Thursday, July 19, 2012

30 Steps to a Research Paper

30 Steps to a Research Paper

Initial Draft – Subject to change
Week
Step
Discussion Topic
Assignment due
Week 1
  1.  
Understanding the thesis-driven paper


  1.  
Identify possible subjects
  1.  
Read general sources
  1.  
Narrow the subject
  1.  
Select your topic
  1.  
Form leading research questions
Week 2
  1.  
Formulate working thesis
General Topic;
Leading Questions
  1.  
Make research plan
  1.  
Write proposal
  1.  
Brainstorm/Cluster/Free-write
Week 3
  1.  
Find sources (print & electronic)
Thesis Statement;
Proposal & Research plan
  1.  
Evaluate sources
  1.  
Prepare working bibliography
Week 4
  1.  
Research & take notes
Initial list of sources
  1.  
Paraphrase, summarize, quote sources
  1.  
Organize information
  1.  
Make a running/ informal outline
Week 5
  1.  
Develop detailed outline
Note card check;
Informal outline
  1.  
Write first draft #1
Week 6
  1.  
Prepare works cited in MLA style
Note card check;
Detailed outline
  1.  
First draft of presentation plan
Week 7
  1.  
Peer edit
Rough Draft #1
Week 8
  1.  
Revise rough draft #1
Works Cited draft #1;
Peer Edit
Week 9
  1.  
Finalize presentation plans
Initial Presentation plan
  1.  
Prepare visuals for presentation
Week 10
  1.  
Rough Draft #2
Final presentation plan;
Week 11
  1.  
Finalize works cited page
Rough Draft #2
Week 12 - 13
  1.  
Proofread
Works cited draft #2 (Week 12)
Week 14 – 15
  1.  
Presentation
Presentations, Final Draft
  1.  
Final Draft

New Syllabus for Fall, 2012


Writing 3 Syllabus
Semester 1
Tammy Prichard (tamprichard@gmail.com)
Class Blogsite:  www.chatwriting3.blogspot.com

Resources:
·        I will have available handbooks to loan to the students to use for this class.
·        Book Suggestions:
         A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. (Kate L. Turabian)
         MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. (Joseph Gibaldi)
         Harbrace College Handbook. (John C. Hodges)
         The Little, Brown Handbook. (H. Ramsey Fowler)
         Writers Inc:  Write for College.  (Sebranek, Meyer, & Kemper)
·        various handouts and worksheets

Objectives:
            College-bound students benefit from writing at least one long research paper.  This class will guide students through the process of researching, drafting, revising and finalizing a 15 – 25 page paper.  (The length will be determined in collaboration with the students and parents and according to skill and experience.)  Along with a written paper, the student will prepare a presentation for the class.  This can include a PowerPoint presentation, a demonstration, or a speech.
            Also included in this class is a review of common problems in grammar, especially those difficult areas that often appear on college entrance exams.

Initial Draft – Subject to change
Week
Research Paper
SAT Grammar Review
        1              
Introduction
Sentence Fragments
        2              
General Topic;
Leading Questions
Run-on Sentences
        3              
Thesis Statement;
Proposal & Research plan
Subject-Verb Agreement
        4              
Initial list of sources
Pronoun-Verb Agreement
Pronoun- Antecedent Agreement
        5              
Note card check;
Informal outline
The Nominative Case
        6              
Note card check;
Detailed outline
The Possessive Case
The Objective Case
        7              
Rough Draft #1
Unclear Placement of Modifiers
        8              
Works Cited draft #1;
Peer Edit
Dangling Modifiers
        9              
Initial Presentation plan
Words often Misused or Confused
      10            
Final presentation plan;
More Words Misused or Confused
      11            
Rough Draft #2
The Comma Errors
      12            

Common Prefixes
      13            
Works cited draft #2 (Week 12)
Common Suffixes
      14            
Presentations, Final Draft

      15            
Presentations, Final Draft