So What Is This All About?

You are about to begin an important part of your ninth grade
English curriculum:The Research Project! Years and years ago this
project was called a term paper. This kind of project is hard work,
but it can also be very interesting and challenging because each of
you will be writing about a topic that holds special interest for you.

The choice of the topic is yours although we reserve the right to
say “no” for any of the following reasons:Reason #1-the chosen
topic is considered to be in poor taste. Reason #2-the chosen topic
may be too hard or too broad. Reason #3-you may not have enough
varied sources from which you can draw information. Reason #4-
the chosen topic is one that is unacceptable to your parents.

The completed paper should be between 900 and 1100 words in
length. The final copy should be either typed or word-processed.
Please remember that this is your assignment, and that Mom or Dad
are not to be told that they have to type it for you.

When all of your material has been completed, you will submit
all of it for a grade. You will turn in a working bibliography and
working outline. You will turn in all of your note cards. You will
submit both a rough draft and a final copy of your paper. Caution: a
rough draft is not two copies of your final paper. Your final paper
will contain an outline, the text of the paper, footnotes (at least three
footnotes from three different sources), and a final bibliography.

Since you will be graded on your wise use of library time,
always come prepared to work on your paper. GOOD LUCK! We
know that you are about to learn a great deal about your chosen
topic. More importantly you are about to learn the valuable skill of
researching a topic and writing a paper. This skill will remain with
you for the rest of your life.

2