Creating an Outline

Inspiration helps to organize ideas using a cluster diagram which is great for the visual learner who can use shapes and colors to arrange and categorize information. The students have used the cluster diagram for organizing their thoughts for their research paper. They began by using the center circle for their thesis and from there, they linked it to their three supporting details. With each support, any specific examples were linked accordingly. Each section of the cluster contained only words and phrases (not complete thoughts) since they would eventually convert it to outline form. Once they arranged all of their ideas, the simple click of a button turned their graphic organizer into an outline with Roman Numerals, letters, and numbers.

Once the outline was checked for needed revisions and edits, it was then transfered to a word document with another simple click of a button. The ideas from the outline were then used to compose sentences for their research paper.

Reliable Source?

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After reading the following information about how to search for reliable internet sources, use this cool technology tool to help you analyze just how reliable your source is.

The Internet is a great resource for research, but you have to remember that it is a public place where anyone can post information. When you want to find a trustworthy source, you need to first take the time to make sure it is reliable. The following are the steps to take to make sure that you have a valid site:

1. Always check to make sure that the source has an author. You can check the author's background to help validate the information.

2. Check the sites URL (http://...) If the site ends in .edu, it is probably an educational site, and you should still be aware of personal opinions. If the site ends in .gov it is probably a reliable government website. You will most likely find factual information here. Sites that end in .org are usually non-profit organization sites and can be reliable and unreliable, so make sure that you are careful not to take someone's opinion as the truth. You can find information on this site that will give you facts, but you may also run across political opinions that might slant one way or the other.

3. You can also follow research suggestions from http://www.virtualsalt.com which suggests that the CARS (credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support) method is great for evaluating sources.


Link

Parenthetical Citations

As you research and find information to support your thesis, you will need to give credit to that source within the context of your paper.  This can be done with parenthetical citations which is an alternative to using footnotes.  Throughout your writing, you will need to reference someone else's ideas to support your own and you will accomplish this through paraphrasing or quotations;  you will need to provide the author’s name and the page number of the work in the text of your paper. The following are examples of parenthetical citations found from Mr. McLaughlin's Classes:

Even today, many children are born outside the safety of hospitals (Kasserman 182).

This indicates that you are using information found in a book by somebody named Kasserman (last name) and it was found on page 182.

You may also give the same information in another way, if you want to name the author in your sentence. You might want to do this to add variety to your paper:

According to Laura Kasserman, “many children today do not benefit from the sanitary conditions which are available in modern facilities” (182). Many children are born outside the safety of hospitals.

Be sure to use quotation marks when quoting someone directly.

Paraphrasing

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Plagiarism

The following information came from *plagiarism.org

Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means

1. to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
2. to use (another's production) without crediting the source
3. to commit literary theft
4. to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
But can words and ideas really be stolen?

According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
All of the following are considered plagiarism:

* turning in someone else's work as your own
* copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
* failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
* giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
* changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
* copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)

Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism. See our section on citation for more information on how to cite sources properly.

Example for using quotations

Example for using paraphrasing

*What is Plagiarism? (n.d.) Retrieved May 4th, 2009
http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html

Using KWL for Brainstorming & Inquiry

Thesis

Complete the provided word document titled Thesis and KWL. Make sure you place it in the research paper folder on your desktop.  At the top of your word document, write your thesis that will serve as the focus of your paper.  The following is an example of a topic: "Why FedEx is the top Shipping company in the world" The following is the topic that has been changed to thesis form:  Though there are many fantastic shipping companies in the world, Frederick W. Smith’s FedEx company tops all.



KWL
Your prior knowledge needs to be recorded so that you can distinguish between what information belongs to you and the new information that you will gather through your research. Using a KWL thinking routine, record everything that you can recall about your thesis. Allow that thesis to be the focus of your research.

K= "What I already know about my topic."  You should already know something about your topic to form an opinion about it.  Make sure that you are very detailed and thorough in providing this information.

W="What I want to Learn about my topic."  This will help guide your research if they are thoughtful, meaningful questions.  Use the following questions from the inquiry process below (yellow) to help you brainstorm ideas. There are no right or wrong answers, so answer the questions accordingly.  You might have several responses to the first question of, "What do I want to learn about this topic."  You will write it in question form; for example, if you wanted to learn about FedEx's logistics that make the company so successful, you could ask, "How many airports, planes, etc. does FedEx have globally?" 

L= "What I have learned."  This part of the KWL thinking routine will not be completed until after you have finished researching and organizing your thoughts in your research paper which is not due until the middle of May.

I found the following from www.youthlearn.org that will help you with inquiry.

Title Page

The following are the requirements for your research paper:

*Font size 16

*Font style must be something traditional such as Times New Roman, Geneva, Ariel, Helvetica, etc.

*The First page is the title page that should have your approved topic centered in the middle of the page. Double space and center your first and last name. Double space again and center the due date May 13, 2011.

Using Inspiration for Organizing an Outline

Inspiration helps to organize ideas using a cluster diagram which is great for the visual learner who can use shapes and colors to arrange and categorize information. The students have used the cluster diagram for organizing their thoughts for their research paper. They began by using the center circle for their thesis and from there, they linked it to their three supporting details. With each support, any specific examples were linked accordingly. Each section of the cluster contained only words and phrases (not complete thoughts) since they would eventually convert it to outline form. Once they arranged all of their ideas, the simple click of a button turned their graphic organizer into an outline with Roman Numerals, letters, and numbers.

Once the outline was checked for needed revisions and edits, it was then transfered to a word document with another simple click of a button. The ideas from the outline were then used to compose sentences for their research paper.

Writing a Thesis and Using KWL for Brainstorming & Inquiry

You have now had your conference regarding a topic for research and have received approval. It is time to turn your topic into a thesis statement which will serve as your claim for your evaluative research paper. Your thesis needs to be one sentence and you need to use the main words of your title that you wrote. Try removing the How or Why of your title, but remember that you aren't limited to the words that remain. You can add phrases or clauses for more detail and complexity.

Your prior knowledge needs to be recorded so that you can distinguish between what information belongs to you and the new information that you will gather through your research. Using a KWL chart, record everything that you can recall about your thesis. Allow that thesis to be the focus of your research. Then, jot down questions that you want to learn about your topic. This will help guide your research if they are thoughtful, meaningful questions.

I found the following from www.youthlearn.org that will help you with inquiry.

Check out my new digital learning website: GrammarCloud!

Plagiarism

The following information came from *plagiarism.org

Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means

1. to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
2. to use (another's production) without crediting the source
3. to commit literary theft
4. to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
But can words and ideas really be stolen?

According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
All of the following are considered plagiarism:

* turning in someone else's work as your own
* copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
* failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
* giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
* changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
* copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)

Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism. See our section on citation for more information on how to cite sources properly.

Example for using quotations

Example for using paraphrasing

*What is Plagiarism? (n.d.) Retrieved May 4th, 2009
http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/what_is_plagiarism.html

Research Paper Timeline

Timeline Maker

Let the Research Begin....

On Your Mark, Get Set,......