Period 2 Stars

Near Perfect Citations and Work Cited page: Wendy

Best Introduction: Catherine

Most Interesting: Jackie and Luis

Period 5 Rough Drafts

I've finished grading all the rough drafts that were turned in. Those who did a particularly good job include: Samuel, Vanessa, Malika, Hugo and Anahit.

Some people are struggling with the citations. Remember: the citations in your paper must match the Work Cited page! The words inside the parentheses are the first words for that source listed on the Work Cited page. If you don't cite a source in your paper, you do not list it on the Work Cited page.

Interview an Expert

Now that most of you (15 in period two, 14 in period five) have completed your rough draft of the research paper, you should be pretty knowledgeable about your topic. Now you can add the piece that will make your research paper unique: you will interview an expert.

When we return on Nov. 29, your assignment will be to write 10 questions that you could ask an expert. Look at your rough draft and see where any information seems missing. You may not end up using the answers to all 10 questions, but it will give you quotations to choose from.

If you want to get a head start, begin writing questions and take a look at the expert links on the right. Look for someone who fits the description of your topic. These are the types of experts I'm looking for, not friends, family, or (generally) teachers at school.

Citing Sources

As you write your research paper, each time you use a note card, cite the source in parentheses. This is known as a parenthetical reference. At the end of every quotation, paraphrase, and summary write the author's name and page number in parentheses. For example, if it is from a book write (Smith 65). If it is from a newspaper or magazine, write (Smith A1) or (Smith 15). The period goes outside the parentheses.

If there is no author, put the title in quotation marks in parentheses. For example ("Animal Shelters"). Do not put the URL or anything ending in .com, or .net, or .org!

For more information, click on MLA Citations link or the OWL link at right.

Deadlines for notes, outline, rough draft

You have turned in your first 20 note cards. On Friday, Nov. 12, 20 more note cards are due. This is not a magic number. You may need more, but at least you will have something to work with as you write your rough draft next week.

Tuesday, Nov. 16: Outline due

Friday, Nov. 19: typed rough draft of research paper due, including Works Cited page (which counts as a page). If you meet this deadline, you will have no homework during the Thanksgiving week.
If you need more time, you may turn in your rough draft on Monday, Nov. 29 for a lower grade.