To Kill A Mockingbird

• A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article). The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide the student with an exceptional opportunity to increase her knowledge in that field.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/02/

• A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources. It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources. The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/02/

Argumentative research paper:• The argumentative research paper consists of an

introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement. An important goal of the argumentative research paper is persuasion, which means the topic chosen should be debatable or controversial.

Analytical research paper:• The analytical research paper often begins with the

student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which he has taken no stance. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf. He has read the poem intently and desires to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/02/

I will be passing out a list of available topics that you may choose to research. There will be five slots available in each area (although specific areas of interest will differ)- YOU MUST sign up for one of these spots. After a list is filled with five names, no one else may choose this area of research. There will be enough spots for everyone to have a subject to research.

We will be visiting the library, Mrs. Dolan has material laid out material that you may peruse during certain class periods and in your free time, they will not be available for checkout until a week before the Research Paper is due.

Create an outline for your paper showing your thesis Roadmap, your topic sentences where you intend to use your research, and what will be included in your conclusion. YOUR OUTLINE WILL BE A GRADED PART OF YOUR PAPER!

You will need to make multiple drafts for your Research Paper, this cannot be written in one night, or even in one day. You will have deadlines to meet FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. By meeting these deadlines, you ensure that your paper will be on the right track.

Revising is the process consisting of: Major, sweeping, changes to the various drafts of a project An evaluation of word choice throughout the project The removal paragraphs and sometimes, quite painfully,

complete pages of text Rethinking the whole project and reworking it as needed

Editing is a process interested in the general appearance of a text, and includes the following:

Analysis of the consistency of tone and voice throughout the project

Correction of minor errors in mechanics and typography Evaluation of the logical flow of thought between paragraphs

and major ideas This process is best completed toward the final stages of the

project, since much of what is written early on is bound to change anyway.

Proofreading is the final stage in the writing process, and consists of a detailed final reread in order to find any mistakes that may have been overlooked in the previous revisions.http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/05/