A Spartan’s Guide to

Writing Papers

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Table of ContentsResearch: Reading & Annotating Before Writing...........................................................................................................................2

Library-Approved Research Databases................................................................................................................................................2

Other Reliable Resources............................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Unreliable Resources.................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Annotating: Marking the Text & Writing in the Margins...........................................................................................................3

How to Mark the Text................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

The Three Ways to Put Research in Your Writing.........................................................................................................................5

Organizing an Essay.........................................................................................................................................................................................6

Introduction......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Part I: HOOK..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Part II: Background/Transitional Information.................................................................................................................................9

Part III. Thesis Statement........................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Body Paragraphs............................................................................................................................................................................................ 10

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Part I. Restatement of Thesis.................................................................................................................................................................11

Part II. Summary of Key Information.................................................................................................................................................11

Part III. Clincher........................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Transitional Expressions...........................................................................................................................................................................12

MLA Format....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

In-Text Citations........................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Setting Up Your Paper................................................................................................................................................................................14

Quick Reference Sheet............................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Works Cited Page......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Sample Paper.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18

2Research: Reading & Annotating Before Writing

Library-Approved Research Databases

Database Good for… Login/PasswordAZCIS College and career information camelbackhs/4azcis02

Cengage/Gale All subjects student (password only)ABC-Clio World and American history

informationphoenixstudent/phoenixstudent

Encyclopedia Britannica Basic information on any subject (i.e., what you would normally go

to Wikipedia for)

phoenixstudent/phoenixstudent

World Book Basic information on any subject (i.e., what you would normally go

to Wikipedia for)

phoenixstudent/phoenixstudent

Ebesco Host Newspaper and magazine articles on any topic

phoenixstudent/phoenixstudent

Teen Health and Wellness Diseases and health conditions phoenixstudent/phoenixstudentProquest Health SIRS

Knowledge SourceCurrent Issues phoenixstudent/phoenixstudent

Links to all the databases can be found on the library homepage: http://phoenixunion.org/Page/11603

Other Reliable Resources www.infoplease.com Any book available in the library Any website that ends in .gov Any newspaper website that exists in the real world (e.g., The New York Times, The Arizona Republic) Any website linked on the CBHS library webpage

Unreliable Resources - DO NOT USE! No matter how good your paper is, if you use on of the sources below, it is going in the trash!:

Wikipedia Yahoo! Answers or any other question/answer site Any website with animation, bright colors, or crazy fonts

3The Three Ways to Put Research in Your Writing

Direct Quote oCopying someone else’s writing word-for-word

oMust be in quotation marks or else it is plagiarism

o Quotes must have context either before or after. Who is saying this? Why are they saying it? Why should

we care what they have to say?

Original In your writingStudents frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final paper.

When speaking about the problems she saw in her students’ writing, high school teacher Ms. Jones said, “Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final paper” (Lester 5).

Summary oReading a larger piece of writing and taking out only the main ideas

oMust be in your own words

Original In your writingStudents frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes.

Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 5).

Paraphrase oPutting someone else’s ideas into your own words

Original In your writingStudents frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final paper.

Students often quote too much when they are researching, which means they end up with too many in their research paper (Lester 5).

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Organizing an EssayThe FLEE Map

Introduction

Body Paragraph 1Third most important

reason

Conclusion

Hook: Capture the reader’s attention (pages 5-6)

Background Information: Explain your hook or summarize the topic (use the 5 Ws) (page 7)

Thesis Statement: Re-state prompt along with your reasons (page 7)

Blue

Restatement of Thesis: Write your thesis again but in a new way (page 9)

Summary of Key Information: Include your most important or interesting information (page 9)

Clincher: End your paper with a satisfying statement (page 9)

Black

For the body paragraph structure, see page 8.

Body Paragraph 2Second most important

reason

Green

Body Paragraph 3Most important reason

Red

Black

5Introduction

The first paragraph of every essay is considered an introduction. There are generally three necessary parts to the introduction including the hook, the background/transitional information, and the thesis statement.

Part I: HOOKA hook is a statement that opens your essay, making the reader interested in your topic. A hook should arouse the reader’s interest and set the tone. The following are some examples of effective ways to get your readers’ attention.

1. QuotationStart with a famous quote that is related to your topic.Example: “A flute,” wrote an early nineteenth-century British critic, “is a musical weed which springs up everywhere” (Toff 56).

2. Framing GeneralizationGeneral statement that most people agree with and which includes the information to be presentedExample: Parents, teachers and students generally agree that A-hour classes are a valuable option in meeting credit requirements during high school.

3. Anecdote/Event/ScenarioTell a specific event or story that relates to the topic you are exploring.Example: A parent-teacher meeting was scheduled on Friday for the struggling student. The mother arrived, impeccably dressed, but indifferent to the lack of effort her child was expending in his calculus class. Without commitment from either the mother or the student, the teacher was unable to provide assistance towards graduation.

4. DefinitionUse this only if the definition is not obvious and your essay topic is unfamiliar to a general audience.Example: Oxford English Dictionary defines “shogunate” as . . . (70).

5. Statistic or FactStart with a statistic or fact from your research that will surprise your readers and make them interested in learning more about your topic.Example: The Center for Disease Control survey of more than 25,000 adults revealed that 55% do not exercise three times a week . . . (Runner’s World 12).

6. DescriptionPaint a picture in your readers’ minds with vivid imagery that will make them visualize and appreciate your topic before learning about it.Example: It has a body of bronze and wings made from razor blades, and it behaves so much like a bee that it can convince real ones to leave their hive in search of nectar. It is a robot built by Danish and American researchers who study how bees communicate (Scientific American 47).

67. Mystery/Intrigue

Talk about the subject without specifically naming it. Build up suspense before formally introducing your topic.Example: One of the deadliest weapons is not a gun, bomb, or knife. It does not require a license or background check to purchase. It is sold in most grocery stores and supermarkets.

8. MetaphorMake a comparison between your topic and something else to make it obvious to your reader your feelings (positive or negative) on the topic.Example: Education is the backbone of society. Without it, the structure of a country will become arthritic and destined to be cared for and directed by stronger, more capable entities.

9. ContradictionMake a statement that tells what your topic is and is not. This is a good way to show that you are familiar with multiple perspectives on the topic.Example: The traditional family is a fragile structure, but it is still a strong foundation for well-adjusted children. The familial structure needs a great deal of nurturing in order to survive the stresses placed upon it from the bombardment of daily impositions.

10. Dramatic or Eye-opening StatementShock your reader with a statement that will emphasize the severity or importance of the topic.Example: High school is nothing more than an unnecessary stress imposed on teenagers by a conspiracy of adults. At least that is what many, if not most, teens infer when they rail on about the imposition of academia on their all too important social calendars.

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Part II: Background/Transitional InformationIt may be difficult to distinguish exactly where your attention getter ends and your transitional information begins if the process has been done smoothly and correctly.

This part of your introduction should: Connect your attention getter to your thesis sentence Provide the author and title of the work (if writing about literature) Identify or define unfamiliar terms Introduce your topic (if not specifically named in the hook) Narrow down from a general statement to your specific thesis statement Show the relationship between your hook (which most people can relate to) and your thesis statement (which is

unique to your paper)

Part III. Thesis Statement A thesis statement focuses your writing. It tells your reader exactly what your topic is and what each part of your

essay will discuss. Your thesis statement is a combination of the topic about which you are writing and your opinion. It must be a complete sentence. Thesis = specific topic + specific opinion It can never be a question!

Examples: A thorough examination of the research reveals that successful students work diligently outside of class, are

involved in extracurricular activities, and have supportive adults to mentor and guide them.

Sea World has experienced a decrease in guest attendance because of rising ticket prices, inclement weather

in the Southern California region, and especially its controversial treatment of its captive animals.

Academic talent, diverse campus involvement, and a history of athletic excellence are three key factors

influencing the success of high school athletes recruited into college programs.

Because of the hardships they have endured and their potential for success, it is imperative that more of the

federal budget is spent supporting homeless youth through the creation of free recreational sports programs,

easily accessible hot lunch options, and a sustainable mentorship program.

8Body Paragraphs

Transition

Topic SentenceEvidence (summary, quote, or paraphrase from your

research showing your thesis is true) (Citation).

Explanation of information (how does it prove your topic

sentence?)

Evidence (summary, quote, or paraphrase from your

research showing your thesis is true) (Citation).

Explanation of information (how does it prove your topic

sentence?)

Evidence (summary, quote, or paraphrase from your

research showing your thesis is true) (Citation).

Explanation of information (how does it prove your topic

sentence?)

Concluding Sentence

The primary cause of global warming is humans. The

burning of coal and fossil fuels are the primary releasers of

hazardous greenhouse gases (Jackson 22). Humans are

releasing these harmful chemicals into the air everyday, which

is creating these problems in the atmosphere. In addition, one

naturalist said, “Dealing with global warming doesn't mean we

have all got to suddenly stop breathing. Dealing with global

warming means that we have to stop waste” (Attenborough).

He and other experts seem to agree that global warming is

caused by human selfishness and materialism. Lastly, the vast

majority of scientists agree that climate-change is caused by

humans and it only getting worse (Dizon). This consensus

shows that people need to stop questioning global warming

and start finding solutions. It is important that humans realize their role in the climate-change process, so they can make positive changes for future generations.

For transition words and phrases, see pages 10-11.For how to cite information, see pages 13-15.

Explanation Sentence StartersThis shows that…This proves that…This suggests that…This means that…This is important because…This is significant because…In other words...

9Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph must include the following three parts.

Part I. Restatement of Thesis You should never use exactly the same words in your conclusion as you have used in your introduction. The conclusion must not introduce new material that you have not already discussed in your essay.

Part II. Summary of Key InformationDo not restate all the points you have already made in your essay. Emphasize the most important points you want your reader to remember.

Part III. Clincher The clincher is a statement at the end of your essay that leaves the reader with something to remember. It should also tie your ideas together, and it need not be only a single sentence, nor only one strategy. Examples of clinchers include the following:

A prediction A universal statement about the subject that applies to most people A recommendation or call to action A quotation that is relevant to your topic A conclusion or evaluation drawn from the essay An anecdote or metaphor (If you began your essay with this strategy extend it and finish your essay by wrapping it

up with the same thread.) A remaining problem—pointing to future issues if current circumstances are not addressed Do not ask the reader a question!

10Transitional Expressions

Transitional expressions help to connect your ideas so that the relationship between ideas is clear to the reader. Here are examples of these expressions.

If you want to… Try using…

show addition

also, and, and then, as well, besides, beyond that, first (second, third, last, and so on), furthermore, in

addition, additionally, moreover, next, what is more, again, equally important, indeed, likewise, plus,

together with, or, similarly, jointly, another, equally important, not only… but also

show subtraction

but, nevertheless, still, however, on the other hand, it is true, on the contrary, instead of, against, or, either…

or,less than, different from, other, neither…nor,

separately, yet, with the exception, barely, hardly, just, almost, practically, not, in contrast to, instead,

although, other than, individually, by groups, even though, after all, and yet, notwithstanding, (at the same time, however), although this may be true,

otherwise, on the other hand

show comparison/similarity also, as well, both, in the same way or manner, likewise, neither, similarly, in comparison,

show contrast/difference

although, be that as it may, but, even though, however, in contrast, nevertheless, on the contrary, on

the other hand, yet, whereas, after all, at the same time, conversely, for all that, in spite of that,

nonetheless, notwithstanding, still yet,

concede a point or principlecertainly, granted that, of course, no doubt, to be

certain, to be sure, surely, it is obvious that, after all, although this may be true, at the same time, naturally,

emphasize an important point

above all, especially, in fact, in particular, one such, indeed, probably, most likely, importantly, most

important, of prime or major importance, specifically, mainly, in any event, particularly, specifically, the basic

cause, the biggest advantage, the chief factor, principally, especially significant, valuable to note, a

key feature, special attention should be paid, a major concern

demonstrate or describe locationabove, beside, below, beyond, further, here, herein, inside, near, nearby, next to, on the far side, outside,

to the south (west, east, north)

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give a reasonas, because, for, since, however, for this reason, for

this purpose, to this end, with this object, in order that, ad that, another reason, in response to, why, for

qualify a point perhaps, maybe, it is possible that, possibly

indicate effect or result

and therefore, because of ____, as a consequence, as a result, consequently, for this reason, hence,

therefore, thus, accordingly, hence, in short, then, truly, for this reason, to this end, with this purpose, so

that, as determined by, by this, satisfactorily, completely, partially, in part, a number of, there upon,

thereby,

summarize points

all in all, finally, in brief, in other words, on the whole, in short, thus, to conclude, to sum up, to summarize,

on the whole, for this reason, perhaps, in general, as a result of, supposedly

indicate a point in time

after a while, after, afterward, at last, at this time or at present, briefly, currently, momentarily, during,

eventually, finally, gradually, immediately, in the future, later, meanwhile, now, recently, soon,

suddenly, when, before, in the meantime, lately, shortly (after), soon, then, while, presently, since,

temporarily, thereafter, until, yet at the same time, at length, when, as soon as, as often as, as long as, recently, from…to…, today, in the same period,

sometimes, past, initially, erratically, daily, weekly, monthly, etc.

give an examplefor example, for instance, in particular, in this manner,

namely, that is, to illustrate, in general, for… then, statistically, incidentally, specifically

reiterate an important point in other words, that is, to put it another way

show frequency

always, constantly, several, usually, often, one or two, many, few, fewer, more, rarely, some, somewhat, only,

throughout, each, never, alternately, all, every, any, most, frequently, infrequently, a percentage of

show restriction or uncertainty provided that, in case that, in the event that, even if, as if, as though, if only

show place or order

beyond, in, at, (all prepositions), opposite to, first, second, third, in relation to, what, where, at first, at the

inception (beginning), pre-, in the end, post-, finally, here, there, nearby, adjacent to, on the opposite side,

contingent to, over, under, neighboring, juxtaposed/juxtaposition

illustrate a point or idea as a case in point, as an illustration, for example, for instance, in particular, one such, yet another

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MLA Format

Setting Up Your PaperFollow these steps to set up your paper before you begin typing.

1. Click the Home tab and change the font to Times New Roman, size 12.2. Click the little arrow by the word Paragraph and change the line spacing to double. Make

sure ‘Before’ and ‘After’ are set to “0.”3. In the upper left hand corner, type your MLA heading: your name, my name, class name

(English 3), and the date (day, month spelled out, full year, no commas). 4. Click the Insert tab. Click Page Number -> Top of Page. Insert the page number in the

right hand corner. Type your last name and a space in front of the page number. Change the font to Times New Roman 12.

5. Click Page Layout ->Margins. Make sure the margins are set to 1” all around (normal margins).

Shortcut: When you open Microsoft Word and click ‘New’, choose ‘MLA Style Research Paper’. Before typing, check that each of the directions above has been followed.

Quick Reference Sheet

Ramirez 1

Jose Ramirez

Ms. Jones

Computers 93, Period 2

25 October 2016

Evaluating Electronic Information

In today’s electronic age it is difficult to determine whether or not internet sources are valid

or not. Also confusing is what rules must be followed to avoid copyright infringement of information

1”

SAMPLE½ ”

1”

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In-Text Citations

Parenthetical Citation for Books

There is no punctuation between the author's name and the page number(s). The period in the sentence goes after the parenthesis.

Example Using a Direct Quote: “The first IBM PC came onto the market in 1981. The operating system was called Disk Operating Software which was also called DOS for short” (Wells 125).

Examples of Paraphrasing: Personal computers with DOS have been available to the public since 1981.The first one was produce by IBM (Wells 125).

According to Wells, personal computers with DOS have been available to the public since 1981.The first one was produce by IBM (125).

Parenthetical Citations for Internet

Because Internet sources typically have no page or paragraph numbers, cite the author's name whenever possible or use the source's title (or a shortened version of the title).

Example: Many early home computers were not purchased for “serious” work (History).

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Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page (Books)

Format:

Author’s last name, Author’s first name. Title. City: Publisher, Year. Print.

Example:

Wells, Dolores. Computer Concepts: BASIC. Boston: Course Technology, 2010. Print.

Works Cited Page (Website)

Format:

“Title of Article.” Name of site. Name of Publisher (if any), Date of Posting or Revision.

Web. Date of Access.Example:

“History of Operating Systems.” Computer History A Historical Look Back. James Jones,

09 August 2012. Web. 10 May 2014.

Works Cited Page (Online Video)

Format:

Editor, author, or compiler name(if available). "Posting Title." Name of Site. Name of date of 

     resource creation (if available). Web. Date of access.Example:

Ramirez, John. “The Amazing Computer.” YouTube. 10 April 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.

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Ramirez 3

Works Cited

“History of Operating Systems.” Computer History A Historical Look Back. James Jones,

09 August 2012. Web. 10 May 2014.

Ramirez, John. “The Amazing Computer.” YouTube. 10 April 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.

Smith, John. Personal interview. 19 May 2014.

Wells, Dolores. Computer Concepts: BASIC. Boston: Course Technology, 2010. Print.

1”½ ”

Works Cited Page (Personal Interview)

Format:

Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Date of Interview.

Example:

Smith, John. Personal interview. 19 May 2014.

SAMPLE

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Sample Paper

Jack Spratt

Gallett/DeCross

English 3

4 January 2016

Cats and Dogs

“A dog is a man’s best friend.” That common saying may contain some truth, but

dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many

people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make

excellent house pets because they are good companions, they fit well into any household,

and they don’t require much care.

In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are

affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted or scratched under the chin. Who

can resist a purring cat? If they’re not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite

playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a

string. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments,

just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks.

Cats will even fetch!

In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs,

cats to not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don’t even meow very often. Cats

also don’t often have “accidents.” Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and

most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the

concept when shown the box, and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, an owners

must make provisions for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house

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will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort of course, cats

can be de-clawed.

Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of

care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play.

Also, they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless

procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never

necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more

particular about personal cleanliness than people are.

Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living

quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However,

many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love

the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal house pet.