Dorman High School English Department

Dorman High School
English Department
Miss Madonna
Style Guide
Table of Contents
Research Paper Format
Rules for Outlining
Plagiarism
:
Avoiding Plagiarism
Documentation
Works Cited Sample
MLA Style Sample
Language Conventions
The Basic Essay Structure
Research Paper Writing Rubric
Research Paper Format
Basic Guidelines: Recommendations here are based on the MLA
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Silth Edition. It is
irnportant to note, however, that individual instructors or
departments may vary from these recommendations somewhat and
that it is always wise to consult with your instructor before formatting
and submitting your work. In all cases, follow the guidelines that you
have been given by your instructor.
Paper: Use white, twenty-pound, B th by 11 inch paper.
Margins: Except for page numbers (see below), leave one-inch
margins all around the text of your paper-- left side, right side, top
and bottom. Paragraphs should be indented half an inch (single tab);
blocked quotations should be indented an inch (double tab) from the
left margin.
Font Use a 12 point type and a standard/ non cursive font, such as
Times New Roman.
Spacingr The entire paper must be double-spaced including blocked
quotations, notes, and the list of works cited.
Heading and Title: Follow Utle page format. If you do not
create a separate title p?ge, At the top left corner of the first page,
type your name, your instructors name, the course name, and the
date. Double space these lines.
Numbering: Number all pages, including the first page, with a
heading that includes your last name and the page number:
Rodriguez L2. Place this heading in the upper right hand corner, 0.5"
from the top of tne page.
Outline: An outline will help you to get an overview of your paper
and figure out how each of its sections relates to the others. It will
make it easier for you to keep track of the important aspects of your
topic and focus your research on relevant points. It will also help you
make sure that your argument follows logically from the facts,
information, and opinions found during your research. (See Example)
Underlining and ltalics: MLA style prefers underlining the tiUe of
major works (novels, playq newspapers, magazines, CDs) over the
use of italics. Minor works (poems, short stories, songs) are put in
quotation marks. s
Rules for Outlining
1. outlines have a sequential, progressive structure, from left to right
and from top to bottom in the following order:
Roman numerals
Capital (Latin) letters
Arabic numerals
Lower-case (Latin) letters
2. Each of the 4 categories above is in its own column (usE TABS!)
3. Each line begins with a capital letter; no periods at the end of a
line.
4. No complete sentences; use onlv single words or short phrases (2
or 3 words)!
5. we dont open a category if we only have one point to make. (we
must have two or more points to make in any given category.)
otherwise, subsume a single point into the category immediately
above or below.
6. use "parallel structuring," if possible. (It's easier to do and easier
for your reader to understand.) See example below
Native American Medicine: A Comparison of Three Healing plants
f.Introduction
IL
Echinacea
A. Plant description
B, Active compounds
C. Dangers/ side effects
III. Goldenseal
A. Plant description
B. Active compounds
C. Dangers/ side effects
IV. Red Clover
A. Plant description
B. Active compounds
C. Dangers/ side effects
V. Conclusion 6
Plagiarism
Student writers are cautioned to be scrupulously honest in their
writing. They are obliged to write their papers themselves, and they
are not to hand in work that has been so extensively revised by
tutors, friends, or parents, that it is no longer truly their own work.
BUHS will not excuse, condone, or ignore plagiarism. Offenders may
reeeive severe penalties, including immediate failure for the
assignment, immediate failure in the course, and a referral to the
Discipline Office.
EXAMPLES:
O
Using all or paft of another writer's work, word for word, without
quotation marks and proper acknowledgement.
CI Closely paraphrasing the work of another writer without proper
acknowledgement. (Cannot be too close to the original.)
'.
acknowledgement.
O
Copying the composition of another student or allowing another
student to copy one's own composition.
O Submitting a composition that has been written or significantly
revised by another person.
O Receiving assistance in excess of acceptable tutorial limits. (A
relative or a friend wrote some or most of your paper.)
7
Avoiding Plagiarism
Academic writing in American institutions is filled with rules writers often do not
know how to follow. A working knowledge of these rules, however, is critically
important; inadvertent mistakes can lead to charges of plagiarism, or the
unacknowledged use of someone else's words or ideas. A charge of plagiarism can
have severe consequences.
Since teachers and administrators may not distinguish between deliberate and
accidental plagiarism, the heart of avoidinq plagiarism is to make sure you give
credit where it is due. This may be credit for something someone said, wrote, emailed, drew, or implied.
when to qi ve credit
Need to Document
No Need to Document
When you are using or referring to
someone else's words or ideas from a
magazine, book, newspaper, song, TV
program, movie, Web po9e, computer
program, letter, adveftisement, or any other
medium
When you are writing your
own experiences, your own
observations, your own insights,
your own thoughts, your own
conclusions about a subject
When you are using
When you use information gained
through interviewing another person
"common knowledge"
-
When you copy the exact words or a
"unique phrase" from somewhere
folklore, common sense
observations, shared information
within your field of study or cultu
group
When you reprint any diagrams,
illustrations, charts, and pictures
When you are compiling
generally accepted facts
When you use ideas that others have
given you in conversations or over e-mail
When you are writing up y(
own experimental results
Documentation
Crediting or acknowledging the source of material that you use in a
paper should be done with parenthetical citations. In general, you
must document all of the information that originates in someone
else's work. General information that can be found in many different
sources does not have to be cited. All of the following should be
accompanied by a reference to the original:
Direct quotations from any book, magazine, internet, or
personal
interview
Paraphrases and summaries
Information and ideas that are not common knowledge or are
not
available in a standard reference work
Any borrowed material that might appear to be your own if
there were no
citation
Documentation will take two forms in your final paper:
In the Works Cited section, where all the sources you have
used should be listed alphabetically, and
Within the text of your paper/ where parenthesesshould show
your readers where you found each piece of information that you
have used. These textual citations allow the reader to refer to your
Wofks Cited page(s) for further information.
Paraphrasing and Quoting Effectively:
When you paraphrase, you are choosing your own words over those
offered by the text or interviewee. Rather than directly quoting your
subject, you are offering a summary of what was said or written.
Paraphrasing is useful when no single statement stands out as a
strong usable quotation, or if the text or your interviewee has merely
stated the obvious or provided you with dates, numbers, locations, or
statistics.
Quote only words, phrases, lines and passages that are particularly
interesting, vivid, unusual or apt and keep all quotations as brief as
possible. If a quotation runs to more than four lines in your paper,
set it off from your text by beginning a new line indenting one inch
from the left margin and typing it double spaced without adding
quotation marks.
Citation Format: Follow the Ml-A parenthetical citation format as
follows. s
Citation Examples
Author's name in text
Magny develops this argument (67-69).
Quote embedded within text
According to some, dreams express "profound aspects of personality" (Foulkes 184),
though others disagree.
Author's name in reference
This argument has been developed elsewhere (Magny 67-69).
Two authors' names in text
Note: If a source has two or more authors, cite all names every time the reference
occurs, as indicated below.
Standfield and Jasper contend that the author uses the hardship of African American
women to illustrate their "growth without choice" (22L). This progression occurs
during different stages of the women's spiritual development. According to
Standfield and Jasper, even growth in the absence of choice can change the
character.
Two authors' names in reference
It has been contended that the author uses the hardship of African American women
to illustrate their "growth without choice" (Standfield and Jasper 221).
More than two authors' names in
text
Note: If the work has more than two authors, provide the first author's last name
followed by "et a1.," without any intervening punctuation or provide all of the last
names.
Farnswofth, Gadiey, Jeters, and Prince note the contrasts in the use of narrative
discourse (57).
Farnsworth et al. note the contrasts in the use of narrative discourse (57).
More than two authors' names in reference
It has been contended that the author uses the hardship of African American women
to illustrate their "growth without choice" (Farnsworth et al. 221).
Reference to material found in indirect source
Alain's words seem to disassociate admiration from pleasure (Magny 66). to
Name of author of multi-volume worlg volume and page
numbers in reference
As a painter Andrea was "faultless" (Freedberg 1: 9B).
Reference in text to whole volume
In his second volume, Freedberg gives an account of Andrea's whole painting
career.
Two works on list of works cited
Frye connects Burgess'A Clockwork Orange to romance tradition (Scripture 110).
Two locations
Bharati deals with this problem (136-3B, 166).
Two works cited
(Magny 69, Bharati L42).
Personal interuiew
Is it possible that dreams may express "profound aspects of personality" (Roberts
PI)?
Roberts advocates a national service program for high school students (PI).
Corporate author; computer network as source
As of August 1995, the resident population of the United States was estimated to be
262,569,A00 (United States Bureau of the Census). White advocates a national
service program for high sctrool students.
Literaly and reliflous works
In one of the most vivid prophetic visions in the Bible, Ezekiel saw "what seemed to
be four living creatur€sl" each with the faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle
(New Jerusalem Bible, Ezek. 1.5-10).
Note: In citing classical verse plays and poems omit page numbers altogether and
cite by division (act, scene, canto, boo( part) and line, with periods separating the
various numbers. In general use Arabic numerals rather then roman numerals for
division and page numbers.
Brought to you by MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
rI
Works Cited Sample Entries
A Book by a Single Author
-
Fukuyama, Francis. Our Post-human Future: Consequences of the Biotechnoloqv
Revolution.
New York: Farrar,2A02.
A Book by Two or More Authors
Eggins, Suzanne, and Diana Slade. Analfzing Casual Conversation. London: Cassell,
1997.
Two or More Books by the Same Authors
(Note: Give the names in the first entry only. Type three hyphens followed by a
period in place of the names.)
Durant, Will, and Ariel Durant. The Aqe of Voltaire. New York: Simon, 1965.
---. A DualAutobiography. New York: Simon, L977.
A Book by a Corporate Author
Public Agendi Foundation. The Health Care Crisis: Containing Costs, Expandinq
Coverage. New
York: McGraw, L9992.
A Work in an Anthology
Allende, Isabel. "Toad's Mouth." Trans. Margaret Sayers Peden. A Hammock beneath
the
Mangoes: Stories frsm Latin America. Ed. Thomas Colchie. New York: Plume, L9992.
83-88.
An Afticte in a Reference Book
(Note: Def. 4b is the specific definition among several.)
A Translation
Beowulf. Trans. E. Talbot Donaldson. Ed. Nicholas Howe. New York: Norton, 2001.
A Multivolume Work
Lauter, Paul, et al., eds. The Health Anthologv of American Literature. 4th ed. 2 vols.
Boston:
Houghton, 2AA2,
An Article in a Magazine
Weintraub, Arlene, and Laura Cohen. "A Thousand-Year Plan for Nuclear Waste."
Business
Week 6 May 2002: 94-96.
A Film or Video Recording
Ifs
a Wondeful Life. Dir. Frank Capra. Ped. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel
Barrymore, and
Thomas Mitchell. RKO, 1946.
An Interuiew
Wiesel, Elie. Interview with Ted Koppel. Nightline. ABC. WABC, New York. 18 Apr.
20A2. n
Language Conventions
Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are expected throughout
the paper. If you are not sure about any of the foregoing, look it up;
do not just assume that your "guess" is right. When writing your
paper, be sure to avoid some of the pitfalls mentioned below:
S Contracted words like dont, can't, arent, I'll, they're, etc. must be
spelled
out as do not, cannot, are not,
I will, they are, etc.
S
Slang expressions or expletives are not allowed in the formal
paper, unless
their use is necessary to the tone or nature of the paper.
S
Maintain consistent verb tense throughout the paper except
where quoting
dictates otherwise. Maintain number agreement when using nouns and
pronouns.
O No strikeovers, messy erasures or aggressively white-out
areas.
Rewrite or
retype it!
S Use a combination of complex, compound and simple sentences
throughout
the paper. A preponderance of simple sentences results in a boring
and
choppy paper.
S
Use of scholarly vocabulary is mandatory. Refrain from using
)unk words"
such as stuff, really good, very nice, etc.
'*Dont agonize, organize."
-Florynce Kennedy r:
The Basic Essay Structure
The standard essay contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Introduction
The introduction paragraph draws the reader's interest, introduces the subject, and
establishes the argument that you will prove throughout the essay.
"The Hook" or Opening Sentence
The introduction paragraph begins with a "hook" or opening sentence. The opening
sentence should be a general statement, usually one or two sentences used to draw
the reader's interest. The statement must relate to the subject, and argument
presented in the essay. There are various ways in which you can create a hook or
opening sentence.
Here are some examples...
Begin with a Quotation. Make sure to follow-up with an explanation of its
relevance.
Begin with a question.
Begin with an acknowledgment of an opinion opposite to the one you plan to
take.
Begin with a very short narrative or anecdote that has a direct bearing on
your paper.
Begin with an interesting fact.
Begin with a definition or explanation of a term relevant to your paper.
Begin with ironv.
Begin with an analogy,
Background Information
The background information includes the essential knowledge required of the reader
in order to understand the argument presented in the essay. The information must
be brief, usually three to four sentences that clearly relate to the upcoming thesis
statement.
Thesis Statement
thesis - 1, A proposition stated or put fonarard for consideration, esp. one to be
discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections: He vigorously
defended his thesis on the causes of war. (Webster Dictionary of the English
Language, 2001)
The thesis statement is one of the greatest uniffing aspects of an essay. It should
act as mortar, holding together the various bricks of the paper. The thesis includes
the argument, and ways in which you will prove your position. Often a thesis
statement will be expressed in a sentence or two, and can 'tmap" the direction for
the essay's development. The thesis statement will make an assertion about a topic
and provide a defense for the argument. t+
A thesis statement, for example, might read;
Judy Syfer's essay, "I Want a Wife," exaggerates the marital expectations facing
women in our society today. The expectations for women include managing a
household, maintaining a career, and having a good relationship with a spouse.
In this example, the thesis statement suggests an obvious path for the development
of the paper with regard to "marital expectations." The first sentence of the thesis
statement includes the writer's argument, and the second sentence reveals the three
ways (household responsibilities, careers, and marital relationships) in which the
writer will prove his/her argument.
Helpful tips:
Do not simply state the obvious.
Do not begin with, "In this essay, I will discuss..."
Give a reason why or how we can accept the thesis statement:
It should be focused and specific enough to be proven within the
boundaries of the paper.
Introduction Paragraph: Student Sample (lou' Grade)
A Lasting Influence
According to Webster's Dictionary, "Pop Art is art in which commonplace objects
are used as subject matter and are often physically incorporated in the work." The movement
reacted against that of the symbolic world of Abstract Expressionism and presefited pieces
direclly related to the moment. These pop artists acted on impulse and had no preconceived
way of painting creating a vast range of diversity. When a pop artist was asked what Pop Art
is trying to say, he replied
"I don't know." This
same artist became known for his evasive
answers in interviews and through his art, was catapulted to a new level of stardom. During
the 1960s the forefront of the Pop Art movement emerged, Andy Warhol used his innovative
design, rejection of past conformities, and radical lifestyle to create a lasting impression on
the American culture.
15
The Body Paragraphs
The purpose of having body paragraphs in the essay is to explain and develop the
points presented in the thesis statement. Each paragraph must have a clear and
focused point support and prove the thesis statement.
Topic Sentence
Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence. The topic sentence includes a
transition from the previous paragraph, introduces the topic of the paragraph, and
references the thesis. Topic sentences are usually written in one to two sentences.
Discuss Topic
Provide brief discussion of the topic of the paragraph.
Evidence
Provide relevant textual evidence that can support the topic of the paragraph, and
prove the thesis statement. The evidence can be presented as a quotation or
paraphrase. You
may incorporate multiple examples in the body paragraph; however. always provide
analysis.
Analysis
Analyze the evidence to demonstrate how the topic of the paragraph proves the
thesis statement. Do not assume that your reader can create meaning from the
evidence; therefore,
explain the relation between the evidence and what you are trying to prove.
The concluding sentence summarizes the main point of the body paragraph in
support of the thesis statement.
Helpful tips:
Use your outline as a-flexible guide
Build your essay around points that support the thesis statement. (i.e., do not
your
let
sources organize your paper)
Integrate your sources into your discussion
Summarize, analyze, explain, and evaluate published work rather than merely
reporting it
l6
Body Paragraph: Student Sample (1&1Cralg)
artists
pop
First, Andy Warhol gai"ea the public eye through his art- Warhol and other
era with a
were moving away from an expressive abstract period and beginning a new
capitalist
modern design. "Pop Art was essentially a response to the blossoming post-war
Using
world of objects, signs, mass production and technological advances," (Webber 5)'
produced
everyday items such as Campbell Soup cans and Coca-Cola bottles, Warhol
(Webber 7)' Along
multiple recurring images that "echoed their assembly-line production"
the idea of
with other pop artists, Warhol rejected the originality of previous art and "attacked
(Webber 6)' Warhol
the work of art as the subjective and personal creation of an individual"
that essentially ended
introduced the use of silkscreen in Pop Art, and produced works of art
his subject matter,
the idea of an artist's work being his own personal creation. Regarding
when Warhol was asked about his Coca-Cola paintings, he explained:
What's great about this country is that America started the tradition
where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the
poorest. You can be watching TV and see coca-cola, and you know
just think,
ihat the President drinks Coke, LizTaylor drinks Coke, and
you can drink Coke, too (Goldsmith 8)
:
'Beqause of the equal availability of Coca-Cola to each person, Warhol chose to paint
of social
this common object for its influence and ability to reach individuals regardless
Marilyn Monroe to
status. Other Warhol images were painted pictures of celebrities from
interest' His
Jackie Kennedy, from Elvis Presley to John Wayne that caught the public's
of iconic figures demonstrated their popularity and reoccurring influence on
repetitive use
his own
society. Warhol's design gave the art of American Culture a new vision' He created
a Warhol
style with repetition and subjects that showed the world the meaning and depth
painting could offer.
17
The purpose of the conclusion paragraph is to emphasize the importance of the
thesis statement.
Restate the Thesis Statement
The conclusion paragraph should begin with a restatement of the thesis statement,
phrased differently than how it was presented in the introduction paragraph.
Summarize
Briefly summarize the main points of the essay. The main points presented in the
body paragraphs, in support of the thesis statement, should be reviewed and
summarized.
Analysis/Synthesis
Clarify any possible questions that the reader may have after reading the body
paragraphs. Address the importance and relevance of your argument.
Concluding Sentence
Provide a general statement that connects to the idea presented in the "hook" or
opening statement. For example, if the essay began with a quotation, the writer
should relate to or comment on the statement.
Conclusion Paragraph: Student Sample (1&r' Grade)
Andy Warhol was the face of a movement that influenced both the artistic and real
world. He brought about a new era embracing
a
radical change in American Culture. His new
style of art brought a new meaning to an everyday object or imilge. Warhol's-feelings against
previous conventional views of art and society alloweil the world to act more freely and
brought attention to social issues ofdistress. The artist's lifestyle created an age
of
experimentation which has influenced society today. attfro.rgh individuals consider Warhol's
work and behavior offensive, criticizinghis actions and rejecting his ideas during the Pop Art
Movement, he greatly impacted society and inspired changed in our American culture.