User:Kpolvino

7th grade Research Paper - 2012
All year long, you have been working on texts that have required you to think about how choices can impact the person you become. Now, it is time to put all of that hard work to use and write a research paper based on answering that very question: How can one's choices impact the kind of person they become?

The paper seems daunting now, but by working on each section one at a time at first, you will have it written in no time!

Due Dates for all 5 Parts(Dates are subject to change)


 * Part 1 due   =
 * May 16, 2012 (Wednesday) - 705 and 704
 * May 17, 2012 (Thursday) - 721


 * Part 2 due =
 * May 16, 2012 (Wednesday) - 705 and 704
 * May 17, 2012 (Thursday) - 721


 * Part 3 due   =
 * May 23, 2012 (Wednesday)


 * Part 4 due  =
 * May 29, 2012 (Tuesday)


 * Part 5 due  =
 * June 4, 2012 (Monday)

Requirements
The research paper must be a minimum of 10 Pages.

The formatting of your paper should include 1" margins all around the sides. Type should be in a 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

You must:


 * Use at least one book or story for each section (5 books or stories minimum).


 * Be sure that your writing answers the question of the section for which you are writing it.


 * Use at least 2 quotes per section.


 * Include your own ideas and thoughts - do not simply summarize the texts.


 * Keep your writing formal - refrain from using personal pronouns.

At the end of your paper, you must include a bibliography (Works Cited page). We will have a refresher course on how to properly cite and record all sources you use in your paper.

Task
This research paper should answer this year's essential question: How do one's choices impact the kind of person they become?

You can use all essays that you wrote during the year, including the Lincoln essay.

You must use books and stories that were read this year.

Breakdown
Part 1 — 2 pages

How do one’s choices impact the kind of person one becomes?


 * Hero? Villian?  Something in between?


 * Define what makes a person fit into one of these labels

Idea Starter: Do choices define who you are?

Part 2 — 2 pages

'''Do the choices people make define who they are? Does it take many choices to make you a certain kind of person?'''


 * Be specific. Develop Part 1 ideas in this section.

Idea Starter: How does one decide what choices to make?

Part 3 - 2 pages

How and why does morality play a role in one’s choices?


 * Consider Kohlberg’s Stages of Morality

''Idea Starter: How can you discuss a character’s choice through Kohlberg’s Stages of Morality? Are all choices moral?''

Part 4 - 2 pages

Do choices actually impact someone?


 * Refer to novels and stories that you read in the past, did the choices characters made, impact other characters?

Idea Starter: How do others impact our choices?

Part 5 — 2 pages

The Power of one person’s choice.


 * How do one’s choices impact others around them?


 * How does that have an impact on the other individual?

Idea Starter: How do the character’s choices impact their world around them or other characters?

Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
Stage 1 - Makes choices based on fears
 * Will I be punished?

Stage 2 - Choices are made based on reciprocity
 * What's in it for me? Does the other person deserve it?

Stage 3 - Choices are made to receive approval from others "Good boy, good girl"
 * Will my friends and family approve?

Stage 4 - Choices are made based on laws of the land and/or religion
 * Is it against the law or my religion?
 * Is it right according to my religion?

Stage 5 - Based on fairness, justice, and truth. The choice benefits many.
 * Is it the right thing to do, even if it is against the law?
 * Can a greater good come from this action?

Writing Tips
1.	Do not use “I.”

2.	Do not use “I think,” “I feel,” “I believe,” “In my opinion,” “I agree with/that,” or “I disagree with/that.” Remember: Do NOT use “I”!

3.	Do not use “you.”

4.	Do not write fragments (incomplete thoughts).

5.	Do not write run-on sentences (fused sentences, comma splices, etc.).

6.	Make sure tense of words agrees from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph (especially verbs!). Tense = singular/plural and past/present

7.	Make sure each pronoun (he, she, they, them, his, us, etc.) is first introduced/identified by an antecedent and that it AGREES, in tense, with its antecedent!

8.	Be careful with commas -- “Rule of Thumb”: Often, a comma belongs where a natural pause would be if you were reading the sentence aloud.

9.	Spell all words correctly (use a dictionary!).

10.	Remember that capitalization counts in spelling!

11.	Write complete paragraphs! Make sure each paragraph has:
 * an effective Topic Sentence *
 * strong supporting sentences
 * an effective Concluding Sentence!