Assess Research Progress
Answer the following questions to assess your progress on this research project so far. Answer all questions. Include explanatory comments about any issues you are facing.
- Describe your progress locating information. Are you finding sufficient relevant information on your topic? Or too much, or too little? If necessary, how can you change your approach?
Type your answer here.
- Describe your progress finding appropriate sources. Have your searches been efficient? Have your search terms been appropriate and useful? If not, how can you improve your search method?
Type your answer here.
- Describe your note-taking process. Are you taking effective notes? Are you recording source information? If necessary, how can you improve your note-taking?
Type your answer here.
- Evaluate your time management. Have you been sidetracked at any point? Have you used your time and effort effectively? How can you stay on track and work more efficiently?
Type your answer here.
- Evaluate your thesis statement. Have you composed a focused, relevant thesis statement that you can defend with reasons and evidence? If not, can you revise your current thesis or do you need a fresh one?
Type your answer here.
- Evaluate your outline. Have you made an outline that accurately uses formal outline form and that contains all the important information you want to include in your paper? If not, what does your outline lack?
Type your answer here.
- What else would you like to add about your progress?
Type your answer here.
Outline
Fill in this outline with the appropriate information from your research project. Add levels, sections, and headings as necessary.
Title of Your Research Project: how are young people affected by their participation in social media?
- Introduction
- Hook:
- Thesis Statement:
- Body
- First supporting idea or reason:
- Evidence:
- Evidence:
- You may add a more detailed level if needed:
- Second supporting idea or reason:
- Evidence:
- Evidence:
- You may add a more detailed level if needed:
- Third supporting idea or reason:
- Evidence
- Evidence
- You may add a more detailed level if needed:
- Conclusion
- Summary of key ideas:
- Restatement of thesis:
- Call to action or road idea if appropriate:
Assignment
Research Paper
During the next several lessons you will be writing a research paper on a topic that you choose from a list of research questions. The paper will be 3–4 pages long and will be followed by a list of works cited on its own page.
Check your Notebook document for more information on how to choose one of the following questions as your topic. Here is the list of research questions:
- Overall, how are young people affected by their participation in social media?
- Research your future career.
- Why have some cities been more successful than others in reducing homelessness?
- What effect do teenage curfews have on crime and public safety?
- Is the current education system working for everyone?
Follow these guidelines in structuring your paper:
- Include an introduction that presents the topic, engages readers’ attention, and poses the research question as its thesis.
- Include body paragraphs that achieve the following:
- Feature evidence, drawn from credible and relevant sources, that answers the research question posed in the thesis.
- Contain synthesized information from at least three different sources.
- Establish clear relationships among facts, reasons, and evidence.
- Contain correctly formatted in-text citations to at least three different sources.
- Include a conclusion that
- Summarizes the major points of the body paragraphs
- Re-asks the research question posed in the introduction
- Answers the research question based on the findings of the paper
- Includes a works-cited page that
- Includes at least three sources from both print and digital sources
- Use MLA format to correctly document all sources
- Supplies full source information corresponding to all the in-text citations
- In terms of mechanics, the paper should
- Use formal language and an objective tone.
- Follow the rules for grammar and usage.
Your paper will be scored by your teacher using the Research Paper Grading Rubric. Look at the rubric yourself so that you know how your writing will be scored.
You will begin your assignment today. Follow the steps of the process to complete the assignment. You will turn in your work as a Teacher-Graded Assignment.
Planning
Choose your research question. Consult the Notebook document for details.
Conducting Research
Begin gathering information on your topic by searching online and print sources. Organize your sources and your notes. Create an outline for your paper. Evaluate your research process for criteria such as the relevance of your details and the effectiveness of your organizational plan.
Drafting
Write the first draft of your research paper, and remember to save often. Use your outline as a guide. Keep your audience in mind, considering their level of prior knowledge about the material. Synthesize your research by making connections between sources. Make sure you provide sufficient, credible, and relevant evidence to support your analysis. Use transitions and organization to establish the relationships among your ideas and between ideas and evidence. Include in-text citations and a works-cited page.
When you’ve finished the draft, you will share it with one or more readers to get feedback for revision.
Revising
Revise your first draft. Review the feedback you received, and decide which comments you agree with so that you can revise accordingly. After revising, use online checklist to make sure you have done the best revision you can.
Revise your paper for content, organization, and language. Check for cohesion in your organization of ideas. Make sure you have used formal language and maintained an objective tone throughout. Revise for clarity and variety in sentence structure and diction as necessary. Double-check all in-text citations and works cited entries for correct MLA format.
Proofreading and Publishing
Proofread your draft using the online checklist. Then submit your final draft, as well as your planning documents.
Think of ways to share your research paper with readers.
Submit Your Assignment
Your teacher will score your assignment using the Research Paper Grading Rubric. Look at the rubric yourself so that you know how your assignment will be scored.
Check with your teacher regarding the date you need to turn in the assignment. Follow the instructions in the Graded Assignment to complete the paper and submit it to your teacher for grading.