GRADUATION RESEARCH PROJECT
One of the most important things you will do as a Senior
is complete your Graduation Project.
Always refer to your Research Packet when in doubt. In class,
we will go over, in detail, how to write your Graduation Research
Paper.
BEFORE WE EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY,
LET’S WATCH AN ANALOGY….
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http://www.beatyenglish.wikispaces.com
FEELING NERVOUS?
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It’s normal to be nervous about completing a
project that is needed in order to meet Graduation
requirements. As long as you stay on task and meet
deadlines, you WILL survive!
Let’s watch a few short videos to get us started…
http://www.60secondrecap.com/resource/1-get-psyched/
http://www.60secondrecap.com/resource/3-organization/
Let’s review some basic information…
Basic Steps to Creating a Research Project- CRLS Research
Guide.pdf
CHOOSING A TOPIC
The first step in the process for successfully
completing your Graduation Project is to choose
a topic. Social Issues will be the focus.
We will view the choices on the next slide, and
There are also handouts with the topics listed
for your convenience. Remember to sign up for
The topic of your choice.
Social Issues
1. Abortion
2. Alternative Energy
3. Animal rights
4. Binge drinking
5. Capital punishment
6. Censorship
7. Child labor
8. Children's rights
9. Cloning
10. Creation science vs. evolution
11. Environmental protection
12. Euthanasia & assisted suicide
13. Famine
14. Gangs
15. Gender issues
16. Genetic engineering
17. Global warming
18. Government vs. religion
19. Gun control
20. Homelessness
21. Human Rights
22. Immigration
23. Media Violence
24. Nuclear proliferation
25. Organ & body donation
26. Outsourcing
27. Pledge of Allegiance
28. Poverty
29. Prayer in schools
30. Racial profiling
31. Stem Cell Research
32. Sweatshops
33. Terrorism
34. Violence in schools
35. Welfare
36. World population
COLLECTING RESOURCES
1. You will need a combination of 3 different
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sources, for a total of at least 5 sources
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such as Books, Journals, Articles,
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Internet sources, etc…
 2. Library time will be scheduled to help you
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begin gathering Books. Class time will be
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scheduled to gather other Internet sources.
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AFTER GATHERING RESOURCES
The next step after you have your resources is
to begin creating your Thesis statement.
 Before we begin, let’s view a short recap about
creating Thesis statements…
 http://www.60secondrecap.com/resource/2thesis-statement/
 Next, we will view a PowerPoint to help further
 clarify how to write a strong Thesis statement.
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THESIS POWERPOINT
..\..\..\..\..\DESKTOP\THESIS_STATEMENT_POW
ERPOINT[1].PPT
FILLING IN OUTLINE
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Now that you have chosen your Topic and
created your Thesis Statement, fill in your
Graduation Research Paper Outline.
You should fill in your Topic and Thesis
Statement.
 ..\..\..\..\..\Desktop\Grad Project outline
worksheet.doc
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YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY!
Now that you are ready to move on, let’s view a
few short videos to guide you on the next part
of your journey through the Grad. Project.
 http://www.60secondrecap.com/resource/4proving-you-know-what-youre-talking-about/
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq_oBKx0uY
 http://www.60secondrecap.com/resource/6conclusion/
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SCANNING RESOURCES
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At this point, you have your Topic and Thesis
statement. Now it’s time to begin scanning to
determine if the sources you have will really
help you. At this point, you may need to return
books and search for more sources.
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We will complete a Scanning activity to help you
practice scanning.
SCANNING ACTIVITY
1. Type in the following address:
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/reading/te
chniques/scanning/game.shtml
 2. Use the worksheet provided to record answers
as you scan through the site to Solve the Murder.
The techniques that you will use to Solve the
Murder are the same scanning techniques you will
use when you begin scanning your resources.
 ..\..\..\..\..\Desktop\Cluesheet for skillwise
murder.PDF
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SCANNING CONTINUED….
3. In order to begin the activity:
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A. Click “Play the Game”
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B. Read the information and click “Next”
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C. Click “No Timer”, read, and click “Next”
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to begin. Plug in your earphones, as
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there is audio.
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/readin
g/techniques/scanning/game.shtml
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FINISHED WITH THE SCANNING ACTIVITY?
1. Hand in your completed worksheet.
 2. Begin Scanning your resources. Remember,
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the resources HAVE TO BACK UP AND
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SUPPORT YOUR THESIS!
 3. You may have to find additional resources to
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adequately prove your Thesis.
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CREATING SOURCES CARDS
Now that you have your resources, have
scanned through them, and are sure that you
will use theses resources in your paper, it’s
time to create “Source Cards”.
 Making Source Cards- CRLS Research
Guide.pdf
 *Refer to the sample Source Card Worksheet
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NOTE CARDS
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Now that you have the resources you will need, it’s time to
begin reading…..
As you read/scan, start looking for supporting details and
facts to back up your Thesis.
As you find supporting details, begin filling out Note Cards. I
suggest finding at least 2-3 supporting details and quotes ,
from each resources, as this way you can pick and choose
which ones are most relevant to your Thesis. You will need
citations from each source you use, so consider this as you
start deciding on supporting details.
Remember, you will need 1-2 citations on EACH page!
Let’s review Note Cards…
Making Note Cards- CRLS Research Guide.pdf
HOW DO I CREATE NOTE CARDS????
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*This step may seem like “busy work”, but your Note Cards will help
you pull your paper together. You will create your Note Cards on
Index cards that will be provided to you. DO NOT REMOVE THESE
NOTE CARDS FROM CLASS! If they become lost, you will have to start
the process all over again. Be sure to include ALL information, so
that when it comes time to do your citations, it will be a breeze!
*If you find quotes to use, or are using someone else’s ideas, you
HAVE to give them credit. On your Note Card, be sure to put his/her
words in “” so you remember that those were not your own
ideas/words in order to avoid plagiarism.
*Remember to include the page numbers! Save yourself the hassle
of having to go through all of your resources to find pages!
*Refer to the Sample Note Card worksheet…
AFTER THE NOTE CARDS…
Concentrate on your Thesis statement….
 See if you can arrange your Note Cards
according to titles/details that go together, in 35 separate piles. Now it’s time to decide which
supporting details you will use.
 Fill in your “Outline” –Parts III, IV, and V, A and
B should be able to be filled out through the
use of your Note Cards.
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TOPIC SENTENCES
Based on your Supporting Details, you are now
ready to start writing your Topic Sentences.
 We will listen to a podcast about using Topic
Sentences appropriately.
 http://beattyenglish.wikispaces.com/
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MLA DOCUMENTATION
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MLA+Documentation.ppt