Research Unit

Use the following links as reference tools for your research work 

• Discovery Research Project Guidelines
• Discovery Research Topics page 
• The Research Project -- putting the pieces together -- this 12-minute video explains how to complete a research project from beginning to end

Mini-lessons and helpful research sites

• Building the Research Project -- presentation
• BrainBoost -- advanced search by asking specific questions
• Citation Machine -- for help citing your sources
• In-text citation PowerPoint presentation
• In-text parenthetical citations by Duke University Libraries -- more help on citing facts in your paper
• Model outline -- for Discovery Research
• Model research paper
• Outline -- format and example
• Paraphrasing -- putting source information into your own words
• Plagiarism
• Research paper & Works Cited page checklist
• Source cards and content cards explanation -- document
• Source cards and content cards -- video
• Taking notes from a source PowerPoint presentation
• Thesis statement -- definition and examples
• Works Cited page entries -- MLA formats for various sources

  outline template

Daily Lessons and Activities

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9 -- research continued and source/content card check

Day 10 -- review thesis statement and outline

Day 11 -- Library research and outline work 

Day 12 -- Library research and outline work

Day 13 -- final source and content card check; outline work

Day 14 -- outline and research paper work; use this model paper as an example

Day 15 -- outline to paper model

Day 16 -- project issues and how to fix them

Day 17 -- continue work on the research paper

Day 18 -- review sample research papers and discuss problems and fixes

see model papers at this link

Days 19 & 20 -- Final research work: use this checklist to see that you have met all requirements