Paper and Presentation Requirements

Paper 2-3 pagesMLA formatDouble spaced, size 12, Times New RomanMust use 3 sources – one must be a print

sources, unless the library has no print source for your person

Must have a complete works cited page

Presentation2-3 minutes DO NOT just read your paper to the classMust have a visual component which can

include:PowerPointPicture PosterProp Book Video

MLAWhat You Need to Know to Write Your

Research Paper

Thesis A statement supported by arguments.

This is the answer to your research question.

Example Question: How has __________ influenced

_________?How has Graham Greene influenced literature?

Thesis: ___________ has influenced ________ by _____________.

Graham Greene is a famous British author who influenced the literary world with his innovative style.

Citation for BooksLastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of

Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication.

Ex. Gleick, James. Chaos: Making a New Science.

New York: Penguin, 1987. Print.

Citations for pages of a website“Page Title.” Website Title. Website Publisher,

date updated. Web. Day month year accessed.

Ex.

"How to Make Vegetarian Chili." eHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2009.

Citation for magazine articlesAuthor last name, First name. "Title of

Article." Title of Periodical Day Month Year: pages. Medium of publication.

Ex.

Poniewozik, James. "TV Makes a Too-Close Call." Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70-71. Print.

In-text citationsThis is the way to give credit to your sources

in your paper without disrupting the flow of your paper.

There are different citations to use for each type of source you have. Usually it is the author’s last name in parentheses.

The period always goes outside of the citation.

Example for BooksMichael Dobson explains the dangers of the

Lady Macbeth stereotype that the whole of Macbeth can be boiled down to the point where Lady Macbeth is a “power-hungry monster of a wife [who] succeeds in nagging her husband into killing the rightful king” (7).

The author’s name is used in the sentence so the citation is just the page number.

Example for Books However none of these things indicates that

Lady Macbeth participates in the “renunciation of her own desire” and “unquestioningly seeks to confirm her husband’s ambition” (Alfar 190).

(Author’s last name #)

For Magazines, Newspapers, etc.If there is an author, use their last name in

parentheses.

If there is no author, use the title of the article with the quotation marks.

(“Finding Things”)

For WebsitesGive the author’s last name if you have one. If you don’t have an author, give the title of

the article.

(“Chili Cook-off Secrets”).

FormattingHeader: in far right corner of pages 2-end

Last name pg#

Times New RomanDouble spacedSize 12

From the topYour first and last name

Teacher’s name

English IV – class period

5 March 2012

Title of your paper

This is where your paper starts!