English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview
Resource
Research Paper Assignment Overview
Instructions
This document provides an overview of the tasks and time line for completing this semester’s research
paper. You will complete this project over the course of three units. Keep in mind that the project has
been broken into three units to give you more time to complete the final paper. As necessary, use time
during other units to work on your paper.
Planning
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Review the assignment instructions and grading criteria thoroughly. Keep in mind that the
research project is divided into three major components spread across three units.
Choose a topic for your paper.
Conduct research to help you narrow and develop your topic. Use both print and online sources
for your research. Cite at least four sources, at least one of which is a print source. Do not cite an
encyclopedia. Your final paper should be from 1,800 to 2,700 words.
Complete the first assignment, Research Paper Planning Assignment, which includes writing a
thesis statement and developing a formal outline. You will submit the completed plan for a grade.
Drafting
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Begin drafting your paper. Use your planning assignment and the feedback that you received
from your teacher. Also use your research notes to support your thesis.
Write in standard formal English, and use the third person and the present tense. Your ideas
should be expressed objectively and be supported with your research. Avoid sentences that
begin with “I think” or “I feel.”
Review the Checklist and Rubric. Your first draft will be graded against the checklist, so be sure
that you have included everything that the checklist requires. Keep the rubric in mind as you draft
because your final paper will be graded against the rubric.
Continue to work on your draft, referring to your research materials. Then submit the first draft of
your Research Paper after you have double-checked it against the checklist that follows in this
document.
Finalizing
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Revise your research paper. Use the feedback on the first draft you received from your teacher.
Also consider feedback you may have received from your mentor or other readers.
The final paper will be graded against a rubric that assesses the essay in the following five
categories: purpose and voice; ideas and content; structure and organization; language, word
choice, and tone; and sentences and mechanics. The rubric appears at the end of this document.
Keep the criteria listed on the rubric in mind as you revise your paper.
Proofread your research paper. Use the proofreading checklist as a guide. Be sure you review
how to cite sources correctly, both within your paper and on the Works Cited page before you
hand in your paper.
Make a final, clean copy of your Research Paper and submit it to your teacher.
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Page 1 of 6
English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview
Time Line
Remember you will be working on this project over the course of three different units. The following due
dates reflect this schedule.
CCTask
Complete a topic approval. Submit your topic
choice and receive approval.
Complete the Planning a Research Paper Unit.
Submit the Research Paper Planning
Assignment—assignment includes topic
selection and formal outline.
Start the Drafting a Research Paper Unit. Submit
your Research Paper First Draft.
Complete the Drafting a Research Paper Unit.
Submit your Multimedia Presentation.
Start the Finalizing a Research Paper Unit.
Submit your Research Paper Final Draft.
Complete the Finalizing a Research Paper Unit.
Start
Day 36
Complete
Day 39
Day 44
Day 46
Day 53
Day 57
Day 58
Day 60
Day 61
Day 63
Day 64
Day 67
Grading/Point Values
Research Paper Planning Assignment: 100
Research Paper First Draft: 200
Research Paper Final Draft: 200
Recommended Final Draft Length
Word Count: 1,800–2,700 words
Grading Criteria – First Draft
Your first draft will be graded on the basis of the checklist below.
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The purpose of informing the reader about a literary topic is evident.
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The research paper has an introduction with a thesis statement.
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The body paragraphs contain facts and quotations from research.
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The research paper ends with a conclusion.
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The organization of ideas in the research paper is easy to follow, and the paper includes
formatting, graphics, and multimedia.
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The research paper includes both internal citations and a Works Cited page.
▪
The language of the research paper is appropriate and clear and includes domain-specific
vocabulary and literary techniques or devices that help convey complex ideas.
▪
The tone of the research paper is consistently serious.
▪
The paper has a variety of sentence structures and sentence beginnings.
▪
The paper is at least 1,800 words.
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Page 2 of 6
English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview
Grading Criteria—Final Draft
The final draft of your paper will be graded according to this rubric.
RESEARCH PAPER Grading Rubric
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English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview
Criteria
Purpose and Voice
Ideas and Content
Structure and
Organization
5
The research paper
does an outstanding job
of fulfilling its purpose of
taking a stance on a
literary topic and
providing substantial
information on the
chosen topic. The
writer's voice is clear
and shows interest in
the topic. The details
provided are complete
and cover the topic fully.
There is no irrelevant
information present.
Readers are not left with
lingering questions
about the topic.
The research paper is
on a literary topic that
interests the writer. The
topic is sufficiently
narrow to cover well,
and a thesis statement
provides a clear focus
for the paper. The topic
is fully researched and
very well developed with
facts, evidence, and
quotations from cited
sources that include at
least four sources, one
of which should be a
print source. The
research paper includes
a comprehensive Works
Cited page.
The research paper has
a clear structure with an
introductory paragraph
or paragraphs that grab
the reader's attention
and clearly state the
thesis. Each body
paragraph contains
reasons or evidence in
the form of facts and
quotations that support
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4
The research paper
does a good job in
fulfilling its purpose of
taking a stance on a
literary topic and
providing information on
the chosen topic, but the
topic could be
developed more fully.
The writer's voice is
consistent and shows
interest in the topic, but
some information
presented may be
irrelevant to the topic.
3
The purpose of taking a
stance on a literary topic
is not entirely clear
because the writer's
voice is hard to find. The
research paper provides
some information on the
topic, but gaps in
information leave
readers with questions.
The inclusion of
irrelevant information
makes readers question
what the main purpose
of the paper is.
2
The research paper
does not fulfill its
purpose of taking a
stance on a literary to
and providing
information. The write
voice is lacking, and
stance may be uncle
and/or the informatio
on the topic is sparse
The paper lacks
significant details and
may also contain
irrelevant information
The research paper is
on a literary topic that is
sufficiently narrow and
that interests the writer.
Although the paper
contains a thesis
statement, it does not
focus the paper as well
as it could. A great deal
of research is present,
but because the thesis
statement is not focused
well, the writer does not
answer all pertinent
questions and includes
extraneous information.
The research paper
contains facts,
evidence, and
quotations from cited
sources including at
least four sources, one
of which should be a
print source. It also has
a Works Cited page.
The research paper has
a clear structure—
introduction with a
thesis statement, body
paragraphs, and a
conclusion—although
one part of the structure
may not be developed
well. The writer
occasionally strays from
a logical presentation of
It is unclear whether the
topic of this research
paper interests the
writer. The thesis
statement is vague, and
the research is
inadequate even though
the topic may be
sufficiently narrow. The
paper contains facts and
quotations, but sources
are not always cited.
The writer relies heavily
on websites and does
not include enough
research from print
sources. The research
paper includes a Works
Cited page, but it is not
complete.
The writer does not
appear interested in
topic, and many
questions are left
unanswered. There i
no clear expression o
thesis statement. The
research is insufficien
unsubstantiated, or
relies upon faulty
sources. It does not
contain quotations an
facts cited from valid
sources. The Works
Cited page is either
incomplete or missin
The structure of the
research paper is
usually clear, with an
introduction, thesis
statement, body, and a
conclusion. However,
the writer does not
always use a new
paragraph for a new
idea. The organization is
not always clear, but
The structure of the
research paper is
somewhat clear. The
seems to be an
introduction, body, an
a conclusion, but the
writer does not use
paragraphing well. Th
organization is
somewhat unclear, a
the writer tends to jum
Page 4 of 6
English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview
Language and Word
Choice
Sentences and
Mechanics
the thesis. The
conclusion tells readers
what the writer has
learned or leaves
readers with something
to think about. The
writer uses an
appropriate pattern of
organization that fits the
topic and thesis.
Transitions are used to
clarify ideas and to
move smoothly within
and between
paragraphs. The paper
includes thoughtprovoking and specific
headings, interesting
and informative
graphics, and an
instructive multimedia
component that aids
comprehension.
The student considers
purpose and audience
in the language, word
choice, and tone of the
research paper. The
student uses formal
language that is
powerful and clear,
several domain-specific
words, and several
literary techniques such
as similes, metaphors
and analogies to explain
concepts and provide
clear information. The
tone is serious and
consistently objective,
with no personal
opinions offered.
ideas, but transitions are
generally used
effectively. The paper
includes useful
headings, most of which
are specific, relevant
graphics, and a
multimedia component
that aids in
comprehension.
readers can usually
follow the ideas. The
writer uses some
transitions, but more are
needed to make content
flow more smoothly. The
paper includes headings
and graphics, though
some may be generic or
not entirely connected to
the paper’s subject
matter, and a
multimedia component.
around. Minimal
transitions are used t
connect ideas. The
paper is missing
headings, graphics, o
multimedia compone
or it uses one or mor
these elements in wa
that detract from the
writing of the piece.
The student usually
considers purpose and
audience in the
language, word choice,
and tone of the research
paper. The student
usually employs formal
language, uses at least
one domain-specific
word, and includes at
least one simile,
metaphor, or analogy to
explain concepts and
provide clear
information. The tone is
serious and usually
objective, although
sometimes the student
might state an opinion.
The student does no
seem to consider
purpose and audienc
when selecting
language, word choic
and tone. There are
several instances of
inappropriate langua
or wording being use
the student does not
incorporate domainspecific vocabulary, o
the attempts to use
literary techniques su
as similes, metaphor
or analogies to expla
concepts or provide
clear information only
serve to muddle the
paper’s message. Th
language and word
choices tend to be
informal and imprecis
leaving readers trying
figure out the meanin
The tone is not
consistently serious,
and the research pap
contains many opinio
Each sentence
expresses a complete
Most sentences contain
complete thoughts, and
The student attempts to
consider purpose and
audience in the
language, word choice,
and tone of the research
paper. However, the
student sometimes
loses sight of one of
these aspects and
includes inappropriate
language or vague
words, misses
opportunities to
incorporate domainspecific words, or fails to
use literary techniques
such as similes,
metaphors, or analogies
to explain concepts and
provide clear
information. Imprecise
language is sometimes
confusing, but readers
can usually figure out
the meaning. The tone
of the paper is serious,
but some of the
language is inform and
not always objective.
The student's opinions
are present.
Sentences do not all
contain complete
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Some sentences are
incomplete, and
Page 5 of 6
English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview
thought, and sentence
beginnings and
structures are varied.
Quotations contain the
exact words of the
source and are
punctuated correctly. All
citations within the
research paper and on
the Works Cited page
are in proper citation
format. There are
extremely few errors in
grammar, in usage, and
in mechanics, and those
errors that exist do not
impede readers’
understanding.
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sentences are varied.
Quotations are used for
the exact words of a
source, but sometimes
they are not punctuated
correctly. Most citations
within the paper and on
the Works Cited page
are in proper citation
format. There are few
errors in grammar, in
usage, and in
mechanics, and those
errors that exist rarely
interfere with readers’
ability to understand.
thoughts although there
may be some sentence
variety. There are
several unintentional
fragments and run-ons.
Some quotations are not
punctuated correctly,
and not all citations are
in proper citation format.
There are errors in
grammar, in usage, and
in mechanics that
sometimes interfere with
readers’ ability to
understand.
sentence beginnings
rarely vary. It is often
difficult to know wher
quotations begin and
end. Many citations a
in improper citation
format. There are err
in grammar, in usage
and in mechanics tha
make the paper diffic
to understand.
Page 6 of 6
English | Graded Assignment | Choosing a Topic
Name: Lily Fausett
Date: 8/31/20
Graded Assignment
Choosing a Topic
Choosing a topic is the first step in writing a research paper. Choose your British literature topic from the
list that was given. Record your topic and your research question about the topic.
Remember: You need to complete the assignment by the due date to receive full credit.
Total score: ____ of 10 points
(Score for Question 1: ___ of 4 points)
1. What is your topic?
Answer:
Why research topic will be about the authenticity of Shakespeare’s plays.
(Score for Question 2: ___ of 6 points)
2. What is your research question?
Answer:
My research question is “Did William Shakespeare actually write his own plays?”. And I will
focus on addressing the controversies and debates around this issue.
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