Name:

Date:

Hour:

Research Deadlines: (These are subject to change, students will know in timely
fashion.)

Deadline
s
January
23

Assignment

Location of class

contract due with

your selected
topic (signed by
both student and
parent)
Lesson 6: Evaluating
Sources

classroom

classroom

January
28

Lessons 8:
Capturing your
Sources
Lesson 9: Taking
Notes

January
29

Lesson 10: Avoiding

Plagiarism

classroom

January
30

classroom

February
3

Lesson 11:
Organizing ideas
(Honors-Readers
Sketchbook)
1 source card due
and 1 note card
(properly
formatted)
Lesson 11:
Organizing
Complete working
outline

February
4

Working outline
due

lower media
center

February
5

Research/craft
thesis statement

lower media
center

February
6

Thesis statement
due

lower media
center

February
9

8-10 source cards

due (3x5)

lower media
center

January
26
January
27

February
2

classroom

classroom

lower media
center

lower media
center

Objective

Complet
e?

Name:
February
10
February
11
February
12

Date:
Work on topic
sentences/thesis
statements
thesis/topic
sentence due

lower media
center

35-40 note cards

(4x6) due
Lesson 12: Revising
and Editing
first draft due for
peer evaluation

lower media
center

research
(Honors-Readers
Sketchbook)
Research/outline

upper media
center

February
25

Research/outline

upper media
center

February
26
February
27

formal outline due

work on second
draft

upper media
center
upper media
center

March
2

second draft due

(my evaluation)

upper media
center

February
13
February
23
February
24

March
3
March
4
March
5
March
6
March
9
March
10

Hour:

lower media
center

upper media
center

classroom
classroom
classroom
FINAL DRAFT DUE

upper media
center

Presentations: Day 1

upper media
center
upper media
center

Presentations: Day 2

Topic I plan to research: ______________________________

I have read all of the above and agree to conduct myself according to the
expectations that are outlined here.
Students signature ________________________________
I have read all of the above and support my childs signing of this contract.

Name:

Date:

Hour:

Parent/guardians signature _________________________________

All ninth grade students in Utica Community Schools are required to
write a research paper as part of their high school education. During the
research project, you will be developing higher-order thinking skills, such as problem
solving and analytical thinking that will help you succeed in personal, academic, and
business pursuits.
Clearly, this is an important project and one that we must take seriously. The
research project is nothing to be afraid of, but it does take patience and hard work
which is what this contract is about. We all deserve to work in the best possible
learning environment. Please read the following expectations with your parents and
sign the attached contract.
Library conduct: Our time in the library is limited. Time in library must be spent
on gathering, exploring and organizing datanot on socializing, other schoolwork,
or sleeping. Each student should conduct him or herself maturely by speaking
quietly, treating the media specialist with all due respect and not running around.
Class rules apply to library time. No FOOD OR DRINKS.
Deadlines: You will all have due dates in plenty of time to complete the various
assignments. All deadlines are to be met. No questions. You may turn assignments
in early, but no late work will receive points. Again, you may not turn in late work
for credit. NO LATE RESEARCH PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Effort: You are expected to put your best effort for the next several weeks. You are
responsible for deadlines and for following directions. The work you turn in should
be no ones but your own.
Resources: you are expected and encouraged to use your sources wisely. IF you
have problems or questions, dont hesitate to see me about them immediately. I am
available before school, during class, and after school. The media specialist, your
parents, and/or older siblings can be beneficial. Wise and successful people draw on
the knowledge and experience of those around them.
Consequences: If you choose to violate the contract, you may receive a detention,
lose media or computer lab privileges, or lose points on certain parts of your
project.
Project Requirements:
1. topic selection/learning contract with signatures
2. minimum of 8-10 source cards
3. minimum of 30-45 note cards
4.
working outline
5.
approved thesis statement and topic sentences
6.
formal outline
7.
first rough draft (peer evaluation)
8.
second rough draft (teacher evaluation)
9.
third rough draft (self-evaluation

Name:
10.
11.
12.

Date:

Hour:

final draft with works cited page in final format (must have 10 sources used
within paper)
*final draft must be turned in on turnitin.com
title page properly formatted
visual for the class gallery walk
*this is the grade that will show up on the 3rd quarter marking period
(final paper will go on 4th quarter)