English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Resource
Research Paper Assignment Overview
Instructions
This document provides an overview of the tasks and time line for completing this semester’s research paper. You
will complete this project over the course of three units this semester. Keep in mind that the project has been
broken into three units to give you more time to complete the final paper. As necessary, use time during other
units to work on your paper.
Process: Planning
 Review the assignment instructions and grading criteria thoroughly. Keep in mind that the research
project is divided into three major components spread across three units.
 Choose a topic for your paper.
 Conduct research to help you narrow and develop your topic. Use both print and online sources for your
research. Your final paper should be between 1,800 and 2,700 words.
 Complete the first assignment, Research Paper Planning Assignment, which includes writing a thesis
statement and developing a formal outline. You will submit the completed plan for a grade.
Process: Drafting
 Begin drafting your paper. Use your planning assignment and the feedback that you received from your
teacher. Also use your research notes to support your thesis.
 Write in standard formal English and use the third person and the present tense. Your ideas should be
expressed objectively and be supported with your research. Avoid sentences that begin with “I think” or “I
feel.”
 Review the rubric. Your first draft will be graded against the rubric that assesses the essay in the following
five categories: purpose; ideas and content; structure and organization; language, word choice, and style;
and sentences and mechanics. The rubric appears at the end of this document. Be sure that you have
included everything that the rubric requires.
 Continue to work on your draft, referring to your research materials. Then submit the first draft of your
research paper after you have double-checked it against the checklist that follows in this document.
Process: Finalizing
 Revise your research paper. Use the feedback you received from your teacher on the first draft. Also
consider feedback you may have received from your mentor or other readers.
 The final paper will be graded against a checklist which is located later in this document in the Grading
Criteria section.
 Proofread your research paper. Use the proofreading checklist as a guide. Be sure you review how to
cite sources correctly, both within your paper and on the Works Cited page, before you hand in your
paper.
 Make a final, clean copy of your research paper, and submit it to your teacher.

Time Line
Remember you will be working on this project over the course of three different units. The following due dates
reflect this schedule.

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 1 of 7
 English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Task Start Complete

Complete the Planning a Research Paper Unit. Submit the Lesson: Plan Your Lesson: Develop
Research Paper Planning Assignment—assignment includes Research Paper Your Outline
topic selection and formal outline.
Complete the Drafting a Research Paper Unit. Submit your Lesson: Begin Your Lesson: Complete
Research Paper First Draft. Draft Your Draft
Complete the Finalizing a Research Paper Unit. Submit your Lesson: Review Your Lesson: Polish
Research Paper Final Draft. Research Paper Your Research
Paper

Grading/Point Values
Research Paper Planning Assignment: 30
Research Paper First Draft: 100
Research Paper Final Draft: 30

Required Final Draft Length

Pages: 7–9 pages
Word Count: 1,800–2,700 words

Grading Criteria – First Draft

Your first draft will be evaluated by the rubric at the end of this document.
Total possible points for first draft is 100 points.

Grading Criteria – Final Draft

Later this semester, you will complete a final draft of your research paper. The final draft of your paper will be
graded according to this checklist.
Total possible points for the final draft is 30 points.
Final Draft Editing Checklist
Your final draft will be evaluated against this checklist. Each item is worth 5 points.
 The paper shows evidence of revisions to increase the flow of ideas.
 Additional evidence has been added to offer sufficient and/or relevant support.
 All in-text citations are included and correctly formatted.
 The Works Cited page has few, if any, errors.
 Grammar, usage, and mechanics errors have been corrected.
 The research paper includes correct and relevant formatting, graphics, and multimedia.

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 2 of 7
 English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Criterion 5 4 3 2 1
Purpose The research paper The research paper The purpose of the The research paper does The purpose of the
does an outstanding does a good job in research paper is not fulfill its purpose of research paper is not
job of fulfilling its fulfilling its purpose of not entirely clear. providing information clear. The writer did not do
purpose of providing providing information The writer provides about a topic. The appropriate research.
substantial information on the chosen topic, some information on information on the chosen There is not enough
on the chosen topic. but the topic could be the topic, but there topic is sparse, and the information on the stated
The writer seems developed more fully. are gaps that leave paper lacks significant topic, or the information is
interested in the topic, There are gaps in the readers with details. The paper also not about the stated topic.
and the details information that leave questions. There is contains irrelevant
provided are complete readers with irrelevant information.
and cover the topic questions, or there is information that
fully. There is no some information makes readers
irrelevant information presented that is question what the
present. Readers are irrelevant to the topic. main purpose of the
not left with lingering paper is.
questions about the
topic.

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 3 of 7
 English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Criterion 5 4 3 2 1
Ideas and The research paper is The research paper It is unclear whether The writer does not The topic of this research
Content on a topic that is on a topic that is the topic of this appear interested in this paper does not lend itself
interests the writer. sufficiently narrow research paper topic, and many to academic research.
The topic is narrow and that interests the interests the writer, questions are left There is no thesis
enough that it can be writer. Although the because there are unanswered. There is no statement that focuses the
thoroughly covered, paper contains a gaps in information. clear expression of a paper, and there are no
and a thesis statement thesis statement, it The thesis thesis statement. The cited facts and quotations
provides a clear focus does not focus the statement is vague, research is insufficient, from appropriate sources,
for the paper. The paper as well as it and the research is unsubstantiated, or relies so the research is
topic is fully could. A great deal of inadequate, even upon faulty sources. It negligible. There is no
researched and very research is present, though the topic does not contain Works Cited page.
well developed with but because the may be sufficiently quotations and facts cited
facts and quotations thesis statement is narrow. The paper from valid sources. The
from cited sources that not focused well, the contains facts and Works Cited page is
include at least five writer does not quotations, but either incomplete or
sources, two of which answer all pertinent sources are not missing.
should be print questions and always cited. The
sources. The research includes extraneous writer relies heavily
paper includes a information. The on websites and
comprehensive Works research paper does not include
Cited page. contains facts and enough research
quotations from cited from print sources.
sources, including at The research paper
least five sources, includes a Works
two of which should Cited page, but it is
be print sources, and not complete.
it includes a Works
Cited page.

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 4 of 7
 English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Criterion 5 4 3 2 1
Structure and The research paper The research paper The structure of the The structure of the The structure of the
Organization has a clear structure has a clear structure research paper is research paper is research paper is almost
with an introductory —introduction with a usually clear, with somewhat clear. There nonexistent. There may be
paragraph or thesis statement, an introduction, seems to be an only one or two long
paragraphs that grab body paragraphs, thesis statement, introduction, body, and a paragraphs, and there are
the reader's attention and a conclusion— body, and conclusion, but the writer few or no transitions
and clearly state the although one part of conclusion. does not use between ideas. The paper
thesis. Each body the structure may not However, the writer paragraphing well. The has neither headings, nor
paragraph contains be developed well. does not always use pattern of organization is graphics, nor a multimedia
reasons or evidence in The writer a new paragraph for somewhat unclear, and component
the form of facts and occasionally strays a new idea. The the writer tends to jump
quotations that support from a pattern of pattern of around. Minimal
the thesis. The organization, but organization is not transitions are used to
conclusion tells transitions are always clear, but connect ideas. The paper
readers what the writer generally used readers can usually is missing headings,
has learned or leaves effectively. The paper follow the ideas. The graphics, or a multimedia
readers with includes useful writer uses some component, or it uses one
something to think headings, most of transitions, but more or more of these
about. The writer uses which are specific, are needed to make elements in ways that
an appropriate pattern relevant graphics, content flow more detract from the writing of
of organization that fits and a multimedia smoothly. The paper the piece.
the topic and thesis. component that aids includes headings
Transitions are used to in comprehension. and graphics,
clarify ideas and to though some may
move smoothly within be generic or not
and between entirely connected to
paragraphs. The paper the paper’s subject
includes thought- matter, and a
provoking and specific multimedia
headings, interesting component.
and informative
graphics, and an
instructive multimedia
component that aids
comprehension.

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 5 of 7
 English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Criterion 5 4 3 2 1
Language and The student considers The student usually The student The student does not There is little consideration
Word Choice purpose and audience considers purpose attempts to consider seem to consider purpose for purpose and audience
in the language, tone, and audience in the purpose and and audience when in the student's choice of
and voice of the language, tone, and audience in the selecting language, tone, language, tone, and voice.
research paper. The voice of the research language, tone, and and voice. There are The paper lacks any
student uses formal paper. The student voice of the several instances of domain-specific
language, several usually employs research paper. inappropriate language or vocabulary and contains
domain-specific words, formal language, However, the wording being used, the no literary techniques that
and several literary uses at least one student sometimes student does not might explain concepts or
techniques, such as domain-specific word, loses sight of one of incorporate domain- provide clear information
similes, metaphors, and includes at least these aspects and specific vocabulary, or to readers. The research
and analogies to one simile, metaphor, includes the attempts to use paper contains personal
explain concepts and or analogy to explain inappropriate literary techniques, such opinions, comments, and
provide clear concepts and provide language or as similes, metaphors, or exclamations. The
information. The tone clear information. The wording, misses analogies, to explain research paper contains
is serious, and the tone is serious, and opportunities to concepts or provide clear informal language,
voice is consistently the voice is usually incorporate domain- information only serve to including slang and other
objective, with no objective, although specific words, or muddle the paper’s inappropriate expressions.
personal opinions sometimes the fails to use literary message. The language
offered. student might state techniques, such as tends to be informal and
an opinion. similes, metaphors, imprecise, leaving
or analogies to readers trying to figure
explain concepts out the meaning. The
and provide clear tone is not consistently
information. serious, and the research
Imprecise language paper contains many
is sometimes opinions.
confusing, but
readers can usually
figure out the
meaning. The tone
of the paper is
serious, but some of
the language is
informal. The voice
of the research
paper is not
consistently
objective, and the

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 6 of 7
 English | Resource | Research Paper Assignment Overview

Criterion 5 4 3 2 1
Sentences and Each sentence Most sentences Sentences do not all Many sentences are Most sentences contain
Mechanics expresses a complete contain complete contain complete incomplete, and it is errors in structure.
thought, and sentence thoughts, and thoughts, although difficult to recognize Quotations, if used, may
beginnings and sentences are varied. there may be some quotations. Many be incorrectly punctuated.
structures are varied. Quotations are used sentence variety. citations are in improper Most citations, if present,
Quotations contain the for the exact words of There are several citation format. There are are in improper citation
exact words of the a source, but unintentional errors in grammar, in format. Multiple errors in
source and are sometimes they are fragments and run- usage, and in mechanics grammar, in usage, and in
punctuated correctly. If not punctuated ons. Some that make the paper mechanics make the
the quotation is correctly. Most quotations are not difficult to understand. paper difficult to
embedded as a citations within the punctuated understand.
phrase in a sentence, paper and on the correctly, and not all
it is not capitalized. All Works Cited page are citations are in
citations within the in proper citation proper citation
research paper and on format. There are few format. There are
the Works Cited page errors in grammar, in errors in grammar,
are in proper citation usage, and in in usage, and in
format. There are mechanics, and mechanics that
extremely few errors in those errors that exist sometimes interfere
grammar, in usage, rarely interfere with with readers’ ability
and in mechanics, and readers’ ability to to understand.
those errors that exist understand.
do not impede
readers’
understanding.

© Stride, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent of Stride, Inc. Page 7 of 7