REFERENCE BOOK ASSIGNMENT

PREQUISITE

All research must be conducted at a library reference department. 

All submissions must be typed or word-processed.


ASSIGNMENT
STEP ONE: SELECTING A THESIS TOPIC/GENERATING IDEAS

You are going to research a person.  Successful completion of this assignment will include the following:

• Write the names of two possible biographical topics (people) whom you may be able to find information about in the Library Reference collection (e.g. not Joe, your neighborhood barber) on the index cards.

• On the back of the each card, write a list of words that you would use to describe that person. 

• Write as many words as you can (KEYWORDS). They may assist you in the research process

***INDEX CARDS***  EXAMPLE

FRONT OF CARD

Pablo Picasso

BACK OF CARD

Artist	Guernica
Painter	Man & a goat
Sculptor	Catalan
Spanish	Paloma Picasso
Cubism	Blue period
20th Century	Vallauris

STEP TWO:  THE RESEARCH PROCESS--VISITING THE LIBRARY

Go to the library and research your topic. Use ONLY the Reference Collection.  

NOTE: DO NOT USE THE INTERNET OR MAGAZINES!  You may NOT use a standard encyclopedia, such as the Britannica, World Book, etc.

Review the following section to help stimulate the research process:

• Using the Library and the Internet (pp.361-365)

You will need 2-3 sources for your paper.  

NOTE: You will NOT be penalized if you ask for assistance. Include this in your notes. If you get stumped, check with a Reference Librarian.  Include their name in your report

***THE REFERENCE JOURNAL***
Every time you go to the library you will need to write down a narrative description of how you found the information, (e.g. I went to the Knight Campus Library.  I spoke to the librarian.....").

• When did you go?

• At which library did you work on you assignment?

• What did you have to do (search on the computer, speak to the librarian)?

• With whom did you speak? 

• What did you find (titles of the books)? 

• What did you decide to use?

• How long did it take you?

STEP THREE:  THE RESEARCH PROCESS--DOCUMENTING YOUR SOURCES

***DOCUMENT YOUR SOURCES***

Note the sources you used for your paper 
You can use the citation form,  index cards or a separate piece of paper):***

Locate the following:

• Author(s) or editor(s) of book

• Author(s) of the specific article

• Title of article (e.g. Frank Sinatra)

• Title of the book itself (e.g. The American Heritage Dictionary)

• Edition

• Page numbers of your article

• Volume number

• Publication place (e.g. New York -- the city where it is published.  Note the state also if it is an unfamiliar location.  If more than one publication place is noted, you only need the first one listed.)

• Publisher

• Date of publication

Try to locate these additional elements.  It will help you to locate a particular book or subject more effectively

• Call number 

• Subject heading(s) 

• International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 

***MAKE A COPY OF THE ARTICLES.***

• Highlight significant points

• Make notes in the margins

NOTE: For assistance on writing notes, see pages 384-385.

STEP FOUR:  THE WRITING PROCESS--FREEWRITING

Review the following sections to help stimulate the writing process

• Brainstorming (p. 23, pp.360-363)

• Freewriting (p. 18)

• Questioning (p. 20)

• Making a list (p.21)

STEP FIVE:  THE WRITING PROCESS--THE FORMAL PAPER

Review the following section to help stimulate the formal writing process:

• Writing a Research Paper (pp.379-402)

• A Note on Plagiarism (p.385)

• Use and Acceptable Format and Method of Documentation (pp.386-390)--SEE ESPECIALLY CITATIONS IN PAPERS AND CITATIONS AT THE END OF A PAPER

• Model Paper (392-402)

STEP SIX:  THE END PRODUCT

NOTE:  I will inform you re: deadlines.  Late assignments will be reflected in the grading process, as a grade (10 point) penalty.

In order to complete the process you must provide the following:

• A one to three page paper.  The font size should be 12 pt at the largest.

• The main body of the paper (5 paragraphs) is biographical data explaining the significance of the individual (who, what, when, where, or why)

• List five major historical or worldwide events which occur during that author's lifetime

• Write a final paragraph describing why you chose this person.

• Your resources must be cited in the MLA (Modern  Language  Association) format.  You may wish to check out this sample Works Cited page.

• FAILURE TO DO SO IN FOR THE FINAL GRADED VERSION WILL LEAD TO A 25 POINT PENALTY.  

• All materials and notes related to this assignment. 

• ESPECIALLY NOTE ASTERISKED *** PORTIONS OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.

NOTE:  For more information on MLA Style, see: 
STRATEGIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

NOTE:  IF ANY OF THE ABOVE STEPS ARE NOT DOCUMENTED, THE ASSIGNMENT IS CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE, AND YOUR GRADE WILL BE SEVERELY AFFECTED.   IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT THE COMPLETE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT YOU WILL FAIL THE PROJECT.

Prior to submitting the assignment, please use your dictionary to verify spelling and make sure you review your papers for errors.  

 

Fundamentals of Writing	Home Page	Strategies for Success