Famous Americans Research Paper

The American Dream Research Paper Hamlett – English III

You will be choosing a famous American to research. He/she can be of any time period and be famous for any reason as long as you can find research to prove or disprove that this person accomplished his or her American dream.  Only one person may be used per class.  You must use at least 4 sources and at least one of these must be a print source, in other words, a non-Internet/database source. No straight Internet sources may be used. Only those attained through the school’s databases may be used.  You will be finding information in three main areas: 1. Biographical information: Include interesting information about their life prior to fame and possibly fortune. 2. Fame: Discuss their body of work, their contributions to society, what makes them “stand out” and what makes/made them famous. 3. Accomplishing the American Dream: You will discuss, based on research, if you feel your person accomplished the American dream. This will probably prove to be your most difficult area and will require some drawing conclusions about the research you’ve found.  The end product will include an introductory paragraph, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs (see the above 3 areas) and a concluding paragraph all with internal documentation (MLA format) and a works cited page.

First Steps  After choosing a person and getting your choice approved, you will be finding information covering the 3 main areas: biography before fame, fame, accomplishment of the American Dream.  You will have to photocopy or print out all information gathered. This is done instead of using note cards, so bring change for the library. These will be turned in early on as part of your research process grade and MUST BE TURNED IN WITH THE FINAL PRODUCT! Using these, I will be able to check for plagiarism of paraphrasing and quotations used within your paper. Research papers will not be accepted without copies of these sources.  As you locate a source you will use, write down source information on the actual photocopy/printout. See AIS Research handbook to cite your sources. Use easybib.com or bibme.org to create your works cited page.  You will need to choose 3 highlighter colors and assign one to each of the 3 areas of your paper (one color for biographical information, a second color for why he/she is famous and their work, a third color for his/her accomplishment of the dream). Color-code the specific information you find in your photocopies/printouts. ***You will turn in your sources with the works cited information for each source at this point in your research for research process grade.  Then you will create a preliminary typed works cited page for a daily grade. ***I will grade these thoroughly, correcting any errors. Correctly worded works cited entries are vital to completing the internal documentation correctly. Writing  Once you have your information, have it organized per paragraph (highlighting), and have correctly written work-cited entries, you are ready to begin the first draft.  Introductory Paragraph 1. Begin your paper in an interesting way. (See “Leads in Expository Writing” handout online.) 2. The paragraph should then introduce your chosen person. 3. Finally the last sentence should be your thesis statement, which should mention the paper’s three main areas.  First Body Paragraph(s) 1. Should have a clear topic sentence which introduces this area’s focus – the interesting biographical information before fame 2. Then include paraphrased and quoted material from your sources (the photocopies/printouts), along with any of your conclusions and commentary on the material about their biographical background. Be sure to document all borrowed information either paraphrased or quoted. 3. End this section with some sort of conclusion statement or better yet a transition into the next area.  Second Body Paragraph(s) 1. Begin with a clear topic sentence introducing this section’s focus – the reason that your chosen person is famous. 2. Then include paraphrased and quoted material from your sources (the photocopies/printouts), along with any of your conclusions and commentary on the material about their famous activities. Be sure to document all borrowed information either paraphrased or quoted. 3. End this section with some sort of conclusion statement or better yet a transition into the next area.  Third Body Paragraph (s) 1. Begin with a clear topic sentence introducing this section’s focus – the way your chosen person has or has not brought their American dream to reality. 2. Then include paraphrased and quoted material from your sources (the photocopies/printouts), along with any of your conclusions and commentary on the material about the way they will be remembered. This section will probably include more of your conclusions than the other two sections. Be sure to document all borrowed information either paraphrased or quoted. 3. End this section with some sort of conclusion statement.  Conclusion Paragraph 1. Review the researched material without being too repetitious and draw logical conclusions about your chosen person based on the source material. 2. End the paper in such a way that it seems finished/concluded – not just stopped. 3. Do not include new information in this paragraph. Documenting  When you use a source’s exact words, you must use quotation marks, and documentation must be done at the end of any sentence containing a full or even partial direct quotation. If you do not document here it is plagiarism.  Be sure that when you paraphrase, you use your words to give the source information. If you use the source’s words – even in part – without using quotation marks, it is plagiarism. Each sentence with paraphrased information must include parenthetical documentation.  ALL BORROWED MATERIAL MUST BE DOCUMENTED – BOTH PARAPHRASED AND QUOTED

Example Quote: Martin Luther King left a “legacy of anticipated opportunity” (Smith 3). Example Paraphrasing: Martin Luther King was poised to take on a new leadership role as he led non-violent demonstrations on a bus boycott in December 1955 (“King” Encyclopedia 234).

Editing & Revision  You will self-edit your first draft by completing color-coding steps.  You will then revise and correct this draft and complete a typed 2nd draft.  You will participate in peer evaluation of the second draft and will need to have a peer signature on the editing sheet that will be provided.

Turning It All In  You must turn in your paper in a folder with pockets and brads.  All process must be included. The order is below: *Front Pocket – Highlighted sources (photocopies/print outs) *Brads – Typed final copy with typed final works cited page Size 12 font & 1.5 or double spacing *Back Pocket - In the following order: 1) Typed Draft with Corrections and Revisions, 2) First Rough Draft and 3) Graded Works Cited Page

FINAL DRAFT DUE DATE: