Hull High School Social Studies Department Revised: 01/31/09
RESEARCH PAPER TOOL KIT
CHOOSING A TOPIC You will be given a general subject for your research paper. It will be up to you to find a specific subject. You will find it easier to write a paper about a subject that you are truly interested in. Begin by checking with the school library, local library or by searching the Internet for information. As you scan this general material keep looking for possible research topics.
TIPS: Keep in mind that whatever topic you choose you must be able to find enough information to write a good paper. You may want to use a web or graphic organizer to begin your subject search. Related Topics
GATHERING INFORMATION Once you have selected a topic, the next step is to find plenty of sources on that topic. Then you need to review these sources and take notes on the important facts and details you find. As you do this, try to narrow your subject down to a specific topic. Be sure to take down all relevant information about each source (author, title, publisher, copyright date) as you research. This information will be necessary for your bibliography, and going back later in the writing process to find this information, is not always possible.
TIPS: To help you organize your reading and note taking, write some basic questions about your subject that you would like to answer in your report (who, what, when, where, why, how). Put each of these questions at the top of a separate 5x8-note card (or any piece of paper). Any time you find a fact that answers one of your questions write it down on the appropriate card. Also add anything else that you think is important to your topic. Next write a clear outline. If you have a complete and well-organized outline, writing your paper should be no problem. TIPS: Keep the main points of your report in mind and put your note cards in the best possible order. Begin with the questions written on the top of your note cards. These questions are the main ideas and the details under each main heading should follow. You may want to use a topic outline to arrange your information. You should have each paragraph outlined before you begin writing. This will help to ensure that your paper is organized in a logical way.
Developing a Thesis Statement A thesis statement sets forth the basic argument of a writer or speaker, who then attempts to prove it. It is generally located near the end of the introduction. A thesis statement must be focused and specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries of your paper.
Thesis Statement Examples:
Paper Topic: “The Cuban Missile Crisis” TS: John F. Kennedy’s leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis was crucial to avoiding nuclear war.
Paper Topic: “The Impact of George Washington” TS: The precedents set by George Washington during the first presidency stand as his greatest legacy.
Paper Topic: “The New Deal” TS: FDR’s New Deal programs alleviated the suffering of millions and led the nation out of the Great Depression.
4. WRITING Each main idea in your outline can serve as the topic sentence of a paragraph in your paper. Then the details that support that main idea become the sentences for that paragraph. Keep in mind that your reader needs to know anything that will help him/her understand and react to the thesis of your paper.
TIPS: Introduction: This paragraph introduces the topic by stating the thesis of your paper. Body: Each paragraph should be clear and contain a main idea and details about your topic. Make sure your sentences are accurate. Include all necessary details and facts, but exclude any that cannot be proved, seem fuzzy, or are hard to believe. The paragraphs must lead into one another in a logical way Conclusion: Your closing paragraph should summarize the important points in your paper and leave your reader with a lasting impression. Be sure to restate all assertions made in your original thesis statement. Wording: Use your own words. Use strong verbs, rich vocabulary and sentence structure. Use quotation marks when you use someone else’s words. Give credit (cite) for an author’s ideas or words. These are called citations. Grammar: Use correct spelling, usage, punctuation and capitalization. Graphics: Add illustrations, pictures, charts, graphs, maps and other visuals if they add interest, clarity and are relevant to your topic.
5. GIVING CREDIT FOR INFORMATION/CITATIONS Give credit in the body of your research paper by placing (in footnotes) the author’s last name and the page number (s) on which you found the information. This reference is placed at the bottom of page where cited. For the author’s full name and the title of the book, the reader can check the works-cited or bibliography page at the end of the paper. If you are citing a website with no author or page numbers, put the title of the website in parentheses. Do not use the address of the site.
TIPS: The sample reference below tells the reader that this information was originally taken from “The History of Mir” by the author Chien and was found on page 97.
In February 1997, a fire shut down an oxygen generator. Then in June 1997, a spaceship carrying supplies to Mir crashed into a solar panel1
1. Chien,The History of Mir, (Cambridge: Harvard University of Press, 2009), 97. **Formatting Guidelines for each type of source are found in the following pages.
6. AVOIDING PLAGIARISM Plagiarism is using another writer’s ideas or words as if they were you own, without giving credit. It is not necessary to list an author for information that is considered common knowledge (knowledge already known by most people). When you are unsure whether your information is common knowledge, it is best to give the author credit using citations within the text.
TIPS: You should give credit in your paper for the following kinds of information: (1) Information that is copied directly from another source. (2) Information that is written in your own words but contains key words or ideas taken from another source. Plagiarizers will receive a zero and are subject to the school’s disciplinary code.
FORMAT CHECKLIST
PAPER: white (8 ? by 11-inch)
TEXT: typed, Times New Roman, Font Size 12
MARGINS: one-inch margin all around the text of the paper (left side, right side, top and bottom). Indent paragraphs (five spaces); set-off quotations should also be indented (ten spaces) from the left margin
SPACING: double spaced
PAGE NUMBERS: number the pages consecutively throughout the report (suppressing the first page) and placing your name and each page number at the top right corner of the paper. Ex: Jones, 2
FIRST PAGE: your name, your teacher’s name, the name of the course, the date. This information should be single spaced in the upper left hand corner. The title of your research paper must be centered and underlined beneath the previous information.
WORKS-CITED or BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE: The History Department will use the Turabian method of citation. This is an abbreviated form of the Chicago Manual of Style. You must use alphabetical order of all books, resources and materials used in the report. There should be single space within each entry and double spacing between entries. The first line of each entry should be indented (1 Tab or five spaces)
BINDER: Simple report cover or staple in upper left-hand corner of the paper
CITATIONS: These should be completed in footnote form. No in-text citations are permitted.
RUBRIC: Be sure to check the rubric to ensure that you have met all the standards.
SAMPLE WORKS-CITED or BIBLIOGRAPHY ENTRIES
Tips: A bibliography should not be the final step in writing your paper. In fact, you should have an organized working bibliography on hand while writing your paper. If you have all of your sources cited neatly and in the proper format, it becomes much easier to copy your footnotes directly from your already completed bibliography.
Source Publication Information: The hard-copy print version of this information may be found at:
Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations-Chicago Manual of Style for Students and Researchers. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2007.
BOOKS-Single Author or Editor Name
Author (first name last name), Title of the Book. State where book is published: Publisher Name, copyright year, page numbers used.
BOOKS-Multiple Authors
Author (first and last names) and Author (first name then last name), Title of the Book. State where book is published: Publisher Name, copyright year, page numbers used.
MAGAZINES & JOURNAL ARTICLES IN PRINT
Author (last name, first name). “Title of the article.” Title of the Magazine or Journal Volume Number (date of publication-month year): page numbers.
MAGAZINES & JOURNAL ARTICLES ONLINE
Author (last name, first name). “Title of the article.” Title of the Magazine or Journal Volume Number (date of publication-month year), under “descriptive locator,” URL (accessed Date of Access).
NEWSPAPER (signed and unsigned)
Author (first name last name), “Title of the article,” Title of the Newspaper, month day year .
Unsigned, “Title of the article,” Title of the Newspaper, month day year.
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Author (first and last name), “Title of the article,” Title of the Encyclopedia, (Publisher City: Publisher Name, Copyright edition year), volume number (v.1) pages used. REFERENCE BOOK ON CD-ROM
Title of Reference Book, CD-ROM {City and State where CD-ROM is published: Publisher, copyright year}.
ANTHOLOGY
Author (first and last name) “Title of Article.” Title of the Anthology. Editor. State where anthology is published: Publisher, copyright year.
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION
Name of Government Agency (ex: State Department), Title of the Publication. Author first and last name. (City and State where publication is published: Publisher, copyright year with session # if applicable).
MEDIA (videocassette)
Actor, Artist, or Narrator Names (last and first names). Title of VHS OR DVD. Director Names (first and last name). Publisher City, Publisher State, Publisher Name, copyright year.
MEDIA (television, radio)
Title of Program, “Title of Episode, ” episode number, airing date month, day year (original airing date month, day year).
INTERNET BOOK
Author (first and last name), Title of the Book. [Publication location, copyright year], under “descriptive locator,” URL (accessed Month day year).
FOOTNOTE FORMATTING-RATIONALE
NOTE: Footnotes are used in works of history for two major purposes:
1. To cite direct or indirect quotations of other author’s works you are using as reference for commentary or to support your thesis.
2. To further discuss a point of historical interest or to comment on an idea, argument, event, etc without taking up room within your paper. Footnotes of this kind often include extra information to help the reader understand the underlying causes of an historical event, personality characteristics of major historical figures. Often, this can be a place to further extend your argument by providing more proof to support your thesis.
Footnote Formatting
**Note: If you cite the same work by the same author twice in a row, you may abbreviate the second and all subsequent footnotes (as long as they are the same) as follows: 2. IBID, page number range. -Book 2. IBID, web address.-Online Book, Magazine, Journal Entry
BOOKS-Single Author or Editor Name
1. Author (first name last name), Title of the Book. (State where book is published: Publisher Name, copyright year), page numbers used.
BOOKS-Multiple Authors
1. Author (first and last names) and Author (first name then last name), Title of the Book. (State where book is published: Publisher Name, copyright year), page numbers used.
MAGAZINES & JOURNAL ARTICLES IN PRINT
1. Author (last name, first name). “Title of the article.” Title of the Magazine or Journal (Volume Number date of publication-month year: page numbers.
MAGAZINES & JOURNAL ARTICLES ONLINE
1. Author (First and Last Name). “Title of the article.” Title of the Magazine or Journal (Volume Number date of publication-month year).
NEWSPAPER (signed and unsigned)
1. Author (first name last name), “Title of the article,” (month day year) page number(s).
1. Unsigned, “Title of the article,” (month day year), page number(s).
ENCYCLOPEDIA
1. Author (first and last name), “Title of the article,” (volume number) page #.
REFERENCE BOOK ON CD-ROM
1.Title of Reference Book, CD-ROM, (Publisher, copyright year}.
ANTHOLOGY
1. Author (first and last name) “Title of Article.” (copyright year), page #.
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION
1. Name of Government Agency (ex: State Department), Title of the Publication, (copyright year with session # if applicable).
MEDIA (videocassette)
1. Actor, Artist, or Narrator Names (last and first names). Title of Production, copyrght year.
MEDIA (television, radio)
1.Title of Program, “Title of Episode, ” episode number.
INTERNET BOOK
1. Author (first and last name), Title of the Book. URL. (accessed month day year).
Social Studies Research Project Checklist
___ 1. Research: I have researched and located relevant information from at least three reliable sources.
___ 2. Notes: I have read through my research and taken notes on topics that are relevant to my research paper
___ 3. Bibliography: I have a correctly formatted bibliography with a wide range of reliable sources that meet the teacher’s mandate.
___ 4. Thesis Statement: I have developed a provable thesis statement.
___ 5. Outline: I have organized my notes into an outline so that I know what information will be in my introduction, body and conclusion.
___ 6. Rough Draft: I have written a rough draft and have read it over looking for ways to improve it and edit it. I have also had someone else read it critically.
___ 7. Final Draft: I have used my rough draft to write a final draft, which meets all of the requirements for this project. (Works Cited Page, Font, Spacing, Citations, etc.)
___ 8. Credit: I have done each of these steps in a timely basis and have received credit for doing them correctly and on time.
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