Welcome to the Pentucket Research Guide
Your academic experience from here on will require the use of strong research skills. It is best to develop efficient and effective research skills early and practice those skills to proficiency throughout your middle-high school career. Information literacy is essential for every student, whether for merely gathering information or preparing for a presentation or research paper. The steps outlined in this guide will lead you through a complex process in the most time effective and academically sound way. Examples are provided on each page of this guide for student use. If you are doing a research paper, you should begin by reviewing the Organization Page page.
Following these suggestions will provide the best defense against plagiarism.
Part 1: Research
- Criteria Chart
- Topic Selection
- Finding Background Information
- Writing a Summary
- Reevaluate Topic and Approoach
- Research and Notes
Criteria Chart
Criteria Charts are checklists of activities that must be accomplished in order to complete an large, long assignment. The following criteria chart takes you through the steps of researching and writing a research paper.
_____ Reread teacher’s assignment
_____ Read this research guide thoroughly. Pay special attention to “Note Taking” and “Preparing a Bibliography…” Sections
_____ Set up calendar of due dates
_____ Choose a topic and research question
_____ Do preliminary research
_____ Write the summary
_____ Reevaluate the topic...Is there enough information Yes or No? If you are not sure, conference with your teacher
_____ Narrow the topic
_____ Reread teacher assignment, specifically the source requirements
_____ Brainstorm search terms and then create a table of search terms and sources
_____ Find print books and take notes (Be sure to include full citation for each source)
_____ Find E-Books and take notes (Be sure to include full citation for each source)
_____ Find articles using Databases and take notes (Be sure to include full citation for each source)
_____ Find websites and take notes (Be sure to include full citation for each source)
_____ Write annotated bibliography (teacher preference)
_____ Form thesis statement from the research question. Identify it here: _______________________
_____ Put together the Works Cited Page
_____ Write the preliminary outline with Works Cited page
_____ Add to preliminary outline to write the detailed outline with parenthetical citations and Works Cited page.
_____ Write introduction paragraph
_____ Write body paragraphs, citing all sources using in-text parenthetical citations related to Works Cited page.
_____ Write conclusion
_____ Rewrite Introduction
_____ Edit rough draft using editing sheet
_____ Get another person to edit the rough draft with teacher’s assignment and editing sheet
_____ Reread teacher instructions on mechanics, i.e., title page, page numbers, staples, covers, etc.
_____ Prepare final draft with teacher’s specifications
_____ Turn paper in on time
Topic Selection
Students may be assigned very specific topics for research or given free reign to choose a topic. It is up to the student to be clear about the expectations of the teacher’s assignment. Before beginning, go back and reread the teacher's assignment sheet. If anything about the assignment seems unclear, speak to your teacher for clarification before you begin. You do not want to waste your time doing the wrong assignment.
Every assigned topic, even those that seem narrow, has flexibility. So choose a topic or narrow an assigned topic to one of interest to you, or choose one that you want to learn more about. Research is especially difficult if you choose a topic in which you have no interest.
Sources for topics Gale's Opposing Viewpoints Databases Britannica's Pro/Con website
Brainstorm and list 3-5 questions about your topic that you want to learn more about. These questions should be broad and open-ended, meaning there should be multiple ways to answer these questions.
Example:
Topic: Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Questions:
- Why has the image of Che become so popular?
- What was Che’s philosophy?
- What experiences led Che to become the principal revolutionary in Latin American history?
- What role did Che play in the Cuban Revolution and later in the new Cuban government?
- What were Che’s goals?
- Did the new Cuban government of which Che was a part fix the problems of the former regime?
Finding Background Information
Begin by using general sources such as textbooks, encyclopedias or websites to take notes. See Research Notes handout. Use the indexes and tables of content to survey information on your topic. Additionally, you may use teacher lecture notes and handouts as sources for background information. Also, check bibliographies for the list of books, articles, websites the author used; sometimes they can give you more suggestions for sources. Do not limit your background check to merely your narrow topic. Expand the research into topics that are linked to your topic. Be sure to record the full bibliographic information on all resources used and keep a list of resources that you may be able to use for the final paper. Even though it is time consuming, getting these sources in the proper format now will save you time later. You can use a citation generator, I suggest mybib.com but you are still responsible for making sure the citation is correct. See Bibliographic Citations page for the proper format.
For example, when researching Che Guevara, one would clearly research Ernesto Guevara in textbooks, encyclopedias, and websites, but one would also research the Cuban Revolution and Latin American history at the time of Che’s life. This gives one a context for understanding the specific topic, in this case Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Writing a Summary
When the assignment is a research paper, this is probably where your teachers will want a summary of your topic. A summary gives a broad overview of main points gathered from a number of general resources and is always followed by source citations. The expectation is that you understand the basics of the topic and the context in which your topic exists before you proceed with your deeper research. This summary should be paraphrased. Paraphrase by restating the author’s words or ideas into different words, grammar and structure. Reread all your notes, and then write this summary without looking at your notes. The information included in this summary should be general enough to be found in most sources on the topic. It needs to be followed by a list of sources consulted. See Bibliographic Citations page for the proper format.
Example:
The “Che” that appears on tee shirts across the world, known as a crusader for the common man, came from an upper middle class Argentinean family. Prior to his revolutionary career, he studied to be a doctor. During the semester breaks, he would travel through Latin America meeting many people and sharing their life’s experiences. These trips opened his mind to the plight of the common person. After earning his medical degree, "Che" met a man, Ricardo Rojo, who would change his life. Guevara changes his career plans and travels to Guatemala where he and Ricardo join the resistance against the coup of democratically elected Jacob Arbenz. It is in Guatemala where "Che" meets a few Cuban rebels, and after fleeing to Mexico, he meets Fidel Castro. He then joins the Cubans and fights on the front lines for two years until the Cuban dictator Batista is overthrown.
Fulgencio Batista had been dictator in Cuba for seven years following his own coup d’etat. His policies eliminated democracy: he voided the constitution, removed Congress, and abolished political parties. Although the economy of Cuba thrived during his reign, the poorest Cubans never saw the benefits; there were few schools, a poor health care system, unstable employment, and workers had no right to strike. The young and idealistic opposed Batista most fervently. It was this corrupt Batista government that "Che" helped to overthrow in 1959.
Ernesto “Che” Guevara held several positions in the new Cuban government: head of agricultural reform, head of the national bank, and head of the ministry of industry. His revolutionary spirit is re-ignited on his travels in poor Latin American countries during this time, and finally in 1965 he decides to leave Cuba to help aid other peoples in their dreams of independence. He hoped for a Pan-American Union. He is killed in Bolivia in 1967 by government forces. "Che" has become a martyr for the poor and oppressed throughout Latin America and the world.
References:
Dette, James. "Defending Che." Commonweal, vol. 132, no. 1, 14 Jan. 2005, p. 4. Gale In Context: World History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A127873454/WHIC?u=mlin_n_pentuck&sid=bookmark-WHIC&xid=700dba4c. Accessed 1 Feb. 2024.
Dorfman, Ariel. "Che Guevara.” Time Magazine. 14 June 1999. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,991268,00.html
Gordon, Irving. World History. AMSCO School Publications, Inc., 1993. Print.
Kornbluth, Peter. “The Death of Che Guevara: Declassified.” George Washington University, 1997. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB5/
Skidmore, Thomas and Peter Smith. Modern Latin America. Oxford University Press, 1997. Print.
Reevaluate Topic and Approoach
Once the initial research is complete and the summary is written, take a moment to decide whether there is enough information available to continue the topic. If not, decide on a new topic. If you are not sure if there are enough sources or information, then conference with the teacher. If you wish to continue with this topic, you need to narrow down the topic to a defend-able thesis. Review the questions that you brainstormed earlier. The topic we have used as an example, Che Guevara, is too broad. Based on your initial research you should be comfortable identifying the area of your topic that has sufficient resources for a full research paper.
In the example of Che, there are many books, including published autobiographical journals, on Che’s early experiences. I have chosen to further explore the experiences that led him to a revolutionary life.
Research and Notes
Part 2: Preparing to Write the Research Paper
- Forming a Thesis
- Writing a Preliminary Outline
- Writing a Detailed Outline
- Writing the Rough Draft
- Writing the Introduction
- Writing the Body of the Paper
- Avoiding Plagiarism
- Writing the Conclusion
- Rewrite Introduction
- Preparing Works Cited and Bibliographic Citation
- Title Page
- Preparing Final Draft
- Editing Sheet
- Other Useful Research Guides
- Acknowledgements
Forming a Thesis
At this point, you should have your research complete, and you should be ready to begin organizing your information. First, turn your research question into a thesis statement, a claim which you will prove throughout your paper. A thesis statement is your key argument, which you intend to defend and prove through research. A good thesis draws a reader into your paper. The thesis statement is the road map for the reader. Remember, this is a research paper, not a report. A report merely describes a topic; a research paper describes a topic through the defense of an arguable claim. A research paper is an intellectual argument not a personal argument, therefore, you should not use pronouns such as “I,” “me,” “you,” "us," etc.
Example:
The research question was: What personal experiences led Ernesto “Che” Guevara to become the dominant revolutionary of Latin American history? After doing my research, I have concluded that Che’s experiences with poor workers as a medical student, specifically on his tours around Latin America, are what led to his revolutionary beliefs and encounters with other revolutionaries and their revolutions.
My thesis statement:
Ernesto “Che” Guevara was thrust into a revolutionary life by witnessing the hardships of the people he encountered on his motorcycle trips through Latin America as a young man.
Examples of POOR thesis statements:
- Ernesto “Che” Guevara was a Latin American revolutionary.
- The image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara has become a worldwide icon.
- Ernesto “Che” Guevara was a major participant in the Cuban Revolution.
Examples of GOOD thesis statements:
Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s revolutionary activities in Guatemala, Cuba and Bolivia qualify him as a major Latin American revolutionary.
The success of the Cuban revolution would not have been possible without Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s participation.
The image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara as an icon, representing the struggle of the underprivileged, developed out of his revolutionary philosophy and activities.
Writing a Preliminary Outline
Writing a Preliminary Outline
The outline is the foundation of the paper/project. If you have researched your topic thoroughly, the outline should come easily. Students often have trouble with the outline if they do not have enough information. Every paper is going to have an introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs in between, so that is where you begin. If you are a more visual learner, you may want to create a web diagram before transferring the information into outline form. I can suggestion Mindmup if you want to use an electronic diagram tool. The rough draft will be written from this outline so the more details you have, the easier it will be to write the rough draft; thus include quotes, paraphrases and internal citations from to your notes sheets.
Here is an outline template to get you started.
Writing a Detailed Outline
At this point take the preliminary outline and insert your paraphrased notes and quotes with source citations. You may also want to include a reference to your research notes. The rough draft will be written from this outline.
Example of a detailed outlined paragraph:
III. Second Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence: Che Guevara was acutely aware of the lack of medical care for the poorest in Latin America, as a medical student this struck him as cruel and unusual punishment secondary only to the poverty.
- Servant women-Asthma G3…notes-page
- After visiting an elderly servant woman on the verge of death, Che writes in his diary, “ How long this order of things based on an absurd sense of caste will continue is not within my means to answer, but it is time that those who govern dedicate less time to propagandizing the compassion of their regimes and more money, much more money, sponsoring works of social utility (Guevara 29).”
- Leper colony A1…notes-page
- His travels with Alberto Granado brought Che to many leprosaria mainly because Alberto was a medical researcher. Ernesto’s compassion is visible in an incident in a leprosarium in Argentina where Alberto was conducting research. A young girl was delivering an impassioned argument on the injustice of her internment. Alberto proved the severity of her condition by shoving a long needle into her back. The girl did not flinch, but Che did. He asked the girl to excuse them and then chastised Alberto for his unprofessional and cruel behavior for treating a patient so poorly (Anderson 61).
- United Fruit Company hospital A3…notes-pages
- While in Golfito, Costa Rica he visited the Company hospital of United Fruit Company. He observed that while the medicine they practiced was correct, the quality of the medical treatment depended on the person’s position in the company (Anderson 119). He laments, “as always the class spirit of the gringos can be seen (Anderson 119).”
Transition sentence: Che found that poor health was often the result of poor working conditions.
Review the outline. Are there paragraphs that seem weak on content or support? If so, go back and do further research on that one area.
Writing the Rough Draft
Using your outline, begin to tie the content together into complete sentences. Plan to have the rough draft complete one full week before the final draft is due. This will give you time to reflect, edit the paper, and have someone else read your paper. Teachers to do not accept excuses such as my printer failed, my computer crashed, or the dog ate my flashdrive. BE PREPARED!
Writing the Introduction
The introduction gives the reader a preview of your paper. It is general information that gives the reader an overview of where you intend to go in your paper. This is the reader’s first taste, so you want to entice them to read your paper beyond the introduction. Introductions have a specific format for presenting information. They include the time of the event, the place of the event, the thesis statement, the significance of the topic, and finally a transition sentence (this can vary) to the body of the paper. The introduction may also include background on the topic that is necessary for your reader to know before reading the thesis statement.
Sample Introduction:
Ernesto “Che” Guevara has become a pop culture icon. Even in the United States, tee- shirts with his stern face and star-clad-beret appear in the mainstream. Where most North Americans know little of Che’s background, Latin Americans nearly worship him as a liberator (significance/importance). From an affluent Argentinean family, Che had every opportunity to live comfortably. Yet, he chose to purposely educate himself among the poor on an annual motorcycle trip through Latin America (place). The poor of Latin America suffered from the brunt of inconsistent governmental policy. Che’s motorcycle tour in the 1950s (time), while still in medical school, allowed him to encounter the conditions brought about by inequitable economic, political and social government policies. It was the inequitable condition of the common person that sparked his revolutionary beliefs. Ernesto “Che” Guevara was thrust into a revolutionary life by witnessing the hardships of the people he encountered on his motorcycle trips through Latin America as a young man (thesis). Che’s stories of the oppressed and exploited are tragic and tug at the heart strings of even the most callous person (transition sentence).
After you complete your paper, you will rewrite the introduction and choose the best draft of the two.
Writing the Body of the Paper
The body of the paper is where you expose the reader to the evidence that supports your thesis. You will prove your thesis in this section of the paper. The body of the paper is written in your own words, so be careful not to copy from any of the sources. A good strategy to avoid plagiarism at this point is to paraphrase again from your notes into sentences in your paper.
Like the introduction, each body paragraph has a specific format. Each paragraph needs a topic sentence that outlines what the paragraph contains and is directly related to the thesis of your paper. Research at this level includes primarily secondary sources and a few primary sources; therefore, you must give credit to the authors of the sources from which you gathered evidence, both paraphrases (their ideas) and quotes (their words). This is referred to as “citing” sources. There are three ways to cite a source in the body of your paper: Parenthetical Citations, Footnotes, or Endnotes. If your class assignment sheet does not specify which type of in-text citation to use, ask your teacher which type they prefer. The final sentence is a transition sentence to your next paragraph.
Remember, in-text citations must correspond to the Works Cited page at the end of the paper. This is how your teacher will check your sources.
When is it not necessary to include a citation? If information can be found in three different common sources (not three different internet sources), it is considered “common knowledge” and does not need a citation.
Examples:
There are 365 days in a year.
George Washington was the first president of the United States.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Avoiding plagiarism means citing sources, but you must also be careful in your organizing, note taking, and then transforming those notes into your own words. Maintaining a works cited page, citing sources in the text of your work, and practicing the above suggestions will keep you from plagiarizing.
Writing the Conclusion
The conclusion is the final paragraph. You should design the conclusion toward the goal of bringing the paper to a natural and graceful end. Do not introduce new content in the conclusion. Try one of several techniques:
Restate a paraphrased version of the thesis with a summary of your best information without the exact wording you used in the main body. I sentence summary of each of the body paragraphs.
Answer the essential questions posed by your thesis statement in the introduction.
Make a thought provoking prediction or recommendation about your topic. A prediction states what will or may happen in the future, and a recommendation suggests what should or could be done about a situation or problem.
Example:
With these stories of Che's kindness to the poor and sick, swirling round year after year and becoming embellished as they went, Che has become an icon reaching mythical status. His care for the sick, his empathy for powerless workers, and his horror at so much poverty propelled him into revolutionary movements. Whether these movements were successes or failures, whether the post-governments were images of his philosophy, Che hoped for a united Latin America where the masses had a better life. As the gap between the rich and poor grows around the world, Che’s image will continue to spread among the poor and disenfranchised. Educating future leaders of America about Che’s life will aid in understanding his appeal.
Rewrite Introduction
Once you have finished the text of your paper, go back to the introduction. Rewrite the introduction through the lens of your paper’s content. Some writers will actually replace the introduction with the conclusion. Choose the best option for your introduction. Remember, the introduction needs to draw the reader into your paper.
I like the English Departments suggestion for introductions...
"Part I: Start with 1-2 sentences that address a general idea related to the specific idea you will argue in your thesis statement. Try to engage your readers in these sentences; draw readers in to what you have to say. Do NOT mention the specific topic!" (from PRHS Writing Lab Instructions).
Example:
The world is full of poverty and injustice. When a young, idealistic person is faced with this reality, it can act as rally cry for action (compelling statement to draw reader in). Ernesto “Che” Guevara has become a pop culture icon. Even in the United States, tee- shirts with his stern face and star-clad-beret appear in the mainstream. Where most North Americans know little of Che’s background, Latin Americans nearly worship him as a liberator (significance/importance). From an affluent Argentinean family, Che had every opportunity to live comfortably. Yet, he chose to purposely educate himself among the poor on an annual motorcycle trip through Latin America (place). The poor of Latin America suffered from the brunt of inconsistent governmental policy. Che’s motorcycle tour in the 1950s (time), while still in medical school, allowed him to encounter the conditions brought about by inequitable economic, political and social government policies. It was the inequitable condition of the common person that sparked his revolutionary beliefs. Ernesto “Che” Guevara was thrust into a revolutionary life by witnessing the hardships of the people he encountered on his motorcycle trips through Latin America as a young man (thesis). Che’s stories of the oppressed and exploited are tragic and tug at the heart strings of even the most callous person (transition sentence).
Preparing Works Cited and Bibliographic Citation
A works cited page is a list of only the sources cited in the text of your paper. A bibliography is a list of all the sources consulted during your research. The two most commonly required formats for bibliographic citation are MLA and APA. Below are examples of each, using the same source to exemplify the differences. We use MLA at Pentucket.
MLA (Modern Language Association) example:
Anderson, Jon Lee. Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life. Grove/Atlantic Press, 1998. Print.
APA(American Psychological Association) example:
Anderson, J. (1998). Che Guevara: A revolutionary life. Grove/Atlantic Press. Print.
Below are examples of the most commonly used sources. If you require a citation for some other type of material (i.e. music, interview, lecture, film), then use an online citation generator like mybib.com on the right side of the list of sources click "More." If you choose to use an online citation generator, however, remember they are only as good as the information input, and it is still your responsibility to make sure the citation is correct.
Use this Mybib video tutorial (TBA) to familiarize yourself with this tool.
Below you can find a Quick Reference for Creating the most common citations for a Bibliography or Works Cited Page in the MLA style.
MLA, Print Book one-author...
Bennett, Betty. Shelley: Poet and Legislator of the World. John Hopkins University Press, 1995. Print.
MLA, Book two authors...
Wordsworth, William and Seamus Heaney. The Essential Wordsworth. BBS Publishing, 1993. Print.
MLA, Source three or more authors...
Saari, Peggy, Et al. Colonial America Almanac. U-X-L Publishing Group, 2000. Print.
Et al. means more then one. There is more than one author but you are not clogging up the citation with a list of 3 or more author's name.
MLA, Source with an editor...
Graff, Henry Ed. The Presidents: A Reference History. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1996. Print.
MLA, E-Book...
Davenport, John. The Bolshevik Revolution. Chelsea House Publishers, 2010. EBSCO E-Book.
Be sure to include the source of the eBook.
MLA, Article from database (*Use the "Cite tool" in the Databases to get this citation*)
Izenberg, Gerald N. "Romanticism in Literature and Politics." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas, edited by Maryanne Cline Horowitz, vol. 5, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005, pp. 2138-2144. Gale In Context: U.S. History, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3424300704/UHIC?u=mlin_n_pentuck&sid=UHIC&xid=83276368. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.
MLA, Website...
Pridmore, Jan. "John Keats." Literary History. 1998. http://www.literaryhistory.com/19thC/KEATS.htm. Accessed January 13, 2024.
Students often miss the last update of the website and the source/sponsor. These are required pieces. If you cannot find these on a website you should be questioning the site's validity.
Setting Up The Page:
* Works Cited and Bibliographies are on a separate page at the end of your paper
* The page has a title (centered)
* Works Cited pages and Bibliographies are always in alphabetical order by first letter of each citation.
If the first word of the citation is "The," "A," or "An," then ignore these and use the first letter of the 2nd word to alphabetize.
If the citation begins with a number, place the whole citation before the "A's." in the list.
Indenting: for each citation, the first line is flush with the left margin, all proceeding lines are indented. Watch this Video Tutorial on how to add a Hanging Indent in Google Docs
Title Page
Use the following model to create your title page. Remove parenthesis and Insert your information!
Title of the Paper
______
A Research Paper
Presented to
(name of teacher) of the (name of) Department
Pentucket Regional High School
______
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Course
(name of course)
______
Your Full Name
Month Year
Preparing Final Draft
Reread the teacher’s assignment sheet for required mechanics, i.e., font size, margin size, page number requirement, etc. Go back through your paper and double check that these requirements have been met. Next, use http://www.paperrater.com to check your paper for plagiarism. Then, using the editing sheet to go through and edit your own paper. Then, reread the paper to yourself out loud. Once you have completed your editing and made the changes, have another person edit the paper. It may be good to have more than one person edit the paper. They will pick up errors that you missed. Choose editors that will actually critique and edit your paper rather than a person who will pass it back to you with a smile and a “good job.” Give the editor the teacher’s assignment and the editing sheet. Make any final corrections based on feedback, and print the final copy. Pass the paper in on time.
Watch this Video Tutorial on Formatting Tips and Tricks
Editing Sheet
First Paragraph:
- Does the first sentence "hook " the reader?
- Is the significance of topic identified?
- Is the location of event mentioned?
- Is the time period mentioned?
- Is there a thesis statement?
- Is there a transition sentence?
- Are there any spelling errors?
- Can you make any other suggestions?
For each paragraph in the body of the paper:
- Is there a topic sentence that explains what this paragraph is about? Does it need to be rewritten?
- Do all the specific examples in the paragraph relate to topic sentence?
- Does this paragraph support the thesis statement?
- Has the author paraphrased properly?
- Is a source cited (author’s last name pg #) for each sentence or each group of sentences?
- Are there any quotes? Are there quotation marks around it?
- Is a source cited (author’s last name pg #) immediately following the quote?
- Is the quote followed by a sentence explaining the quote?
- Are there any spelling errors in the paragraph?
- Is there a transition sentence?
- Are there any other suggestions you would like to make?
Last Paragraph:
- Did the author choose a summary conclusion, response to essential question or a prediction/recommendation?
- Does the final paragraph bring the paper to a natural and graceful end with no loose ends?
- Are there any spelling errors in the paragraph?
- Are there any other suggestions you would like to make?
Works Cited Page:
- Are all the required source types present?
- Is the whole page in alphabetical order?
- Compare each citation to the model. Make any corrections of the page
- Are 2nd, 3rd, etc. lines indented?
Overall:
- Are titles of books italicized throughout the paper?
- Are titles of articles in quotations?
- Are there any other errors?
- Does the writer use any possessive pronouns i.e. I, you, m, us, etc.?
- Compare the title page to the model. Is the format correct? Is all the information relevant to this class?
- Has the required page limit of text been fulfilled?
- Is the paper in 12 pt. Times New Roman font? Double-spaced? One-inch margins?
- Are there page numbers at the bottom center of each page?
Other Useful Research Guides
Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html
Cambridge Ringe and Latin School
Acknowledgements
This research guide is truly a collaborative effort. I, Rachael Costello, have taken numerous ideas from professors, colleagues and other research guides over the last 17 years and put them all into this guide. I hope it is useful. Thanks to…
The history professors at Salem State College for requiring so much research and writing and having high expectations.
The creators of Cambridge College’s “Independent Learning Project Handbook.” I loved the idea of having examples for every section.
Jim Coogan from Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School for creating a great freshman research guide, which I have incorporated for 17 years in my own classes.
Wayne Sylvester for opening up his filing cabinet and giving me all the research guides and ideas he had collected for 20+ years of teaching.
Cora Ducolon for suggesting the use of an editing sheet.
J.C. Honer for teaching me about criteria charts.
The Library Advisory Committee for their useful feedback in editing of this guide. The members of the committee who contributed to this guide include: Bill Buell, Denise Cartier, Amy Deacon, Mia Dugan, Laurie Dunnett, Carolyn Fichera, Robin Foss, Ellen Hart, Kevin Horgan, Marshall McKenzie, Irina O’Brien, Laura Oliveira, Elizabeth Poirier, Jonathan Seymour, Mike Stevens, Annie Young, especially Carolyn Fichera who edited this guide twice. Finally, special thanks to Lindsey Barlow and Kelsey Nadeau who prepared this document for the internet.
2022 Update:
Thank you to Erin Cherry, Anya Bent, Elisa Lynch, and Elaine Treado for their expert advice and suggestions on different pages of this research guide that they have special expertise.
Last Update: February 2024
Sources
Sebranek, Patrick. Writer’s Inc. Great Source Education Group, 2000. Print.
Sorenson, Sharon. A Quick Reference to the Research Paper. AMSCO School Publications, 1999. Print.