Research Paper Assignment-Researching an American Author/Poet of

							    Research Paper Assignment-Researching Modern Obstacles to Achieving the
                              “American Dream”

Many of the novels and plays we are reading this year have to do with characters who are
striving to achieve their personal version of the “American Dream.” The American
Dream is typically defined as the idea that everyone, regardless of race, class,
religion, etc., should have equal opportunity for financial success and satisfaction.
However, for these characters, the definition of “financial success and satisfaction”
varies.

In other words, attaining the American Dream involves MUCH more than just money.
There are many obstacles that complicate achieving success like family, personal
demons, racism, sexism, prejudices, poverty, etc.

STEP 1: BRAINSTORMING                         DUE: Start in class Tuesday 3/22 and must
                                              finished by the end of class Wednesday 3/23

In order to start thinking about your assignment, you need to FIRST complete the
following brainstorming tasks:

   1.) What does the “American Dream” encompass today? Is the “dream” only
       financial stability and success, or is it more than that like having the perfect home,
       family, car, etc? (Write a full paragraph response)
   2.) What is your PERSONAL version of the “American Dream”? (Write a full
       paragraph response)
   3.) What are some obstacles that individuals pose to their own attainment of the
       American Dream? In other words, how do people get in their own way of being
       successful? (Ex: addictions, self-destruction, greed, loss of perspective, family,
       etc.) (Create a list)
   4.) What are some obstacles that society poses to the individual’s attainment of the
       American Dream? In other words, there are some things that seem out of control
       of the individual. What are those obstacles created by society that individuals
       must overcome to achieve success? (racism, prejudice, healthcare inequalities,
       education inequalities, sexism, class structure, poverty) (Create a list)

STEP 2: SELECTION OF TOPIC and get it approved by Teacher
DUE: Friday 3/25

Once you have gone through this brainstorming process, now you are ready to select a
topic.

Go through your brainstorming lists of individual and societal obstacles to the achieving
the American Dream and select one of INTEREST to you.

You will be spending quite a lot of time with this project, so make sure your topic is
INTERESTING and MEANINGFUL to you.
    Research Paper Assignment-Researching Modern Obstacles to Achieving the
                              “American Dream”


STEP 3: RESEARCHING TOPIC and WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY
DUE:


Primary Source: If you are seeking to learn about the past, primary sources of
information are those that provide first-hand accounts of the events, practices, or
conditions you are researching. In general, these are documents that were created by the
witnesses or first recorders of these events at about the time they occurred, and include
diaries, letters, reports, photographs, creative works, financial records, memos, and
newspaper articles (to name just a few types).

You must select one source that will serve as your primary source. This should be a
longer magazine article, journal article, or short book on the topic. You must cite this
source in your paper.


Secondary Sources: In contrast, a secondary source of information is one that was
created later by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or
conditions you’re researching. For secondary sources, often the best sources are those
that have been published most recently. If you use a secondary source that was published
decades ago, it is important to know what subsequent scholars have written on the topic
and what criticism they have made about the earlier work or its approach to the topic.

You must find AT LEAST 6-8 secondary sources on your topic. Out of these sources,
you will only have to cite AT LEAST 4-5 in your paper. Again, these can be in the form
of newspaper articles, journal articles, magazine articles, books, documentaries etc.
     Keep in mind you should research BOTH sides of the issues, not just research that
       supports your point of view.

All sources must be cited in MLA format and you must create a working
bibliography.

**You must meet at least ONCE with the librarian OUTSIDE OF CLASS during
this stage for help in your research. Ms. Thomas and Ms. Germer will have a list of
your names and will be expecting your visit. This will factor into your overall
grade. **

We will be visiting the library next week and Ms. Thomas will be discussing with you
how to go about finding primary sources and reliable secondary sources in the library.
You are not limited to the High School library. You may also use the town library and
some of the area college libraries to assist you in your research.
   Research Paper Assignment-Researching Modern Obstacles to Achieving the
                             “American Dream”

** Your new English teacher will most likely be taking over these steps. She will
determining due dates for these steps.

STEP 5: READING AND STARTING TO TAKING NOTES ON PRIMARY and
SECONDARY SOURCES

Before you decide which sources you are going to use, you must read through them.
Read through your primary source AND your 6-8 secondary sources. Start taking notes
on the sources you think are interesting. You will be making note-cards later.

STEP 4: WRITING on PRIMARY and SECONDARY SOURCES

 1 JOURNAL ON PRIMARY SOURCE
This should be 1-2 pages double spaced, times new roman font, size 12.
     You may use 1st person voice.
     Respond to ideas in your primary source.
           o What did you not know before?
           o What did it make you think about in terms of what you need to research
              further?
           o What did you agree with? What did you disagree with?
           o What were your assumptions about the topic before you read this article
              (in other words, what did you think you knew) ?
           o Did this article challenge your assumptions?
           o What didn’t the article address that you think is an important part of the
              issue?
           o
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: Ms. Thomas will be teaching you how to do this
AND she will be grading this part of the assignment. Go to her or Ms. Germer for
help! You can find sources on MLA format online. Do not rely on easybib…it is
often wrong!
     6-8 sources listed in MLA format
     A brief explanation of why you chose these sources and why you think they will
       be helpful in your paper.
     Mrs. Thomas will review and grade this part. There is a rubric you must follow.

STEP 5: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND THESIS STATEMENT

Complete Statement of Purpose handout in which you do the following:
   Identify the central idea/issue of the paper
   Explain how you respond to this issue
   Form your thesis statement
   Research Paper Assignment-Researching Modern Obstacles to Achieving the
                             “American Dream”

STEP 6: GOING BACK TO THE RESEARCH AND CREATING NOTECARDS
Once you have your thesis statement, you need to go back to your research and
decide what will be helpful to you in proving your point.

Remember, you want to show that you are unbiased, so you will have to look into
both sides of the issue and present the argument you feel is most valid after
researching the topic.

You may realize that you don’t have enough research, which means you will have to
go back to the library on your own time and find some more evidence. Or, maybe
you found so much research initially that now you just have to sort through it.

NOTECARDS:
   For the 5-6 SECONDARY sources you decide to use in your paper you need
    to take notes on note-cards.
   On one side of the note-card you should have the MLA citation. On the other
    side should be your notes.
   Notes should be a variety of paraphrasing and direct quotes.
   Page numbers (if there are page numbers) should be present for each note.
   FOR EACH SOURCE you should have 4-5 notecards.

CREATING AN OUTLINE:
   The more detailed your outline is, the easier your paper will be to write.
   Your outline should at the very least include the following:

      A breakdown of paragraphs in the essay
      Your thesis statement
      The argument for each body paragraph (remember, because this is a longer
       essay, you will probably have more than 3 arguments to support your thesis).
      For each argument: the evidence from the research to support your
       argument
      For each argument: an explanation of how the research supports your
       argument
      For each argument: possible counter-arguments that might come up against
       your argument and how you would defend your argument.

WRITING A DRAFT:

EDITING, CONFERENCING, and REVISING:

HANDING IN THE FINAL DRAFT:
   Research Paper Assignment-Researching Modern Obstacles to Achieving the
                             “American Dream”

I have read and understand the above research guidelines for the English 11 research
paper. Please discuss this assignment with a parent/guardian and return this paper to me
at the beginning of our next class meeting. (Returning this form is a homework grade)

I AM AWARE THAT THIS PAPER and MOST OF THE STEPS will contribute to my
4th Marking Period Grade. Failing to complete the steps and/or the paper could result in a
failing grade for the 4th Marking Period (and possibly the semester depending on my 3rd
Marking Period grade). Because of the nature of the assignment, we must keep
progressing in class and late work will NOT BE ACCEPTED!!!

Student signature: _________________________________________

Parent signature: ________________________________________

As we progress with the steps, the final due date will be determined. You will be
provided with updated deadline sheets and the project progresses.




Getting this paper signed counts as a homework assignment!!