Research Paper Due Dates

Mandelbaum’s 2007-2008 Research Paper Guidelines

These are the steps we will be following to complete your research paper. The following due dates are to keep you on task. Do not fall behind.

STEP 1. CHOOSE A TOPIC: Topic must be chosen by Monday, October 1st. (10 points)

STEP 2. FIND INFORMATION:
A. Write ten questions that you want to answer in your paper: Wed. October 3
(20 points)
B. Complete your source cards: Monday, October 8th (20 points)
C. Complete your first ten note cards: Monday, October 15th (20 points)
D. Complete your first twenty-five note cards: Monday, October 22 (30 points)

STEP 3. STATE YOUR THESIS: Monday, October 15th (25 points)

STEP 4. MAKE A TENTATIVE OUTLINE: Friday, October 19th (25 points)

STEP 5. ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES to support your outline: Monday, October 29th
(25 points)

STEP 6. WRITE YOUR FIRST FIVE PARAGRAPHS: (Your introduction, your first three body paragraphs and your conclusion. This must be typed, double spaced, using 12 or 14 font.) Monday, November 5th (50 points)

Step 7. WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT: Complete and type your paper with citations (100 points) and works cited page (25 points). Be sure to follow the steps in the checklists below: Monday, November 19th

IDEAS AND CONTENT CHECKLIST :

________1. Is my thesis statement concise and clear?

________2. Did I follow my outline? Did I miss anything?
________3. Are my arguments presented in a logical sequence?
________4. Are all sources properly cited to ensure that I am not plagiarizing?
________5. Have I proved my thesis with strong supporting arguments?
________6. Have I made my intentions and points clear in the essay?

Re-read your paper for grammatical errors. Use a dictionary or a thesaurus as needed. Do a spell check. Correct all errors that you can spot and improve the overall quality of the paper to the best of your ability. Sometimes a second pair of eyes can see mistakes that you missed.

****Parent signature: _____________________________ I have read my child’s research paper and helped edit it. (25 points)

Writing Style Checklist

________1. Did I begin each paragraph with a proper topic sentence?

________2. Have I supported my arguments with proof or examples?
________3. Any run-on or unfinished sentences?
________4. Any unnecessary or repetitious words?
________5. Varying lengths of sentences?
________6. Does one paragraph or idea flow smoothly into the next?
________7. Any spelling or grammatical errors?
________8. Quotes accurate in source, spelling, and punctuation?
________9. Are all my citations accurate and in correct format?
________10. Did I avoid using contractions? Use "cannot" instead of "can't", "do not" instead of "don't"?
________11. Did I use third person as much as possible? Avoid using phrases such as "I think", "I guess", "I suppose", "I believe"
________12. Have I made my points clear and interesting?
________13. Did I leave a sense of completion for my reader(s) at the end of the paper?