Research Paper Due Dates 2008-2009

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 Topic:
Topic must be chosen by Monday, September 22 (10 points)

STEP 2. FIND INFORMATION:
A. Write ten questions that you want to answer in your paper: Wed. September 24 (20 points)
B. Complete your source cards: Wednesday, October 1 (20 points)
C. Complete your first ten note cards: Monday, October 6 (20 points)
D. Complete your first twenty-five note cards: Monday, October 20 (30 points)

STEP 3. TURN IN YOUR THESIS: Tuesday, October 14th (25 points)

STEP 4. MAKE A TENTATIVE OUTLINE: Friday, October 17th (25 points)

STEP 5. ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES to support your outline: Monday, October 27th (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-sized font, and include internal citations.) Monday, November 10th (50 points)

Step 7. WRITE YOUR FIRST DRAFT:
A. Complete and type your paper with internal citations. * Be sure to follow the steps in the checklist below. (100 points)
B. Works cited page must be attached to paper with no errors (25 points).
C. Have a cover page with your topic, name and date listed: (5 points)
D. I have attached the Ideas and Content Checklist with my parent’s signature. (25 points)

Step 8. Turn in revised Final Draft: Turn in final paper with all corrections and revisions completed. (50 points)


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. Are there any run-on or unfinished sentences?

________4. Are there any unnecessary or repetitious words?

________5. Varying lengths of sentences?

________6. Does one paragraph or idea flow smoothly into the next?

________7. Are there any spelling or grammatical errors?

________8. Quotes are 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? Did I avoid using phrases such as "I think", "I guess", "I suppose" and "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 my paper?