Updated 08/23/07

The Research Process...

At Hollywood High School, the senior project involves an exciting process of discovery and understanding. Students are challenged to investigate various subject matters for study and are encouraged to go beyond regurgitation and create projects and essays that are analytical or argumentative. In order to assist our students in conducting research, the HHLibrary has created a website that will provide an Overview of the Research Process and give links to online sites that may prove helpful.

 

Senior Project Overview

The Research Paper
Sources
Citing Sources, Plagiarism & Copyright

Physical Project:
Resources & Contacts

 

Senior Project Overview

The Senior Project acts as a bridge between high school and college and/or a career. Each student is expected to write a research paper on a chosen topic and apply the knowledge they gain in a 20-hour independent project. At the end of the semester, students present what they learned to a panel of judges and turn in a portfolio of work to their teacher.

The Five Major Parts of the Senior Project:

  1. Letter of Intent - A business letter outlining the plans for the Senior Project.
  2. Benchmark Essays
    • Autobiography
    • Word Definition
    • Compare & Contrast
    • Cause & Effect
  1. Physical Project - A 20-hour commitment to an activity that aligns with the senior project subject matter.
  2. 7-10 page paper - The written work. (*The most important part of the project.) Must use MLA format.
  3. Presentation- A 7-10 minute presentation of findings to a panel of judges and peers. Must use PowerPoint.

Students are encouraged to select topics that accomplish one or more of the following:

  1. maintian interest and enthusiasm
  2. lend themselve to active participation
  3. demonstrate problem solving
  4. stretch the student intellectually
  5. solve a community problem
  6. relate to a societal issue
  7. involve a volunteer work
  8. connect across the curriculum
  9. relate to a future career

Examples of student work

 

Back To Top

 

How to write a Research Paper

Researching overview

  1. Determine your topic, making sure it is not too broad or narrow. Determine if your paper is Argumentative (Thesis Statement) or Analytical (Research Question).
    1. OWL - Argumentative (Thesis Statement) or Analytical (Research Question)
  2. Pre-search - Familiarize yourself with your topic. Read an article from an encyclopedia to get an overview of the topic.
  3. Determine your sub-topics. Review encyclopedia articles, or books to see how the topic is broken up to help you determine your sub-topics
  4. Select your resources. Remember you are never committed to one and can delete or add a resource at another time
  5. Read and take notes
  6. Organize your notes
  7. Write your rough draft and revise
  8. Word process your final draft
    1. Use MLA Format only
      1. Some key rules in formatting
        1. Font: use standard, easy to read font (e.g., Times Roman or Courier) and size (12 point)
        2. Standard, white 8 ½ x 11 inch paper.
        3. Leave only one space after period or other punctuation marks.
        4. Print only one side of paper.
        5. Double-space the text of your paper.
        6. Set the margin of all sides to 1 inch.
        7. For more comprehensive information, use this link - The OWL at Purdue
      2. Sample 1 Source: Diana Hacker (What the paper should look like)
      3. Sample 2 Source: Dallas County Community Colleges (What the paper should look like)
  9. Write a bibliography
  10. Submit to teacher

Thoroughly understand what you are being asked to do and define your topic to meet the requirements of your assignment:

  • Understand the assignment
  • Find a topic and brainstorm ideas
  • Narrow and/or broaden the topic as necessary
  • Get an overview to help determine key names, dates, and concepts
  • Decide whether or not the assignment will be Argumentative (Thesis Statement) or Analytical (Research Question)
Argumentative Papers Analytical Papers

*A persuasive essay. A paper that takes a stand on an issue and uses evidence to back-up your stance.

  • Requires a Thesis Statement

*Uses evidence to analyze facets of an issue. You do research to become an expert on a topic so that you can restructure and present the parts of the topic from your own perspective.

  • Requires a Research Question

Different Types of Paper (Argumentative & Analytical)

  1. Exploratory/ perspective - indicates an informative, exploratory perspective, representing a variety of viewpoints related to a particular issue.
  2. Persuasive (maintains and supports a conclusion) - makes a forceful statement using proof in an attempt to persuade or convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or position. This type of paper requires objectivity, honest portrayal of evidence, and support for the position advocated.
  3. Comparison/ Contrast - compares and contrasts one 'thing' to another.
  4. Problem/ solution - informatively addresses a problem, previews several solutions, and then endorses one.
  5. Parallel - draws an inference or prediction based upon similarities of events or conditions.

Back To Top

Sources

When you are searching for information on your topic, you can access a variety of resources that can help meet your needs. The two types of Formats that are available are Print and Non-Print (Electronic) sources.

  • Print formats: books, references, magazines, newspapers, maps, charts, etc.
    • ACCENT (HHS Online Book Catalog)
  • Non-Print (electronic) formats: online/electronic resources, videos, software, etc...

Back To Top

Citing Sources, Plagiarism & Copyright

Don't forget to cite your sources! When you paraphrase an author or quote an author directly, you MUST credit the source. You must also cite another person's work if you use his or her ideas, information, data, evidence or style of presentation. When in doubt, CITE!

pdf

*OSLIS Middle and High School: MLA Citation Maker
*Son of Citation Machine: Citation Machine

UCLA's website offers a nice little tutorial on Citing Sources.

Students should use either MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association) styles when writing papers.

MLA (Useful Links) APA (Useful Links)

Back To Top

Physical Project: Resources & Contacts

This is a list of contact names and numbers that could be used by our senior project students as sources for various topics. The contacts and organizations below are familiar resources that can be useful in the "physical" component of the senior project.

  • DoSomething.org (This is a great web resource that can help you get ideas on what you can do for your Physical Project)
  • Animals
  • Arts
    • Music production: Richard Harris. Please contact Mrs. L Harris (HHS teacher) for contact information.
  • Automotive
  • Business/Finance
    • D.Burnham - HHS math teacher. Has worked for financial institutions in both Wall Street and the Federal government. Contact through Hollywood High School.
  • Education/Higher Ed.
  • Environment
  • Health and social welfare
  • Medicine
  • Military
    • R.Smithberg - HHS computer teacher. US Navy Seal experience. Contact through Hollywood High School.
  • Occupations
  • Science
  • Social/ Legal issues
  • Sports
  • Technology
    • R.Smithberg - HHS computer teacher. Has extensive knowledge of computer technology. Contact through Hollywood High School.
  • Youth

Back To Top