Research

Assignment |__|__ Research Guide || Sample Works Cited || Sample Paper with Citations || Documents and Checklist

__ I-SEARCH PAPER __ ** Topic Choices ** • Thornton Wilder • Critical Reception of Play • Daily Farm Life in Rural New England: 1900s (1901-1930) • Marriage Rituals • Funeral Rituals • Peterborough, New Hampishire **Requirements**
 * Minimum of 5 Sources: 1-Interview/Survey 1-Book 1-Magazine/Journal Article, At least 2-Internet


 * Bibliography/Works Cited following MLA format

Suggested Breakdown: Why I chose this topic– ½ page What I know- ½ page What I want to find out- ½ page The Search- 2 pages What I discovered-1 pages
 * 4-6 pages double spaced


 * Each phase will have a due date, and the entire I-search folder will be due on:


 * Sections in the Paper **

The I-Search paper will be written in five integrated sections:


 * Introduction (why I chose this topic)
 * What I already know, Assume, or Imagine
 * What I want to find out
 * The Search/Research
 * What I Discovered/Learned
 * Introduction:** The introduction of your essay should give your reader some indication of why you have chosen to write about this particular topic. Keep in mind that your essay needs to have some point.


 * What I Know, Assume, or Imagine:** Before conducting any formal research, write a section in which you explain to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what you imagine about your topic. There are no wrong answers here. You are basically establishing your hypothesis.


 * What I want to find Out:** This section dictates the direction for the rest of your paper. Pinpoint exactly what you want to know about the topic; this will most likely include several items.


 * The Search:** Test your knowledge, assumptions, or conjectures by researching your paper topic thoroughly. Write up your search in a narrative form, relating the steps of the discovery process (this means that you are going to tell the story of what you did to research this topic and what you learned in the process). Do not feel obligated to tell everything (you don't have to tell us the boring stuff), but highlight how you found the sources, analyzed them, and decided to use them.

Then write you research.


 * What I Discovered:** After concluding your search, compare what you thought you knew, assumed, or imagined with what you actually discovered, assess your overall learning experience, and offer some personal commentary about the value of your discoveries and/or draw some conclusions. Some questions that you might consider at this stage:


 * How accurate were your original assumptions?
 * What new information did you acquire?
 * What did you learn that surprised you?
 * Overall, what value did you derive from the process of searching and discovery?
 * How did this information affect my understanding of __Our Town__?

Don’t just do a question/answer conclusion. Go back to the main point you want to make with this essay. What final message do you want to leave with your readers?

= Research Guide =

Click on the research guide to find all the notes given in class.



= **Sample Works Cited** =


 * Use the Son of Citation Machine or a similar MLA generator.


 * Alphabetize all entries


 * Hang any entries that are longer than one line



= **Sample Paper with Citations** =


 * Remember your running header is last name and page number.


 * Remember to cite direct quotes, and author's ideas put into your own word.



= **Documents** =

Research Plan

Phases Checklist Sheet

Revision Log