RESEARCH UNIT

UNIT OVERVIEW

• Skills acquisition (formative)
• Formal research outline (summative)
• Coffee Shop Talk (final exam)

FORMATIVE

• Learn what makes a quality topic + thesis
• Develop strong main ideas
• Finding quality sources
• Quoting/ Paraphrasing/ Summarizing information
• Citing sources
• Creating a Works Cited page

SUMMATIVE

• A formal research outline, complete with citations + works cited page

FINAL

• Coffee Shop Talk
• Take a stance on an issue & defend with research

WHY RESEARCH?

UPPER LEVEL SKILLS

• AP English & College Prep
• Collegiate Courses
• Science Research

LIFE SKILLS - DECISION MAKING

• Who do I vote for?
• Should I support that bill?
• How can I afford that house/car/boat?
• Which college should I attend?
• Will this job meet my needs?
• What should we do about gun control?

NOTES

TOPIC

• A broad idea or concept
• Typically one or two words
• Must be multi-sided
• Must have significance

TOPIC EXAMPLES

THESIS

• Narrows down topic to a more specific idea;
• Writer takes a stance (position) on the topic

THESIS EXAMPLES

USING INFORMATION

DIRECT QUOTE

• Word-for-word from a source
• Use when the original wording is more powerful than a rewording
• Use quotation marks

PARAPHRASE

• Restate information in your own words
• Must use a unique sentence structure
• PATCHWORK PLAGIARISM

SUMMARY

• Take a large chunk of information and briefly sum it up
• Be sure to hit the main points

CITING INFORMATION

INTRODUCE

• Introduce Information
• QPS Information

CITE SOURCE

• Parenthetical Citation
• (Author or Source Title)

EXPLAIN

• How does the information prove or explain your main idea?