Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
Pennsylvania Core Standards:
CC.1.4.8.W
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
8th Grade Writing - Research Resources Lesson
Research Resources
Research resources are texts, both in print or online, that are used as sources of information. When writing a research report, use good sources that give you correct and updated information.
Appropriate and Credible Sources
Appropriate research sources are texts that are a good fit for the research purpose.
Credible research texts are sources of information that are believable and trustworthy.
Think about the following as you look for appropriate and credible research resources.
The source is actually related to the subject matter.
The author is an expert on the subject matter.
The source of information is unbiased about the subject matter.
The Web site is a reliable source, such as a research or government organization's Web sites (.gov, .org)
The Web site or print text is not an advertisement or a promotional material, as it can be biased.
The Web site is not a personal blog.
The source is recent and updated.
Quoting
Quoting a source is using the exact words from a source and giving credit to the author for the ideas.
Quotations must be small segments of the research sources and must match the words of the author(s).
In-text citation
An in-text citation is quoting an author in the body of your research paper.
For in-text citation, provide the name of the author and the page number of the source.
This is how you cite a work in the body of your text:
Provide the author’s name and put the page number in parenthesis.
Or put the author’s name and the page number in parenthesis.
The exact words from the source should be inside quotation marks.
Examples:
Gautam states that “lay out of words on the page” help create a picture for the reader (9).
Note that “lay out of words on the page” help create a picture for the reader (Gautam, 9).
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing from a source is repeating the ideas from a source using your own words. Credit to the author’s ideas is still provided.
These are some ways to paraphrase well.
Think about how you would retell the ideas in the text to a friend.
Try to remember what you have read about the source instead of looking at the source and retelling the ideas.
Use synonyms and related words to avoid using the exact wording from the source.
Take notes about the ideas relevant to your research beforehand, so you can look at the notes to paraphrase.
Remember to give credit to the source in the Works Cited page.
Works Cited Page
Works Cited Page lists the research resources used to write a report. It should appear at the end of the research paper.
These are some important points to consider while listing your research resource. When in doubt, look up a reference guide.
This is the MLA guide (8th edition) for formatting the Works Cited Page.
Magazine articles:
Last name, First name. “Article Title.” Magazine Title. vol. #, no. #, Day Month Year, pages.
Books with one author:
Last name, First name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.
Books with two authors:
Last name, First name, and First name Last name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.
The sources must be listed in an alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.
Indent the second and the following lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using the ideas from a source without giving the author credit. Often, the exact words from the source are copied. This is not allowed in research, and is an example of dishonest writing.
These are some examples of plagiarism.
Turning in someone else’s work as your own
Failing to give credit to someone else’s ideas and findings
Using others’ ideas to fill up most of your research paper
Failing to put the exact words from other sources
Giving incorrect information about the research resource
8th Grade Writing - Research Resources Lesson