8th
Grade Research Paper 2008 Rated C for Challenging
A. What you are doing: You will write a five-page
analytical (A.K.A. descriptive) research paper about a topic of your
choice. An analytical research paper is
a unique form of writing. It is NOT
creative writing. So, relax! You will not have to write five pages from
your head! In your paper you will be
expressing an opinion, or a point-of-view, or making an argument pro or con
about a topic, for example, using animals to test products for people. Once you have an approved topic, you will
gather books, magazines, etc. that contain information about your topic. You will copy information from your sources
that you want to use in your paper to support your opinion, point-of-view, or
argument about your topic on to 4"x6" index cards. Like building a jigsaw puzzle, you'll fit
your blocks of information together to write your paper. You will learn how to paraphrase your
information, and how to give credit in your paper to the authors from whom you
copied information. When you are nearly
finished, you will do the only writing from your head that you have to do: Your Introduction paragraph and your
Conclusion paragraph.
B. Why you are doing this: Four reasons. First, introduce you to researching for
writing; Second, for you to gain more knowledge about a topic; Third, the
Archdiocese of Baltimore requires that you complete a research paper in the
eighth grade; and Fourth, if you take aboard everything that you will learn
about writing your paper, I guarantee you that your effort now will put you
ahead of the curve in high school.
C. How you're going to complete your paper
successfully:
You will learn this writing process throughout various classes in the 2nd
/3rdTrimester, twelve weeks total, to learn how to write your paper. These include science class, reading,
English, library, and computers. We will
cover every step in detail. I have made
several handouts and have written a sample paper as a model for you. And, you'll have a textbook, A Student
Guide to Writing a Research Paper by Phyllis Goldenberg. Your research paper timeline and class schedule is in this handout.
D. What you can write about: You may write about any
topic in the field of science, social studies, mathematics, or English. Your topic selection will be a graded
homework assignment and must be approved by the teacher. Here are some areas, just to name a few,
within these fields from which you may find a topic:
Homeland Security Weather & Climate Biotechnology Ecology
Space Program Transportation Conservation Public
Health
Marine Biology Disease Medicine Medical Research
Sports Science Fuel Cell Cars Solar
Power Nuclear
Power
Agriculture Pollution Evolution Aeronautics
Biological warfare Chemical warfare Ozone Layer Global Warming
And
the list goes on and on. If your mind is
drawing a blank, you and I can talk about your topic.
E. Sources for your paper: You must have at least five
sources for your research paper. Your
own common knowledge does not count as a source for this paper. You must use a variety
of published sources to get the information that you'll need to build
your research paper. In other words, you
need a combination of books, encyclopedias, magazines,
newspapers, the Internet, etc. You
may have only
F. When stuff is due: The Research Paper
Timeline and Class Schedule tells you when each individual "building
block" of your paper is due.
Everything that is due will be graded.
There is a 10% per day penalty for anything that is late (barring family
emergency and illness, of course).
G. How much of your grade it is worth:
1. 2nd Trimester
– 200 points, comprising classes, topic, sources, 4x6 cards, thesis statement,
outline, and first draft.
2. 3rd
Trimester -- 140 points for the final paper.
3. Research
paper grade will be apart of Science grade.
H. How you will be graded on your paper: You will complete a peer edit review of
another classmate’s rough draft in English class. A team of Junior High teachers will grade
your final research paper according to the rubrics included with this handout.
I. The Nuts 'N Bolts of your research
paper:
1. Length
- five typewritten pages minimum
2. No
cover page.
3. Double-spaced,
12-point, Times New Roman font, with normal margins.
4. Do
not put drawings or pictures in your paper.
5. Follow the
Modern Language Association (MLA) format for paper layout, parenthetical citations,
and works cited page. We will cover
this in class. I will give you a
sample paper that is the exact format
for your paper.
6. Underline your
thesis statement in your first draft and final paper using the underline
function of your word processor.
7. All pages of
the first draft and final paper stapled together in the upper-left corner and NOT bound in any type of report cover.
--------------------------------------------------------Cut
here—and return ----------------------------------------------
We have read and
understand the research paper assignment.
We are fully aware of all the upcoming due dates.
Parent
signature_______________________________________
Student
signature______________________________________
Timeline and Class Schedule.
|
Date |
What's due in class |
Classwork and Homework |
|
Week of 21 Jan. |
|
1. Hand
out textbooks and assignment sheets. 2. Discuss
your assignment. (Science class/
Library) 3.
Webcercise activity in computer class. HW: (a) Read Step 1. (b) Choose your topic. |
|
THU 31 Jan. |
(Library) Topic on loose leaf w/ heading. (20 pts.) |
1. Discuss
topics, if necessary. 2. Discuss
source requirements. 3. Discuss
4x6 cards, particularly card #1 (Bibliography) HW: (a) Read Step 2, (b) Find at least five
sources, (c) Buy 4x 6 cards. |
|
THU 07 Feb |
Titles and authors of five sources on loose leaf
w/ heading. (5 pts. / source) |
1. Step 3
in class. 2. Discuss
card #1 and taking notes from sources. ( 3. Discuss
thesis statement and top-down method of writing one. (Science) HW: Bring sources and 4x6 cards to next
Thursday's class. |
|
THU 14 Feb. |
(Science, Bring sources and 4x6 cards to class.
(20 pts. / source) |
1.
4x6-to-handwritten page-to-typed page ratio. 2. Begin
copying source information to your 4x6 cards in class. ( 3.Complete
thesis builder in computer class. HW: (a) Read Step 4, (b) Write Title and Thesis
Statement, (c) Bring sources and 4x6 cards to next Thursday's class. |
|
THU 21 Feb. |
(Library, science) Title and Thesis Statement on loose leaf w/
heading. (20 pts.) Bring sources and 4x6 cards to class. |
1.
Continue copying information from your sources to 4x6 cards. 2. Discuss
thesis statements one-on-one as necessary. HW: 4x6 card sets for two sources. |
|
THU 28 Feb. |
(Library, Sets of 4x6 cards for two sources. (20 pts.) |
1.
Continue copying information from your sources to 4x6 cards. HW: Finish 4x6 cards for three remaining
sources. (Reading, Library) |
|
|
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|
Thu 06 Mar. |
Sets of 4x6 cards for all five of your sources. (30 pts.) |
1. Step 5
in class. (Science) 2. Discuss
topic sentence outline. HW: Begin your topic sentence outline. |
|
Wed. 12 Mar. |
Topic sentence outline (20 pts) |
1. Bring all 4x6 cards to class and continue
outlining/begin first draft. HW: Finish typed topic sentence outline. |
|
THU 20 Mar. |
Typed topic sentence outline. (30 pts.) |
1. Step 6
in class. HW: (a) Begin writing first draft, (b) Read Step
7. |
|
Wed. 03 April |
Bring outline and 4x6 cards to class. |
1. Discuss
documenting sources. 2. Discuss
Works Cited page 3.
Continue writing first draft from outline. HW: Continue writing/typing first draft, which is
DUE IN SEVEN DAYS. |
|
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|
|
|
Typed first draft PLUS five sets (minimum)
4x6 cards DUE IN CLASS Monday, April 14, 2008. |
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|
Mon. 14 April |
|
1. First
draft conferences, as necessary. 2. Peer
edit/ review in English class 3.
Troubleshoot and discuss as necessary. 4. Final
paper due Thursday April 24, 2008 |
|
Thursday April 24, 2008 -- Final Paper +
Graded First Draft due in class. |
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