Women are Powerful & Dangerous

-Audre Lorde

English 9 Research Paper

What's the Difference Between a Report and a Research Paper?

This paper will require that you do research and support a thesis statement that answers an essential question.

When you write a report, you will do some research to uncover facts, and synthesize them into a paper with a topic sentence.

When you write a research paper, you still need to research facts and synthesize them, but you are researching and presenting facts that support a thesis you have developed. While a topic statement is a simple declaration of facts, a thesis statement tries to answer an open-ended question that does not necessarily have a clear-cut right and wrong answer. The thesis statement is your own critical thought/answer, which is supported by the research you have done.

Why does this matter?

This matters because, not only will your paper structure be a little bit different, but the way you tackle the research will be a little bit different, as well. You are not simply researching facts and presenting them. You are researching both facts and ideas, and using those ideas as a lens for your paper. You will have to draw from a larger variety of sources than you would for a simple report.

Background Information: Start Here

This paper will require that you collect background information on both your

Before you figure out your specific search terms or keywords, you should start with background information, so that you can formulate questions. For this paper, you will need to gather background information on both the individual you are researching and the movement they are associated with, as well as any historical information that is necessary for your audience.

Begin either by looking into a social movement and identifying a key woman associated with it, or by identifying a woman you are interested in studying, and then figuring out which movement(s) she was or is associated with.

As you are doing background research, it is VERY important that you take notes on your sources, especially any questions you have and any keywords you notice. You'll use these notes to continue your research.

Background information on social movements:

There are many different social movements that the individual you choose to study may have been a part of. Look for a movement that is more focused and easier to define with detail rather than simply "the civil rights movement," which is an umbrella for many of the other movements you might focus on.

Social movements span numerous categories - for example, the Freedom Riders was a civil rights movement, the Harlem Renaissance was a literary movement, and #metoo is a women's rights movement, but all of them directly relate to African-American experience,and action toward social change.

Here is a list of movements you might be interested in.

This only a partial list - there are many, many more movements that you might explore.

  • Abolitionism
  • Freedom Riders
  • 1960's era civil rights
  • Harlem Renaissance
  • Black Power Movement
  • Black Arts Movement
  • Women's Liberation Movement
  • Black Lives Matter
  • #metoo

For background information social movements, go to:

Encyclopedia Britannica Online - Well-respected, comprehensive encyclopedia on a variety of subjects. You will need to use your San Francisco Public Library Card to access this resource.

Infobase African-American History - Database including encyclopedic entries, primary sources and e-books. Here is the username and password.

Salem History - Online versions of Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives and Milestone Documents in American History. Search by keyword, or browse by subject. You will need your San Francisco Public Library card to log in.

For background information on individuals, use the above, as well as:

Here is a list of African-American women you might choose to study.

Biography.com - A trusted free resource on the web for biographies.

Biography in Context (Gale) - Full text biographies and articles on contemporary and historical figures worldwide. You must use your San Francisco Public Library card to log in.

If you choose to use a non-database resource that is not listed here, you MUST email Ms. Kneeland for approval and explain why you are choosing to use it instead of a database, and why you think it is a valid choice.

Continue Your Research

Use the notes, questions and keywords you came up with while doing background research to explore your subject further.

Before you figure out your specific search terms or keywords, you should start with background information, so that you can formulate questions. For this paper, you will need to gather background information on both the individual you are researching and the movement they are associated with, as well as any historical information that is necessary for your audience.

Begin either by looking into a movement and identifying a key woman associated with it, or by identifying a woman you are interested in studying, and then figuring out which movement(s) she was or is associated with.

Gale U.S. History Research Center - Comprehensive database including encyclopedic entries and articles. You will need your SFPL card and password to access.

Current Newspapers - These sources are essential if you are writing about a current figure. Note that you only have access to The New York Times while you are on the school's wifi. If you would like to read an article at home, please download it as a PDF before you leave school.

Historic Newspapers & Magazines - These sources give you a direct look into how individuals/movements were covered as events were taking place. (You must use at least one historic newspaper or magazine source if you are responding to essential question #4)

SFPL ebooks - SFPL carries e-books on a wide variety of topics that may be relevant to your subject. You will need your SFPL username and password.