Sophomore English Research Project ~ Mrs. Kunkel

For class, you will be required to write a formal research paper. This paper will be an evidence based argumentative piece – a paper that presents and defends an argument.

Your argument must be debatable, meaning the topic of the paper must be something that people have differing opinions on. Your paper must include a precise central claim that will be supported by relevant and sufficient evidence and valid, clear reasoning.

The goal of the paper is to present a clear, convincing and compelling argument that people will be interested in and possibly want to act upon. Another goal is to convince your audience that your claim is true based on the evidence provided.

This assignment will require you to research, document, interpret, and present information as evidence from reliable and credible sources to support your claim. 

 The FINAL paper must be:

‚                   5-7 pages

‚                   written in MLA format

‚                   typed

‚                   12 point font

‚                   Times New Roman

‚                   black ink for text

‚                   submitted to TURNITIN.COM

      The FINAL paper must incorporate evidence from at least five identifiable sources, maintain a formal style of writing and follow the conventions of standard written English.

Our school librarian Dr. Hatcher will instruct and advise you on how to use pertinent information resources and tools for this assignment.  

Some recommended resources: 

VRC Databases: 

•  SIRS Knowledge Source (See Issues Researcher handout)
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context
• eLibrary Curriculum Edition 

 Book & eBooks: 

Access your school's collection at Destiny Library Services

Note: An eBook app Follett BryteWave is available at the App Store or at Google Play for mobile devices. 

Works Citation: 

• Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab (MLA style guide)
• Noodletools  (citation maker)  Note: There is an App (Noodletools Companion) available for mobile devices.

Career Planning Research ~ Mrs. Cowan

Writing at the Threshold

K. Cowan

Mini Research Project:  Career

For this project you are going to research a career that you are interested in pursuing. You need to find information about this career based on the list below. Once you have collected all of the work, you will write a 5 page paper.

You are required to use at least 3 sources

You must follow MLA format

Here is a list of the information that you should acquire about your career

·         What kind of experience does it require?

·         What kind of preparation (classes, tests, certification, etc.) does it require?

·         Are there entry level positions?

·         Is there room for advancement?

·         How much money do you expect to earn in this career annually?  (You might compare starting salary with experience based salary.)

·         How long does this career usually last?

·         Does it require education beyond a high school diploma? 

College/Career Planning Resources:

Access through Destiny Library Services link
 

Print copies located by front desk in library:

• The Top 100: the fastest growing careers for the 21st century, 5th edition
• Teen's Guide to College and Career Planning: Your High School Road Map..

Digital Ebooks: 

• *Undecided navigating life and learning after high school (Click for access) 
• *Quick guide to college majors and careers (click for access) 

Also, there is the *Occupational Outlook Handbook located within our VRC database collection.

*Use your school username and password for access to Ebooks and databases.