page
♥ May 15
♥ May 15
♥ 10 Points – Two Copies on time
(10)
♥ Presentations ♥ May 18-22 ♥ 50 Points
(250 Points Total)
I will be available to assist or supervise you before and after school in the library from 7:45-8:10 A.M. and from 3:15-4:00 P.M. for additional working time. Be sure to note that you may also access Carnegie Library in Lewistown and Parlin Ingersoll Library in Canton any time during their regular business hours.
COMPANY RESEARCH PAPER SCHEDULE
PARENTS’ COPY
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE POINTS POSSIBLE
♥ Research Proposal
♥ Thesis Statement
♥ April 23
♥ April 24
♥ 20 Points – Proposal
♥ 10 Points – Thesis (30)
♥ Key Ideas
♥ 10 Essential Questions
♥ April 27
♥ April 28
♥ 10 Points – Ideas
♥ 20 Points – Essential ?’s (30)
♥ 30-50 Note Cards (notes)
♥ 3 Note Cards (sources)
♥ April 30 ♥ 30 Points – Note Cards
♥ 10 Points – Source Cards (40)
♥ Outline
♥ Introductory Paragraph
♥ May 1 ♥ 10 Points – Outline
♥ 20 Points – Into Par. (30)
♥ Rough Draft (typed)
♥ Title Page
♥ May 8 ♥ 50 Points – Draft
♥ 10 Points – Title Page (60)
Final Paper Due!
♥ 3-5 Pages (typed)
♥ This does not include the additional title page and bibliography page
♥ May 15
♥ May 15
♥ 10 Points – Two Copies on time
(10)
♥ Presentations ♥ May 18-22 ♥ 50 Points
(250 Points Total)
I will be available to assist or supervise you before and after school in the library from 7:45-8:10 A.M. and from 3:15-4:00 P.M. for additional working time. Be sure to note that you may also access Carnegie Library in Lewistown and Parlin Ingersoll Library in Canton any time during their regular business hours.
