Grade 8 English Name:________________________

Research Project

Information Sheet—Class 8A Class:__________

You will choose a topic to research; you will spend time in the library researching your topic; and you will produce a final project presenting your research that follows a proper format for research.

Purposes of the Project

• To learn to use a variety of sources in looking for information

This includes books, computers, encyclopedias, and various indexes to information.

• To learn to find what’s useful among different kinds of information

Separating what’s truthful, factual, reliable, relevant, and useful from the swamp of information available to you.

• To learn to synthesize and use information

NOT plagiarizing or copying, not even re-stating in your own words, but using information to help say what you want to say about a topic.

• To learn to present the results of serious research

This includes…grammar and spelling, formatting, punctuation, and mechanics,

quoting, notes, and bibliography form, and other style matters, such as spacing and margins.

Your Topic

Of course, you’ll also want to learn some interesting and/or useful things about a topic you are interested in. You can choose a topic from the list you will be given, or you can choose your own topic not on the list, with your teacher’s permission.

Your Schedule

Please put all of this information into your agenda!

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
2 DECEMBER Introduction & Topic Choosing Hints	3 Writing Workshop Overall form and Bibliography tips	4 Reading Workshop	5 More on Choosing a Topic Select a preliminary topic	6
9 LIBRARY Skills lesson 1^st Period	10 Writing Workshop Research tips and organization	11 Reading Workshop	12 LIBRARY Research 1^st Period	13
16 LIBRARY Research 1^st Period	17 Writing Workshop You can’t change your topic after today.	18 Reading Workshop	19 LIBRARY Research 1^st Period	20
Winter Holiday
13 JANUARY Review and planning	14 Writing Workshop Writing a good intro & adding a personal touch	15 Reading Workshop	16 Time to plan & write	17
20 Planning & Writing	21 Writing Workshop Writing!	22 Reading Workshop	23 LIBRARY Last chance!	24 Your project is DUE ON MONDAY!
27 PROJECT IS DUE!	Oral Presentations then begin. You’ll get the assignment in class, and have some time to prepare in class.

Requirements for the Final Project

In your research, you must consult at least four sources of different types:

• 1 encyclopedia
• 1 book
• 1 internet source
• 1 other (CD-ROM, vertical file, interview, magazine article, etc.)

The final copy should be 1,800-2,000 words in length. (This does not include labels for diagrams, timelines, an appendix, bibliography, etc.) Projects that are well under or well over this range will be penalized. Narrow or expand your topic appropriately.

The final copy must be typed, double-spaced, using a sensible font.

Or, you can neatly hand-write the final copy, following correct formatting.

The final project should have a cover, with an illustration.

There must be a Table of Contents page at the beginning of the paper.

The pages of your project must be numbered.

The must be a properly formatted bibliography at the end.

The project should be handed in in some kind of report cover or folder.

NOTE:

WITH YOUR PROJECT, you must hand in EVERY PIECE OF PAPER connected to the project—all notes, pre-writing, jottings, drafts, photocopies (like this one), printouts, brainstorming, etc., WHETHER IT ENDED UP IN YOUR FINAL PROJECT OR NOT. Put all this paper in a SEPARATE folder or plastic sleeve labeled with your name and class.

Grading

(The grading criteria closely follow the purposes of the project, above.)

There are three separate grades for the project. Use this criteria list as a checklist for yourself:

I. Research Process

• Did you listen to the librarian during the library skills lessons?
• Did you use your research time well?
• Did you use your class in time well?
• Did you use at least four different resources?
• Did you use a variety of resources, according to the requirements?
• Did you show a knowledge of how to use different resources in the library?

II. Use of Information

• Did you choose information wisely?
• DID YOU USE ANY INFORMATION WITHOUT GIVING PROPER CREDIT?
• Did you take good notes that summarized the useful parts of your information?
• Did you use your information, instead of merely repeating it in your paper?
• Did you use any charts, illustrations, or diagrams only to help your paper?
• Is your bibliography an accurate reflection of your research?

III. Presentation of Information

• Is your paper neat? Does it look appropriate?
• Is the grammar correct? Is the spelling correct?
• Did you use the correct format, margins, double-spacing, etc.?
• Is your project complete? Is all work included in a separate notebook or folder?