Research Paper Notes

There are 5 parts of the MLA research paper 1.Notecards 2.Outline (double spaced) 3.Title Page 4. Research paper (double spaced) 5. Works cited (double spaced) We will look at each of these elements in detail.

Title Page An MLA title page includes… Title of paper (all caps) Your name Due date of paper Class name (LA 2, 3, or 4)

How to create a title page Top left of page type your name. Press return and type the due date. Press return and type your morning LA class. Type your paper title in all caps in the center of the page.

Outline An MLA outline isn’t really different than other graphic organizers you may have done, just a different format: Type name, LA class in top left corner, return Type your thesis at the top, centered Double space Use Roman Numerals

How to create an outline Type the thesis (double spaced, centered) at the top Skip a couple lines and start your outline with Roman Numeral I. Below that “I” use an A, B, C etc. to list your supporting details (these are the facts on your fact note cards). Continue in this format until you have 3 main topics and supporting facts for each main paragraph topic. Note: You do not outline introductions and conclusions Note: Outline must match the order of your thesis, Cause, Invention, Consequences

The research paper Double spaced Written in paragraph form 5 paragraphs (intro, 3 body, conclusion) No contractions or slang Do not use headers/footers Do not type your name on the first page….that’s what the title page was for April 17 th -19th, YOU WILL BRING YOUR OUTLINE IN FOR CONFERENCING!!!! We will be writing your introduction paragraph beginning Monday, April 22 nd in MORNING LA CLASS. You will compose the remainder of your essay that week at home and over the weekend.

Things to remember about the research paper The organization of your paper needs to match the outline EXACTLY. For example, as the main points in your outline are cause of invention (problem), how, when & where solution occurred (invention), and consequences (positive or negative, specifically as it affects middle schoolers) THEN your first body paragraph in the paper should be about the problem, the second about the invention and the third about consequences to middle schoolers.

Works Cited You might know the term “bibliography” better, but this is a works cited, slightly different. A WC page lists (in a very detailed manner) each of the sources you actually used in writing your research paper; a bibliography lists every source you looked at, whether you used it or not.

How to cite a book Citing a Book 1. author’s last name, first name—period 2. title of book (underlined or italicized)—period 3. city of publication—colon 4. publishing company—comma 5. year of publication (use the year that is closest to 2012)—period Example of book citation: Smith, Jane. For the Love of Puppies. Philadelphia: Harper Collins, Notice the indention of the second line! This is called a hanging indent!

How to cite a book on the notecard (WC notecard) 4 Smith, Jane. For the Love of Puppies. Philadelphia: Harper Collins, My note: Interesting information about puppies, but more a personal tale than information. Author’s name Book’s title, italics Place of Publication Publisher Date of Publication Researcher’s comment Researcher’s source number

How to cite an Encyclopedia 1.Title of article in quotations, bold —period within the quotations. 2.Name of encyclopedia that the article came from in italics with a period following. 3.Name of publishing company, followed by date of publication of encyclopedia, with a period following. 4.Type “Web” indicating it came from the online format. 5.Date the article was published in the following format: day Month (abr.) year, followed by a period, if given. 6.Date you accessed the article—period (if an online encyclopedia.) 7.URL Example of Online citation… “Ford, Henry.” Compton’s by Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Web. 19 Mar Again, notice the indention!

How to cite an Online encyclopedia on a notecard 4 “Ford, Henry.” Compton’s by Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Web. 19 Mar Title of article Name of encyclopedia, specifying edition Date of Publication of encyclopedia Researcher’s source number Date of access, by student Name of publishing company,plus by date of publication of encyclopedia

How to cite an Online article 1.Author’s name: last name first, first name—period 2.Name of article in quotations—period 3.Name of magazine/periodical the article came from (underline this)—no punctuation after 4.Date the article was published 5.Virtual Library (or you can name the database specifically, like KidsSearch)—period ONLY IF THIS ARTICLE CAME FROM A DATABASE! 6.If your article did NOT come from a database, skip to previous step & type the Date you accessed the article—period. 7.URL. Example of Online citation… Cannon, Angie. "Just Saying No to Tests." U.S. News & World Report 18 Oct. 1999: 3. Alabama Virtual Library. 28 Feb Again, notice the indention!

How to cite an Online article on a notecard 4 Boynton, Robert S. “The Tyranny of Copyright?” The New York Times Magazine 25 January 2004: 40+ My note: Difficult to read but has interesting information Author’s name Article’s title, in quote marks Date of Publication Researcher’s comment Researcher’s source number Page(s) on which article appears Newspaper’s or magazine’s title, underlined

How to cite a website 1.author’s name—period 2.Article title in quotes—period 3.Website’s title (in the top gray bar of the window) 4.Article date--period 5.Date you accessed the website--period 6.URL of the website—period (just use the basic website, not the whole crazy URL) Example... Schuster, Alan. "Spa and Hot Tub Chemical Questions." Ask Alan. Aqua-Clear Industries. 18 Aug Oct Notice the indented lines!

How to cite a website 4 Boynton, Robert S. “The Tyranny of Copyright?” Slate 25 January 2004: 12 April My note:. Researcher’s source number Author’s name Article’s title, in quote marks Newspaper’s or magazine’s title, underlined Date of Publication URL address Date you accessed the site Researcher’s comment

What do I do when all my resources have been cited? 1.Alphabetize them according to the first word of the citation 2.Double space everything 3.Make sure every line under the first one is indented; this is called a hanging indent. 4.Type Works Cited at the top of the page in the center.

What is a research or fact note card? As opposed to a Works Cited notecard!! Note cards are 3x5 index cards with only one, just one, no more than one fact per card (may be larger.) There are 3 components to making an MLA note card. Example on next slide.

3 Items to include on card Cause2 Cars were too expensive for most people except for the very wealthy. Topic – the kind of information on the card Source Number: The number of the source where you found your information as it appears in your list of sources. Fact or information you retrieved from the source that you want to use in your paper to support your thesis.

So, what goes on the Note Card?? As you find interesting facts about your topic, you will write them down, noting whether they are problem, invention or consequence facts on the card. Each idea should be paraphrased/summarized (in your own words) or quoted and written on a card.

How do you record information on the notecard? Paraphrase/Summarize—shorter, in your own words; rewrite what the author said Quote—stating exactly what the author said; must use quotation marks DON’T PLAGIARIZE!!!! ALWAYS GIVE THE CREDIT TO THE REAL AUTHOR!

PLAGIARISM It's like lip-synching to someone else's voice and accepting the applause and rewards for yourself. IF YOU PLAGIARIZE, YOU WILL FAIL!!! …any time you take a writer’s words and use them as your own, you are plagiarizing

1. Card Topic Topic is the kind of information on the card. Think of it as the title, or main idea of the card. After writing down the information, figure out how you could briefly categorize, or title it. Cause2 Cars were too expensive for most people except for the very wealthy. Topic – the kind of Information on the card

2. Source Title The source number is the number of the name of the book, magazine, website, etc., in which you found the information, as it appears in your list of sources. Cause2 Cars were too expensive for most people except for the very wealthy. Source Number: The number of the source where you found your information as it appears in your list of sources.

Keep track of your notes, your sources, your notecards and your original packet by keeping them together in a folder with your name and LA period on it.