Career Research Paper Organization and Citing of Sources and Basic Requirements

Paragraph Structure of Paper  Introduction  Interests  Skills  Goals  Conclusion

The Introductory Paragraph Remember A-N-T  A = Attention Grabber  Use a quote, statistic, anecdote, question  Be sure to cite your source if you use a quote or statistic from your research.  If you’ve always wanted this career, this might be a good time to tell us that!  N = Necessary Information  Your career title  The fact that you’ve done research  T = Thesis Statement  A sentence about whether or not this is the right career for you, based on your research.

Body Paragraph 1 Your Interests  Topic Sentence using the word “interest(s)”  This is the time to explain what your interests are and how they match up with what you learned about this career.  Make reference to at least 2 places in your research where you found evidence of your interests matching the activities of this career.  Be sure to CITE YOUR SOURCES properly

Body Paragraph 2 Your Skills  Topic Sentence using the word “skills”  This is the time to explain what your skills are and how they will be put to use in this career.  Make reference to at least 2 places in your research where you found evidence of your skills matching the requirements of this career.  Be sure to CITE YOUR SOURCES properly

Body Paragraph 3 Your Goals  Topic Sentence using the word “goals”  In this paragraph focus on your long term goals and how you will reach them.  Make reference to at least 2 places in your research where you learned about what you need to do to get to this career. (High School Courses, College Requirements)  You can also mention your Reality Check and your financial goals in this paragraph.  Be sure to CITE YOUR SOURCES properly

Conclusion  Summarize a main point from each body paragraph.  Circle back to your introduction, and make another reference to the ideas you presented there.  Provide closure by reinforcing your thesis statement.  REMEMBER: There should not be any new information in your conclusion paragraph!

Works Cited  Import your Works Cited page to the last page of your document from NoodleTools.  You should have 6 references:  Interview  Book  4 websites  OCIS  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)  2 that you found on your own

Citing of Sources  You must make reference to each item on your Works Cited page at least once in the text of your body paragraphs. (Remember that’s why it is called a “Works Cited” page because you are listing the sources you have cited.)  Follow the same format you used for your Summer Book Project. What you put in ( ) at the end of a sentence should be the first field of that item from the W.C. page.  You can incorporate some of your source citations in the sentences that include the facts.

Typing Requirements  Heading on page 1 – upper right corner  Your name  Teacher’s name – Ms. Birtcher  Date ( )  Class period  Title – Centered & Capitalized - A title unique to your project  All paragraphs indented 1 tab (no extra space between paragraphs)  Text of essay double spaced (not header)  12 point Font (including header and title)  1 inch margins (you may need to change the default)  Page numbers in upper right corner after page 1 – including Works Cited  1 staple, neatly in upper left corner  You may print on front and back to save paper if you want to.

Organizing Your Work Time 1.Make sure all your research is completed before you go any further. 2.Use the outline handout you are being given to organize your information before typing. 3.Get your information put into NoodleTools first so you know what needs to be used in your citations. 4.Set up all your typing specifications first, so you don’t have to go back and do it later. 5.Save your project to a flashdrive or it to yourself, so you can work on it outside of class/school.

Finishing and Handing In  Your project is due by 3:00 on Tuesday, December 17. (That is the last regular class day before exams.)  The due date is FIRM – even if you are absent. If you want your project to be counted “on time” then find a way to get it handed in. You may have someone else bring it for you, or you may to me.  Projects will lose 10% for each day they are late, and they will not be accepted after Noon on Friday, December 20,  In addition to your paper, you need to hand in:  your outline worksheet,  your 5 Notes Sheets, and  your finished interview.  These should be paper clipped together, separate from your research paper.