As you do your research, you should keep organizing it in a way that makessense. If you are using note cards, you can easily do this by puttingcards into stacks that belong together. You could have a stack on fuelseconomy, or you could have a stack on a specific model. If you are takingnotes on a computer, you could keep using copy/paste to move materialaround into groups.
You may want to make tables that look something like this:
Model Avg. Cost Mileage Repairs (1-5) Safety (1-5)
Spectrum $6,500 23,25 3 4
Basilica $7,000 27,30 4 5
As you do this, you can't help but analyze what you are reading. This will lead you to an important decision--your thesis.
The Thesis Statement:
Your thesis statement will reflect the results of your research. In the case of a used car purchase, you may want to write a thesis that suggests choosing from 1-3 specific recommended models, leaving the final decision to what is actually available. In the case of electronics, TV's, or computers, you may want to recommend a specific model at a specific store or online source.
The Research Paper:
Remember that you are trying to convince your target audience that you have made the best possible decision on this project. Every effort should be made to make this work. In making this paper, consider everything you have learned this semester. That means reviewing the 6 + 1 Trait rubric.
•Ideas and Content: Is your thesis clear? Is your research thorough enough to be convincing, or have you left out important considerations?
•Organization: Have you brought everything together in a way that makes sense and is easy to follow, or are your ideas scattered, perhaps in the order in which you found information rather than in the way that communicates best?
•Sentence Fluency: Do your sentences flow smoothly and make the reading interesting?
•Conventions: Do errors in conventions distract the reader and make the audience doubt your ability to make a good decision?
•Voice: Is your personal conviction clear, and does your personality and style shine through?
•Word Choice: Have you used the most effective words in your presentation?
•Presentation: You will use documentation in the MLA style that you encountered in the last unit, and you will have an MLA style Works Cited page. You do not, however, have to follow normal research paper format otherwise. This can be very much a technical writing exercise. You can (and probably should) have tables, charts,and anything else that will make your presentation effective. Just make sure that if you do anything complicated, your teacher has to have a word processing program that can read the formatting of yours. If you are doing that, please check with your teacher ahead of time.
You may want to review this resource for documenting your sources ona research paper:
Slide Show View Slideshow: Documenting Your Sources.
Written Assignment or Portfolio Entry Written Assignment: Rough Draft. Now, by following your outline, write your rough draft by expanding all your ideas into complete sentences and paragraphs. As you write, feel free to revise by changing the order of your information, adding more information or deleting information. Be sure to include a Works Cited page. Please be aware that a research paper generally uses clear and formal diction, so choose your wording accordingly. Submit the rough draft both to your teacher and either post it to the writer's workshop area or send it to your designated peer reviewer. Your grade for the rough draft will be based primarily upon your effort to produce a reasonable attempt at a final product. As long as you do not simply turn in something that you have just dashed off to meet a requirement, you will receive most of the points for therough draft.
50 Points
Writers Workshop Writers’ Workshop. When you receive the rough draft that you are to review, make sure you give it a good, honest evaluation. Help your classmate get the highest score possible. It will help to use the same score sheet your teacher will use for the final draft. When you are done with it, send it to both the teacher and your peer.
Score sheet for evaluation.
Ask these questions as you read:
1.Where did you need clarification?
2.Where did you need more information? Less?
3.What was your partner’s thesis?
4.Did transitions seem clear?
5.Do you have any advice for revising wording, sentence fluency or paragraphing?
6.In general, what did you feel your partner did successfully?