Research Paper Guidelines: Marine Animal Topic: You will be researching an animal that lives in the ocean ecosystem. There will be specific research questions that must be addressed in your essay. Expectations: 1. Students are required to be prepared to conduct research and draft in class. Students are required to use CLASS-TIME and homework time for this assignment. My intent is that the students will be able to ask me questions and receive direct feedback on their writing. Each day there will be a goal set. Students will draft one paragraph each day in class and are expected to revise the paragraph for homework. 2. Students will bring their resources to class daily. 3. Students will use their class time wisely. Format: This essay will be written in MLA format. a. b. c. d. e. f. g.
Double spaced Heading in top left corner Times New Roman 12 pt. font 1 inch margins In-text citations (proper MLA format required) Works cited page Page number and last name in top left corner (Example: Even 1).
*The following website offers sample MLA papers and guidelines for the format (students were taught how to navigate this website in class): https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ Students must have evidence for everything they state. Paraphrased information and quotations MUST be cited in text. MLA in-text citations contain the author’s last name and the page number in parenthesis. Example: (Jenkins 234). *If the author is unknown, the student should place the title of the article in quotes followed by the page number. Example: (“The Great White on the Hunt” 228). A works cited page will be included at the end on the paper. Sources: Students are required to have three sources for this project. They can include books, magazines, news articles, or electronic sources. Sources should NOT be more than ten years old and should be credible.
Research Paper Guidelines: Marine Animal Ideas for good resources: university research, academic journals (.edu/.org/.gov) , news articles, government websites, Kids Discovery Education, Kids National Geographic, the Ocean Institute, SeaWorld, Aquarium of the Specific, educational videos, etc. Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source. Research Questions: *The following questions are REQUIRED. You may answer additional research questions. 1. Why is this marine animal important to the ocean ecosystem? What is its key role? 2. How does this marine life animal survive in its environment? (Discuss its adaptations, anatomy, special features). 3. What are the leading threats or conflicts that affect this animal’s population? 4. Why should people care about this animal’s habitat and life? What can people do to keep this animal alive, safe, healthy, and thriving? Thesis statement: A thesis statement is required. This statement should address the essay’s research questions. It should be the last sentence of your introduction paragraph. ***Sample thesis statements were reviewed in class. Additional Research to include in your essay: (Suggested organization) Body 1: Animal description *What animal? *Physical description/anatomy *Special features: What is special or unique about your animal? Does this feature contribute to your animal’s ability to survive? (Ex. Camouflage) *Role in the environment Body 2: *Habitat: Which ocean? What zone of the ocean (intertidal, shoreline, tide pools, deep, etc.)? *Migration: Where to? What time of the year? For how long? For what purpose? How do they travel (in groups or solo)? *Reproduction: What type? Process? How many babies? How long is the term of pregnancy? Where do they breed? What time of year do they breed? Body 3: Threats (Global warming, overfishing, humans, pollution…etc.) *Prey & predators (What does your animal eat? & what eats your animal?) **You may include any other valuable information you feel would support your thesis as long as it is supported with evidence. Conclusion: Why should people care about this animal’s habitat and life? What can people do to keep this animal alive, safe, and healthy?
Research Paper Guidelines: Marine Animal CALENDAR Mon
Tues
2/9 Researching sources + highlighting important information
2/10
No school
Wed
Thurs
Fri
2/11 Thesis & Intro
2/12 Body paragraph
2/13 Body paragraph
HW: Revise
HW: Revise
HW: Revise
2/17
2/18
2/19
2/20
Body paragraph
Conclusion
Self-edit & teacher meet
Peer-edit
Outlining/ paraphrasing
HW: Revise 2/23
2/24
2/25
Parent edit & works cited page
Final revisions
DUE TODAY! Printed and stapled with draft and rubric!
Outline: 1. Introduction a. Start with a hook/quote/something relatable to the audience b. General information: name the animal, recognize that it is important to the marine life ecosystem c. Thesis statement 2. Body: Research question restated as a topic sentence a. Supporting details b. Transition to the next body paragraph 3. Body: Research question restated as a topic sentence a. Supporting details b. Transition to the next body paragraph 4. Body: Research question restated as a topic sentence a. Supporting details b. Transition to the conclusion 5. Conclusion: Taking action a. What can people do to ensure this animal continues to be safe and prosperous? b. Why should people care about this animal? c. What are some expectations for this animal’s future? 6. Works Cited
Research Paper Guidelines: Marine Animal