Foster High School Research Guide To be used in conjunction with current MLA handbook Compiled by FHS English Dept. Last Updated: June 2006

Foster High School Research Guide

To be used in conjunction with current MLA handbook

Compiled by FHS English Dept.Last Updated: June 2006

Adapted Format for Research

• All research papers follow the most current MLA format where addressed.

• All research papers follow the Foster High School’s adapted format where MLA does not specifically address the format. For example, note cards are not specifically addressed in MLA and will follow the Foster format.

Adapted Format for Research continued

• All research papers should be double spaced throughout. Margins addressed in formatting your paper.

• Periods and the second parenthesis of a set are followed by two spaces.

Outline Format(Do not use auto format)

I. A.

1. a.

(1)

(a)

(b)

(2)

b.

2.

B.

II.

All periods should line up and MUST be double-spaced throughout

Reminder: Double-space throughout the entire outline

(See enlarged version in sample section.)

Thesis Statement

Thesis: A statement which contains the

purpose, intent, and main idea(s) of

the essay.

Thesis Statement Criteria• Make sure your thesis statement focuses on a

single, limited subject.• Make sure your thesis is stated in a clear, direct

sentence (or sentences).• For persuasive essays, make sure your thesis

conveys your point of view or attitude about the subject.

• Make sure your research contains enough evidence to fully support your thesis.

• Make sure your thesis directs you to write a paper that meets all the requirements of the assignment.

Bibliography/Source/Bib CardCall Number (only if a book)Library – where received information

Source written according to most current MLA handbook.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(begin on 2nd blue line)

Bibliography/Source/Bib Card

• A 3” x 5” index card• Source you will use in your research

product• Information for your Works Cited page• Proof of the research you have completed• Organized alphabetically by first keyword

in the source card citation

Bibliography/Source/Bib CardFHS

Smith, Robert. “Lincoln, Abraham.” Encyclopedia Americana. 2004. Grolier Online. Foster High School Library, Richmond, TX. 28 Sept. 2005 <http://eagrolier.com/>.

½ inch hanging indent

For each type of bib/source card, refer to MLA handbook for format.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Note card:Author’s Last Name, First NameSlug (topic from outline)

“Quote copied verbatim (word for word).”

Page #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Title of source

(begin on first blue line)

Sample Note card:Smith, John A.Cartoon quality

“Disney is always out front when it comes to combining cartoons with live action (Song of the South, Mary Poppins). But Uncle Walt’s animators headed by Richard (The Pink Panther Strikes Again) Williams have outdone themselves. Sound the trumpets: there is historic, hot-ziggety, entertainment with human and Toons blending seamlessly and three-dimensionally.”

11

The World of Disney-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Note card:1st item on your bib/source cardSlug (topic from outline)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd item on your bib/source card


**For database/electronic source with no author/editor & page number

Note card:“Learning About Cartooning: A . . .

World of DisneySlug (topic from outline)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Placing Quotations in Your Paper

From a print source with an author and page:

“During pretend play, children explore and make sense of appropriate and grown-up behaviors, testing their own and others’ reactions” (Boehm 62).

From a database/electronic source no author/ed. & no page:

“During pretend play, children explore and make sense of appropriate and grown-up behaviors, testing their own and others’ reactions” (“Let Children be Children” Child Psychology Today).

Direct Quote / Original Quote:

Placing Quotations in Your PaperTagged Quote:

“During pretend play,” says Helen Boehm, “children explore and make sense of appropriate and grown-up behaviors, testing their own and others’ reactions” (62).

From a database/electronic source no author/ed. & no page: “During pretend play,” states the article, “Let Children be Children,” “children explore and make sense of appropriate and grown-up behaviors, testing their own and others’ reactions” (Child Psychology Today).

From a print source:

Placing Quotations in Your PaperTagged Quote:From a database/electronic source no author/ed. & no page:

“During pretend play,” states the article, “Let Children be Children,” “children explore and make sense of appropriate and grown-up behaviors, testing their own and others’ reactions” (Child Psychology Today).

ORIn the article, “Let Children be Children,” “During pretend play children explore and make sense of appropriate and grown-up behaviors, testing their own and others’ reactions” (Child Psychology Today).

Placing Quotations continued

From a print source:

Helen Boehm endorses the role of make-believe play by children, saying it is “explor[ing] and mak[ing] sense of appropriate . . . behaviors” (62).

From a database/electronic source-no auth/ed or page number:

The article, “Let Children be Children,” endorses the role of make-believe play by children, saying it is “explor[ing] and mak[ing] sense of appropriate . . . behaviors” (Child Psychology Today).

Blended Quote:

Reminder: A paraphrase is not a summary

Placing Quotations continuedParaphrased Quote:

From a print source with an author and page:

One authority endorses make-believe play by children who learn from observing human behavior, their own and that of others (Boehm 62).

From a database/electronic source-no author/ed. or page number:

Reminder: A paraphrase is not a summary!!!!

One authority endorses make-believe play by children who learn from observing human behavior, their own and that of others (“Let Children be Children” Child Psychology Today).

Avoiding Plagiarism

• Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit – or without giving any credit at all – to the writer of the original. Whether plagiarism is intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense that you can avoid by adhering to the advice for research and writing rules addressed in class.

Information for Altering QuotesEllipses . . .Whenever you interrupt a quotation or leave out a

word(s) or even sentences, you MUST use three (3) periods (with spaces between) to indicate that you have left out words. If the source citation occurs before the final period, the punctuation would be (4) periods, the final indicating the end of the sent.

Brackets [ ] Use brackets to indicate that you have altered a quotation by adding words of your own within the quotation marks. You use them to keep a sentence grammatical or to explain a confusing reference.

Information for Altering Quotes continued

Long/Block Quote

When you quote more than four (4) typed lines: introduce the quote by informative comments and/or a signal phrase; indent ten (10) spaces on the left; continue double-spacing; no quotation marks are used; the parenthetical citation goes outside the final period. For example, see MLA 6th ed. 3.7.3 pg. 111

• Xeroxed copies of your sources (per teacher request)

• Note cards used in paper – bound together in the order they were used in the paper

• Note cards not used in paper – bound together & labeled

• Bib cards – separate ones used from not used– Put each group in alphabetical order, label, & bind

Sample Final Presentation OrderApplicable if turning in a formal research paper

Materials to be included in final packet:

Sample Final Presentation Ordercontinued

• Copy of outline• Graded copy of single body paragraph• Rough draft• Peer edit sheet• Final typed copy of paper with Works

Cited as the last page• Final grading rubric

• Do not “pad” your works cited; include only those sources used in the body of the paper

• Please be advised that students must follow the specific directions given by the teacher for turning in the final paper

Sample Final Presentation Order continued

Formatting Your Paper

Font & Font Size• The font needs to be Times New

Roman. The font size for the entire document should be size 12.


Header – starting with 1st page of the body of your research paper

• Your last name with the page number should be right aligned in the header on all pages– View menu– Header and Footer– Click Align Right– Type your last name– Press space 3 times– Click Insert Page Number (Located on the Header &

Footer toolbar)


Margins• Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margins all need to

be set at 1”• To get to margins: File menu Page Setup

– Word, by default, prevents widows and orphans from occurring in a document.

– Because of widows and orphans, it is possible the bottom margin of a document may be larger than 1”. The bottom margin may range from 1 1/4” to 1 7/8”, but no larger.


Line Spacing• Select everything. Use one of the

following methods to select the text.– Click Edit menu click Select All, or Press

Ctrl + A• To set line spacing to Double

– Click Format menu click Paragraph change line spacing from single to double, or Press Ctrl + 2


First Line Indent• Select the paragraph text (excluding your

name, date, class information, title, and works cited)

• On the Ruler, drag the First Line Indent marker to ½” mark on the ruler (Note: be sure only to drag the First Line Indent marker and not the rest of the markers)

Example of Heading(According to the current MLA Handbook)

Example of Heading for Mrs. Nutt(According to the current MLA Handbook)

Student Name

Mrs. Nutt

English I – Honors

11 November 2008


Inserting a Page Break Manually• Place the cursor at the beginning of the line of

the text you want on a separate page• Insert menu• Click on Break• Be sure page break is selected, click OK • Following these directions will insure that you

will maintain a 1 inch margin at the bottom of the page

Formatting Your Works Cited Page

Create a Hanging Indent• Select all of the entries (DO NOT select

the title Works Cited).• Point to the Hanging Indent marker on the

ruler (underneath the First Line Indent marker). Be sure not to drag the left indent marker, which will indent both the first and second lines of the works cited.

• Drag the marker to the half-inch marker.

Formatting Your Works Cited Page

Sort the Works Cited Alphabetically• Be sure the title Works Cited is centered at

the top of the page• Alphabetize entries used in the paper

according to the first word of each entry excluding A, An, and The

Example of Works Cited

Smith 12

Works Cited

Chandler, Thomas, ed. Literature and You. Boston: Literary Press, 1998.

“Gun Control in Texas.” Issues and Controversies 14 Dec. 2002. Facts.com. Facts on

File. Foster High School Library, Richmond, TX. 12 Jan. 2003 <http://www.

2facts.com/>.

Westmore, Janet. “Poe Remembered.” Fiction Today 26.4 (1998):2-22. Literature

Resource Center. Gale. Foster High School Library, Richmond, TX. 14 Aug.

2003 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/>.

Reminder: Hanging Indentation ½” from left margin after the first line of the entry. Double-space the entire Works Cited. Times New Roman 12 pt. font


Works Consulted

When researching a topic and the final product is NOT a research paper, a Works Consulted page WILL be required. A Works Consulted page contains a list of all sources utilized for the final product (not including clip art). The format for a Works Consulted follows that of the Works Cited with the exception of the title.

Use the spell check & then proofread.

Remember that you are the final editor of your paper.

Page range will be determined by grade & course level.

Documents

Foster High School Research Guide To be used in conjunction with current MLA handbook Compiled by FHS English Dept. Last Updated: June 2006