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Research Paper Requirements
Students must research his/her topic thoroughly. A Running Bibliography must be kept to show the articles the student has read regarding their topics. The running bibliography should be in MLA format and must have the MINIMUM of 25 sources listed. A Running Bibliography is evidence of your in-depth knowledge of your subject.
Students will be required to write Source Logs. For all of the sources used in the paper students will need to show source logs of the sources they are using in their paper.
All Papers:
College Prep: 10-12 pages in length 10 Sources Cited
Honors: 15-20 pages in length 20 Sources Cited, must interview a person and add the interview to the research paper
- MLA format
- 12 point font, Times New Roman Font
- Double Spaced
- Correct MLA citation within the text must be used
- Final Bibliography of all used resources must be attached to the final paper
If you need additional help with MLA format, please refer to the following website:
Research Paper Requirements
Students must research his/her topic thoroughly. A Running Bibliography must be kept to show the articles the student has read regarding their topics. The running bibliography should be in MLA format and must have the MINIMUM of 25 sources listed. A Running Bibliography is evidence of your in-depth knowledge of your subject.
Students will be required to write Source Logs. For all of the sources used in the paper students will need to show source logs of the sources they are using in their paper.
Running Bibliography:
- College Prep: 25 sources
- Honors: 35 sources
Source Logs:
- College Prep: 10 Source Logs
- Honors: 20 Source Logs
All Papers:
- College Prep: 10-12 pages in length 10 Sources Cited
- Honors: 15-18 pages in length 20 Sources Cited, must interview a person and add the interview to the research paper
- MLA format
- 12 point font, Times New Roman Font
- Double Spaced
- Correct MLA citation within the text must be used
- Final Bibliography of all used resources must be attached to the final paper
If you need additional help with MLA format, please refer to the following website:
Anti-Plagiarism Tips
Why should you document?
Somebody went to a lot of trouble to gather the information you are using. The author might have spent months at the bottom of an ocean risking life and limb observing sharks. He/she might have spent years traveling from city to city to gather data. Whatever the case remember this person worked harder to find the information than you did. So give credit where credit is due.
On the other hand, maybe the author’s information is erroneous, biased or in some way untrue. You won’t, if due caution and adequate sources were used, be blamed for another author’s inaccuracies if you haven’t claimed them as your own by failing to document.
Some Tips!
Document all information you take from other sources which includes direct quotations and paraphrases as well as ideas you gained from these sources. However, there is some information that is referred to as public domain, or common knowledge, which does not need to be documented. Examples of public domain include well-known phrases or proverbs such as, “What goes around comes around.” It also consists of such common knowledge as, “George Washington was the first president of the United States.” However, caution should be followed. If you are in doubt about whether something is public domain or not, it is best to cite it.
If your information includes numbers, cite it. Double check for accuracy, For every fact we truly remember, there lurk a dozen non-facts we just think we remember. If in doubt, CITE!
The pulp tabloids (i.e., National Enquirer, Star) demonstrate that just because a piece of information is in print, doesn’t mean it is true. Also, be sure to check the validity of information you gain on the Internet. People can write anything and put it online.
Double-check any questionable or controversial information.
The more sources you use, the less likely you are to use another author’s words. Using more sources provides you with enough information to:
Realize that different sources give different data
Make comparisons and contrasts
Make connection between different pieces of information
Draw your own conclusions
The less research information you have, the less you will be able to write about your research topic, and therefore, the more you will find yourself relying on another author, which may lead you into plagiarism.
Document all information you gain from primary and secondary sources!
Primary Sources Include:
- Interviews you conduct yourself (in person, on the phone, and online)
- Surveys you have taken
- A scientist’s actual notes
- A work of literature
- An autobiography
Secondary sources include:
- Textbooks
- Articles
- Reference Books
- Literary criticism
- Any writing discussing any primary source
An Important Reminder
What is the consequence of deliberately or inadvertently plagiarizing this research paper?
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