10th Grade English research paper assignment

World Literature Research Paper

Your Task: Research and defend a position on a topic of your choice.

Steps:
1. Select a topic and narrow it down.
2. Generate research questions and an arguable working thesis.
3. Do preliminary reading; make a works cited page.
4. Take notes on all information to be used.
5. Based on your research, decide whether you want to keep your original thesis or change it; write a final thesis.
6. Write a detailed outline.
7. Type a rough draft with parenthetical citations and a works cited page.
8. Revise the rough draft based on comments from your peers and teacher.
9. Type the final paper with parenthetical citations and works cited page.

Requirements:
- Length: 6-8 double-spaced,* typewritten pages in regular 12 point, Times New Roman font, with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins. All formatting should conform to MLA standards.
- Sources: Minimum of four, including at least two print sources (your textbook can count as one of the two). Wikipedia may not be used as a source, but you may use Wikipedia to find other, more reputable sources (scroll down to the bottom of the page and look at the list of sources on the Wikipedia page).

*Your double-spaced paper should have a total of at least 22-23 lines per page. If you only have 18 or less lines per page, reduce your spacing to 1.5.

Major Due Dates:

- Tuesday, Feb. 9: preliminary topic selection
- Wednesday, Feb. 10: final topic decision
- Friday, Feb. 12: working thesis
- Tuesday, Feb. 16: Works Cited page
- Wednesday, Feb 17: two introduction paragraphs
- Monday, Feb 22: outline due
- Wednesday, Feb 24: rough draft due

- Monday, March 8: Complete research paper due

Note: Be sure to keep all prewriting materials (notes, rough draft, outline, etc.) and submit them, along with your final draft, in a folder.


Suggested topics: You may either research a figure, such as an artist, writer, or scientist; or you may research an issue relating to the European/American side of WWI/WWII. Either way, you must have an arguable thesis, such as, “Abraham Lincoln must be considered the greatest US president because he succeeded in preserving the Union; the emancipation of slaves was a lesser goal which would have been resolved in a few years anyways.”