Research Paper Specification Sheet

The following are the minimum content and format requirements for your research paper. 1. Use MLA formatting for page layout, fonts, citation, and bibliography. If you have questions, please consult the MLA Handbook. If you need further clarification, please see me. Sign your name to the back of each page as a stipulation that the work you are submitting to be graded is yours and that any ideas or text that is not originally your is properly cited. Unsigned papers will not be accepted for grading. The focus of your paper must be stated in a clear and succinct thesis statement. If you ask, I will help you with this by asking you questions which hopefully will steer you toward a clearly written, succinct thesis statement. I will not help you form a thesis. N.B. It is impossible to write a thesis statement until you have read enough information to form an opinion about some aspect of your subject N.B. The paragraph in which your thesis statement appears must also contain the steps (or logic) that you are going to use to prove your thesis. 4. The length of your paper should be between three (3) and five (5) pages not counting end notes or works cited and/or bibliography pages. Longer papers will not necessarily receive a higher grade than those meeting the minimum requirement. The quality and depth of your research and your explanation of it in your paper is what I will be looking for. The bibliography must contain at least eight (8) non-internet sources. Each source, including internet ones, must be properly formatted. An A paper will have between 10 and 20 sources listed. Papers that appear not to have been scrupulously proofread will not be accepted for grading. Papers may be submitted anytime up to the time that our English class begins on the papers due date. Papers may be submitted earlier but in no case later. Papers submitted by e-mail after the due date will not be accepted for grading. Please Note: This project is the major grade for the marking period. Submitting a late paper will be given a zero grade, and, will in all likelihood result in a failure for the marking period. 9. Please feel free to see me with any questions.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Please Note: Resources used in your research but not cited in the body of your paper should be listed in the Bibliography. Explanatory notes or clarifying arguments which you have not chosen to include in the body of your paper may be expressed in properly formatted Foot or End Notes.

Due Date: March 16, 2012 AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.

Mr. De Vito English All Sections