WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
West Middle School Information Literacy Manual 2009-2010
Contributors: Gerri Fegan, Laura Harrington and Shelley Coughlin
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Expectations, Materials, Online Access ………………………..……………………
3
Chapter One:
Microsoft Word and Windows .......................................
4
Creating a Word Document
5
Editing a Document
Chapter Two:
Chapter Three:
Chapter Four:
………………………………….
…………………………………………….
6
Formatting a Document
……………………………………….
7
Publishing a Document
……………………………………….
9
Research Projects
………………………….………….
10
Using Information Texts ………………………………….….
11
WMS Subscription Databases ……………………………….
14
Keeping Track of Sources ……………………………….……
18
Turning Notes into a Final Product
…………….……
24
The Essential Question
……………………………………
25
The Thesis Statement
……………………………………
26
The Guide to MLA Style
………………………………......
27
Formatting the Essay ………………………………………….
28
Documenting Sources in Your Work …………………….
30
Preparing the Works Cited Page
……………………….
32
Sample Works Cited Page……………………………………
39
Glossary
40
……………………………………………………..
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
ANDOVER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY MANUAL 2008-2009 Edition Information literacy is the ability to recognize the need for information, locate and evaluate sources to provide correct information, use and learn from the information to achieve the goal. To become information literate takes skill, talent, and determination.
Ask
yourself these
questions: are you a person who knows when to look for information in a book, magazine, or database? Do you know howto use a table of contents, index, or search engine effectively? Can you evaluate the contents of various websites for authenticity, bias, or currency? And, finally, when you gather all the information you need, can you write a research paper, design a PowerPoint presentation, create an Excel chart, or publish a wiki or website? If you can, you are information literate!
In InfoLit & Tech class, you have two certified library media specialists who will teach you the lifelong skills you will need as you grow as student, parent, worker, and citizen.
These skills
will change as new technology becomes avilable to you, but the basic need to communicate your ideas will never change. Welcome!
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
CLASS EXPECTATIONS
This class will meet either in the Technology Lab or in the Library four days each week for approximately ten weeks.
There will be a notice put up on the
technology room door (Room 102) if the class will meet in the library. Class begins promptly at the period bell, and if class meets after lunch recess, students are allowed to leave their backpacks in Room 102 before going to lunch. Students may sign in/out for bathroom and library use as needed.
When you arrive,
attendance will be taken. Please take your assigned seat, get out any homework that was due, and start on the opening exercise or the current project.
You will
have occasional homework assignments, quizzes, a research project and a multimedia project during this quarter. All assignments must be handed in on or before the due date in order to receive full credit. Students may be asked to stay after school or during lunch to complete assignments. Homework help is always available upon request.
MATERIALS There are certain materials that are needed daily for this class: agenda book, pens, pencils, highlighters, rulers, and portable storage device that will work with your home computer. A flash drive is best. ONLINE ACCESS
Throughout this quarter students will be using various
Microsoft
products
to
complete
assignments, such as Word, Excel, and 4
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
PowerPoint. Students will also be using online resources provided by West Middle School and the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System. All online resources are free to our students and will be available with a password provided by WMS library media specialists. Students can login through the WMS Library website. portal. (www.aps1.net/wms/library) From home, students may also access many databases from Memorial Hall Library by using their public library cards. If you have any questions about InfoLit & Tech class or about library resources for class and homework, please feel free to contact you teacher, Ms. Coughlin.
CHAPTER ONE MICROSOFT WINDOWS and WORD In this class, you will be learning a variety of Microsoft products for school work.
Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word are
applications with graphical user interfaces (GUI). That means they are rich with text and images that are interactive and you use a mouse and a keyboard to tell the program what to do. Both MS Windows and MS Word allow you to work within closed, rectangular areas called windows. You can use multiple windows at the same 5
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
time. The active window is the one currently receiving input from the mouse and keyboard.
Please click on File in the active window. Select New from the drop-down menu and type “Sample MS Word Page” at the top. Click on File and select Save as to keep this as “MS Word Template.” Come back to this active window for more information.
You probably will use word processing applications (such as Microsoft Word) to create, edit, and print documents more than any other application. The process for creating documents takes four steps: creating, editing, formatting, and publishing. Let’s practice Step 1. Step One: Creating a Document You are now going to work on your new document. You have already created a title and have saved it under the new name. Please listen to your teacher for details and follow these directions to complete the assignment. Step One: Creating In the upper left corner, type your name. Type your teacher’s name. Type the name of your class. Type today’s date. Click on the centering icon on the menu bar. Type this title: Steps to Research. Click Save. Start a list of steps that you think you must take to complete a thorough research project on the subject of your choice. This list should be in order by task. You may number your steps. Remember this is a list, not a paragraph. Click Save again and choose Versions. Type First Draft in the text box and click on the box to automatically save a version on close. Click Save. 6
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
You have now accomplished the first draft of your document and you have a version that you can refer to if you lose your current file. This is a wonderful way to save reports that take long periods of time to complete. Let’s move on to Step 2. Step Two: Editing a Document Editing your document requires the use of several tools found in the toolbar at the top of your screen. Take a few moments to examine them. Click on Edit to view the drop-down menu and then just slide your cursor across the toolbar to view other choices. How many of them will you use? Some of these choices will require you to highlight the words or phrases that need correction before they are activated, and other actions apply to specific sections or the whole document. Remember: editing makes your writing appear more organized, thoughtful, and personal, but it is the content, or your words, that are the most important to a reader. Step Two: Editing Open the active window with your document title Steps to Research. Examine the document to make sure everything was saved. Check your spelling first! Put your cursor at the first letter of your name. Click Tools and choose the task that will allow you to check the spelling of your document. You will get a message when it is finished. (Which one task is this?) Re-examine your steps. Are there any that you would like to move up or down the list? Highlight and right click to cut and paste into the correct place in your report. Read your list silently again for final editing. Click Save again and choose Versions. Type Second Draft in the text box and click on the box to 7 on close. automatically save a version Click Save.
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Step Three: Formatting a Document
Step Three: Formatting Click on File and choose Page Set-Up. Align your margins to one inch. This is standard for most school assignments. Click OK.
Select the Numbered Bulleting Icon from the toolbar and itemize your list.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Times New Roman-12 is the default font for most school assignments. For the purpose of this list, however, please change your font to Comic Sans-14. Choose the Bold and Underline icons in your toolbar to emphasize your title. Make any changes to your list so that it is uniform. Check for proper nouns that need capitalizing. Any errors of this nature could take points away from your score. Use your toolbar icons to change line spacing from 1.0 to 2.0. Most student work is double-spaced. Re-examine and revise any changes you have made. If you have questions, now is the time to ask them. Read your list silently again for final editing. Click Save again and choose Versions. Type Final Draft in the text box and click on the box to automatically save a version on close. Click Save.
With your final draft ready to publish, you should take one last look at your assignment to correct any errors or revise your work. Remember to save often, so save one last time.
Your next task will be to evaluate the quality of your
document so that there are no widows or orphans. It is possible to publish your document as a website, but there are other software applications that handle images much better. Right now, we will concentrate on publishing your document as a text document. It’s time to move on to Step 4.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Step Four: Publishing a Document Step Four: Publishing Please click on File in the active window toolbar. Select Print Preview from the drop-down menu. Examine your document to make sure it looks neat and uniform. Click on Print. The default printer is already connected to you computer. Click OK. Leave your document in the Assignment Return Bin in the classroom. If your document does not print, do not select “OK” again. Please contact your teacher for assistance.
So now it’s time to look at all the ideas about the research process. Listen carefully as the class offers ideas based upon their Steps to Research assignment.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
CHAPTER TWO RESEARCH PROJECTS This is a flowchart of the process used by students to complete research projects. By following each step, students can be sure they have done a thorough job for research in any subject area. Begin the research process by making sure you understand all the project’s requirements, including the overall topic.
Develop general research questions that can be answered by your research.
Identify the type of information you need to answer your research questions: primary sources, articles, maps, websites, interviews, or media.
Locate the sources that will provide information and choose the best ones to answer your research questions. Develop a plan to prioritize the best sources first. Evaluate the information of each source to determine whether it can answer your research question. Consider Authority, Bias, Content, and Date. Ask an essential question about your topic that requires your opinion and sums up your research.
Form a thesis statement by answering your essential question.
Use as much information as needed by taking notes that are important to your research project. Eliminate anything that does not fit. Cite your sources. Publish your research according to the project’s requirements. Check all your work. Review you product. Have you REALLY learned anything about your topic? If not, why not? Which steps worked, which failed?
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
USING INFORMATIONAL TEXTS Read with a Purpose Think of words and phrases that are related to your essential question or research questions and write them down. Skim the chapter or article, searching for these words. Add more words and phrases to the list as you discover them. Evaluate the chapter or article to be sure that it relates to your questions. If it does not, find another article or chapter. Read for Knowledge Re-read any paragraphs that are important to your questions and ignore anything that is not important. List any new vocabulary words as you read – don’t wait until you have finished reading. Read for Wisdom Look for the author’s intent, feelings, opinions, and point of view. Evaluate the quality of the information. Write for a Purpose Use diagrams, graphic organizers, or an outline to guide your note taking and eliminate irrelevant information. Use a citation form to collect the information you need (or write a complete citation) for the Works Cited Page as soon as you take any notes! Attach forms or citations to your notes so they don’t get lost and so that you know where the information came from. Write for Knowledge Choose a quote, rewrite some sentences in your own words, or summarize the important information; or copy the relevant passages and circle, highlight, or underline any words or sentences that are especially important. Put your notes down. Put your pencil down. Re-read the whole paragraph you are taking notes on to be sure you understand it. Evaluate your notes to be sure they are accurate.
Write for Wisdom Pass on your knowledge and give the reader something to think about. Create an outline to organize your information before you write your essay. Use the thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph to guide your writing. Start by free-writing your essay, exploring all possibilities. Use parenthetical citations to show the reader where you found your information. Revise, revise, revise! Check spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
REFERENCE TOOLS FOR RESEARCH Encyclopedia: A book, or set of books, or the electronic version of such, containing authoritative information about a variety of topics. Print encyclopedias arrange entries (articles) in alphabetical order; electronic versions are usually searchable by keyword or subject. Multi-volume encyclopedias often include an index in the last volume, which is very useful for locating information that does not have its own main entry. Examples: World
Book Encyclopedia, Grolier Online, New Book of Knowledge, Encyclopedia Americana.
Dictionary: A list of words with their definitions, a list of characters with their symbols, or a list of words with corresponding words in other languages. Many dictionaries also provide pronunciation information; word origins; illustrations; usage guidance; and examples in sentences. Examples: Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Scholastic Student
Dictionary, Columbia Dictionary, YourDictionary.com.
Thesaurus: A book of synonyms, often including related and contrasting words and antonyms. Databases can also have a thesaurus of words. Examples: Roget’s Thesaurus, Webster’s New World Thesaurus. Almanac: A yearly publication usually containing statistics and data of on a variety of subjects, as well as information on the events of the previous year. Almanacs contain up-to-date information about countries, personalities, events, and a wide range of other topics and are useful for locating brief information and trivia. Examples: World Almanac 13
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
and Book of Facts, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Time Almanac with Information Please.
Atlas: A collection of maps, traditionally bound into book form, but now also found in multimedia formats, such as on CD-ROM or the Internet. In addition to showing geographic features and political boundaries, many atlases feature geopolitical, social, religious, and economic statistics. Examples: National Geographic Atlas of the World, Rand-McNally Atlas.
Periodical Database: An electronic collection of articles from a large number of newspapers, journals, and/or magazines. These are usually available by subscription. Examples: EBSCO, Infotrac,
MagPortal.
Online Reference: An electronic database containing any or all of the following: full-text articles; documents; or citations and abstracts. Some online references also contain periodicals. The database can be accessed via an Internet connection. These are usually available by subscription. Examples: ABC-CLIO: World
Geography, Newsbank, NetLibrary.
Free Web: The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers. More than 100 countries are linked and can exchange data, news, and opinions. The Free Web is the portion of the Internet than can be searched by standard search engines such as Google, and makes up only 10% of the Internet. Unlike online subscription services, which are centrally controlled, the Free Web is not subject to any centralized oversight. This means that sources from the Free Web may be unreliable, and information from the Free Web must be evaluated by the user.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
WMS SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES The Andover West Middle School Library Website currently provides direct access to many subscription databases. Libraries and corporations pay to have unlimited use of the database’s resources for a specific period of time. West Middle School pays for the yearly license to use some of these databases, and Massachusetts taxpayers pay for the license of other databases used by West Middle School. Some of the articles in these databases were specifically written by experts for use by student researchers; the others were
originally
resources,
published
electronic
various periodicals.
in
print
references
reference
resources,
or
All these databases are updated on a regular basis and the
content is chosen by experts.
Think about it. All the current published information
about your topic…..written by an expert….. in one place. As a result, you can be confident that the information in these materials is accurate and of the highest quality.
These
databases should be your first stop when conducting online research.
Logging In to the Databases To use these databases from either school or home, simply go to the WMS library website at http://www.aps1.net/wms/library. BOOKMARK THIS WEBSITE FOR FUTURE USE. Select the icon for the database you think will best help you with your research. You will be asked for a password. This password is printed on the bookmarks handed out in class and at the circulation desk of the WMS library. You will have to use your public library card to access these databases from home.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
NMRLS Databases
Biography
Resource
Center combines award-winning
biographies with full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals. You can search for more than 320,000 people based on one or more personal facts such as birth
and
death
year,
occupation, or gender.
nationality,
The Complete Marquis Who’s
ethnicity,
It also includes the
Complete Marquis Who's Who®, providing quick reference information on an additional 900,000 people.
Grolier Online includes two encyclopedia databases: Grolier Multimedia
Encyclopedia and
The New Book of Knowledge, as well as access to pre-selected websites and online periodical articles.
InfoTrac®
provides access to popular magazines, scholarly
journals, encyclopedias, newspapers, newswire services, business directories,
investment
reports,
health pamphlets, prescription drug information, and literature
reviews
in
11
specialized
databases.
Descriptions of each individual database can be found on the InfoTrac® homepage.
Not all articles are full-
text, so be sure to click on More Search Options, and choose to limit the search to documents with full text!
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
NewsBankTM, full-text
Inc. provides
access
to
many
instant
individual
newspaper titles – the Boston Globe (1980-current), the Boston
Herald (1997-current), and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (1989-current). This database also includes coverage of U.S. and international news, business, lifestyle, entertainment, sports (including Sports Illustrated), and science and technology from familiar magazines.
NOTE: Some of the newer firewall security programs may not permit access to certain databases until you specifically set permissions in the security program.
ABC-CLIO Databases
ABC-CLIO American History database is a comprehensive, authoritative, and student-friendly research collection for investigating the people, events, and themes of our nation's ongoing development. It consists of reference articles, many primary sources and images.
ABC-CLIO World Geography develops students' global literacy by focusing on the geographic, political, social, economic, and cultural forces that influence our world. This database includes maps, statistics, and historical information.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
ABC-CLIO World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras covers human history from prehistoric times to the beginnings of the Renaissance. It is an unmatched collection of online reference entries, primary sources, images, interactive lessons, and study tools as well as an E-Book section on ancient mythology.
ABC-CLIO World History: The Modern Era is the perfect complement to Ancient and Medieval Eras. Similar in format, there are primary sources available in the collection that spans history from the Renaissance to the current day.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
KEEPING TRACK OF SOURCES: TAKING NOTES and CITATIONS
Whenever you are conducting research for any kind of project, it is essential that you keep good records of your primary or secondary sources. You will need these records to create a Works Cited page and parenthetical citations for any sources you cite. It is important to identify the source of your research because it is proof that you are not making information up. It helps the curious reader to locate the source of information that inspired you.
Very often during the
research process, you will find an interesting or exciting fact about your subject that will cause the reader to doubt or question your facts. For example, you may state, “The tallest man in the world is Leonid Stadnik.”
The reader may wish to check that
information so a citation is necessary. During this class, you will learn how to correctly cite a source so that your research can be checked by teachers and other readers.
In this class and in others, you will be required to write a citation for each source you use in your research. Reports for Language Arts, Social Studies and Science may require you to cite sources in a word document or fill out a citation form.
Citation forms are readily available in the library or tech lab and are printed in three different colors.
White is for print sources, blue is for electronic databases, and
pink is for free web and online images.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
• White – Print Sources o Side 1 – Single-topic books (Monographs) by one or more authors. o Side 2 – Articles in a reference book (or an anthology).
• Blue – Databases o database or articles written specifically for that database. o Side 2 – Periodical articles reproduced on a database.
• Pink – Internet (Free Web) and Images From ANY Source o Side 1 – Information found on the Free Web. o Side 2 – Images from any source.
Note:
Not every category of data on the form will necessarily apply to the source
you are using. For instance, the author of an article or website is usually not obvious or available. When the citation for a source is completed, it is time to move on to collecting the information you need.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 A research plan can help organize notes before you even open a book. Some students like to create note cards, or lists, or graphic organizers. All are personal choices depending on the student; however, for the purposes of this class, we are going to work with a research outline that organizes research questions. A template is provided for you on the next page. According to your subject, you can organize your questions into topic areas that you can turn into research paragraphs later. By using this plan early in your research, you have eliminated a lot of confusion when organizing your notes later.
In class, basic research questions have been formulated.
These questions can take the
shape of a basic outline if you gather them under topical questions.
The following
document will be used in class so that you can plan your research questions in an efficient way, You will notice that there is a section at the end for your teacher to assess your work as you continue through the project.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Name:
Section: My Research Plan and Outline
Topic: Essential Question:
?
I. Thesis Statement from Essential Question: . A. 1st Research Question:
Encyclopedia
Citations from:
Book
Dictionary Almanac
Atlas
Database
?
Internet
1. (Answer) 2. (Answer) 3. (Answer)
B. 2nd Research Question: Encyclopedia
Citations from:
Book
Dictionary
Almanac Atlas
Database
?
Internet
1. (Answer) 2. (Answer) 3. (Answer)
C. 3rd Research Question: Citations from:
Encyclopedia
Book
Dictionary
1. (Answer) 2. (Answer) 3. (Answer) 22
Almanac
Atlas
Database
?
Internet
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 D. 4th Research Question: Citations from:
Encyclopedia Book
Dictionary
Almanac
Atlas
Database
Internet
Almanac
Atlas
Database
Internet
?
1. (Answer) 2. (Answer) 3. (Answer) E. 5th Research Question: Citations from: Encyclopedia Book
Dictionary
1. (Answer) 2. (Answer) 3. (Answer)
Get Teacher Approval for the following: Research Question: Essential Question: Citations Approved:
1
2
3 4 Thesis Statement: Parenthetical Citations:
Check your work!
5
Citations are formatted correctly? Citations on the Works Cited Page are in alphabetical order? Each citation has a parenthetical citation in the body of the research? Each citation has all the required information in the correct order? Introductory paragraph ends with a thesis statement? Conclusion paragraph begins with a rephrasing of the thesis statement? Title page has an image that is cited on the Works Cited Page? Title page is formatted correctly? All paragraphs are formatted correctly?(indents, double-space, 1” margins)
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
TAKING NOTES Everyone has their own style of taking notes.
Some
students are comfortable with note cards, some with notebook paper, others prefer to do all their note-taking on a computer. Anyway you choose to gather your information is fine as long as a) the information if complete and accurate, b) the spelling is correct, and c) the source is given credit in a parenthetical citation and in the Works Cited page. The WMS Library Media Center has citation forms that are color coded (refer to page 22). These are particularly helpful if you are writing your notes by hand. Here are some guidelines for note-taking: A.
From Print Sources – the white citation form for monographs and multi-volume
reference works. 1. Select the appropriate side of the form, and give it a source number depending on whether it is your first source or information, second source, third source, etc. 2. Put this source number at the top of the card or page on which you are taking your notes. 3. Locate the citation information (author, title, publisher, and so forth) from your source and enter it on the sheet with the correct punctuation.
4. Read through the article thoroughly. 5. Go back and extract important information, summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. 6. Note the page numbers! When you take notes, keep track of the pages of your source text for your parenthetical citation.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 B. From Electronic Sources – the blue citation forms may be used for electronic database information. One side is for database periodicals (magazines, journals, and newspapers) and the other side is for database books. If you are extracting the information from the computer screen, complete steps 1 – 6 in Print Sources above. If you are typing your notes into a Word document, please follow these instructions: 1. Open a Word document, title it immediately (for example: “Biography Research Notes”) and save it. 2. Use the Research Plan on Page 25-26 as a guide for keeping track of source information, and type in the answers to the questions as you find them.
You may
highlight the plan and copy it into your document as a template. 3. Type a complete citation on your notes document according to the format on the blue citation forms, and put the source number in parentheses at the end of the citation. 4. Read through the article thoroughly. 5. Save your plan often!
TURNING RESEARCH NOTES INTO A FINAL PRODUCT Now that you have collected facts to answer your research questions, and you have prepared citation information to give credit to your source material, you are ready to prepare the document. You will want to take the following steps: 1. Review your assignment tasks. Check all aspects: the length, the due date, and any other requirements from your teacher. 2. Assemble handwritten and typed notes. 3. Group your research notes according to the project plan. Notes for Research Question 1, then Research Question 2, and so on.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 4. Open a new Word document, give it the title of your project, and save it under that title. 5. Type the standard header for WMS projects. (An example is on Page ____.) Type the title of your document. 6.
Starting with Research Question 1 from your Research Plan, use your notes to
answer your question with rich vocabulary and grammar. Sentences should be complex and full of information. Keep focused on only one question at a time.
You might want to
start with the common knowledge and impressions you got from reading all the source information. This is a first draft! Type from your memory and heart – your thoughts are the most important part of any research document. The first sentence of your paragraph should be the strongest, and it should be followed by information that you paraphrase (and cite), quote (and cite), and summaries (that you cite). Remember: anything you use from a source that is not your own thought must be cited parenthetically and in the Works Cited Page. (You might want to refer to these definitions before you begin.)
THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Now that you have a draft document that contains facts about your subject, it’s time to wonder. Yes, actually think about what it is that makes your subject worth writing about. Is there a question that cannot be simply answered with the facts that you have discovered? Perhaps you have wondered why something happened, or “what if” an event never happened. These are called essential questions because they require the researcher to draw a conclusion from the data.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 Essential questions are personal, opinionated, and rhetorical. They take risks. The answer to the essential question is called the thesis statement.
For example, your topic could be about volcanoes. Your research questions discuss the size, activity, and catastrophic effects of volcanic eruptions. You produce a lot of information from books, online databases and websites. When you put it all together, you have a well-informed report. BUT this information doesn’t reveal what made it interesting to you. You need to add an essential question that ties everything together. If any of the largest volcanoes were to erupt, how would it affect the region’s or the world’s economy? Can a volcano benefit a community or region? Is the Pacific Ring of Fire going grow or decrease? Did Mt. St. Helen’s eruption cause enough damage to the tectonic plate so that we can expect earthquakes?
THE THESIS STATEMENT The thesis statement a) declares what you believe and intend to prove, b) goes beyond retelling the facts, and c) should have an arguable point with which people could disagree. It is developed from the essential question.
What would happen to world economy if oil was discovered under the polar ice cap? Thesis Statement: If oil was discovered under the polar ice cap, the countries would share the natural resources and avoid war. Question:
A thesis statement should be provocative and take a stand for you to justify with facts. That means that your sentence is not just your opinion, it is something that your have researched and has led you to come to a conclusion about your findings.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Opinion:
William Shakespeare was the world’s greatest playwright.
Thesis Statement: An increasing amount of historical evidence suggests that William
Shakespeare is not the original author of many of his most famous works. A thesis statement is narrow enough to be covered in the length of a project. Too broad:
The Civil War was the worst war in the history of the United States.
A thesis statement can be supported by the research paragraphs. The reader should be able to follow the logic in the supporting paragraphs and agree with your thesis statement. That’s why the thesis statement has a “place of honor” in the research report: the last sentence of the introductory paragraph!
The Andover West Middle School Guide to the Modern Language Association (MLA) Style This guide provides information about completing projects using the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines.
It is designed to assist students in properly formatting
citations and documenting commonly-used types of sources. If you have questions beyond the information covered here, you can consult Joseph Gibaldi’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, available at the library circulation desk or ask the school library media specialists.
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FORMATTING THE ESSAY
Student Name Teacher Name Class Name, Section Date
TIP: Headings are usually at the top left margin. Set-up and save a template document with just a header that can be opened and used for all schoolwork.
Use these step-by-step guidelines to begin your formatting your essay after you have made corrections by editing: 1. Set your font as Times New Roman and the size as 12 points. 2. Set all margins at one-inch (select File then Page Setup). 3. Double-space all lines in the body of your paper (select Format then Paragraph from the drop-down menu). 4. Center your title on the first page. 5. Indent the first line of all paragraphs one-half inch (select Tab once). 6. Only use the “Enter” key when you want to start a new paragraph or create a new line. 7. Underline or italicize the titles of books, magazines, newspapers, databases, and websites. (Do not do both.) 8. Indent long quotations (four lines or more) one inch (highlight the text, then select the Increase Indent button once). You do not need to use quotation marks, and you may use single spacing for the quotation. 9. Center the words “Works Cited” on the last page. Do not use all capital letters or use bold, underlined, or italic fonts for titles. 10. Insert page numbers by selecting Insert, then Page Numbers from the drop-down menu. (Position is “Top of page,” alignment is “right,” and numbering should start on the first page.) 29
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 If your teacher requires a Title Page:
1. Center the information on the page. 2. You may use a larger font, if desired. 3. Enter the title first; do not underline the title, place it in quotation marks, or decorate it. 4. Below the title, enter your name, then your teacher’s name, then the course name and section and, finally, the date submitted. 5. If your teacher has directed you to insert artwork or images on the title page, it should be placed between the title and your name.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Documenting Sources in Your Work TIP: Whenever you use someone else’s ideas or quote from an author your must document the source using a parenthetical citation. The information in the citation should correspond to an entry in your Works Cited list. Failure to properly cite the work of others is plagiarism. USE PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS WHENEVER YOU: • quote directly from a source. • paraphrase the ideas or opinions of another. • summarize original ideas from one of your sources. • use an image of any kind (picture, map, graph, chart, etc.). • use factual information that is not common knowledge. (Common knowledge is information can be found in many sources – the dates of an author’s life, for example. If you are not certain it is common knowledge, cite to be safe.) • use a date, fact, or statistic that might be disputed. BASIC RULES FOR USING PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS 1. Enclose the citation in parentheses and place it directly after the cited material. • If referring to a direct quotation, it comes after the quotation marks. • At the end of a sentence, it comes before the period. Example: He states that “Careful listening is the key” (Hughes 15). 2. Include the author’s last name (or the first author’s name) and the page number. • Do not use the word “page,” any abbreviations, or any punctuation marks. Example: Careful planning is the first step (Hughes 15). 3. No page numbers are used when citing electronic sources or articles from encyclopedias or dictionaries. Example: Venus is an extremely uninhabitable planet (“Venus”). 4. If there is no author, the title (or the first words of the title) and page number are given. • If it is the title of an article, enclose it in quotation marks. • If it is the title of a book, database, or website, underline it. Example: It may surprise some readers to learn that the Epic of Gilgamesh was written before the story of Noah (“Gilgamesh”) 5. The author’s name is omitted when it is mentioned in your text. Example: Fegan contends citing print sources is easiest (16). 31
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 EXAMPLES OF PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS IN A REPORT
Draped in a skirt of vines and leaves, a woman stands in front of a series of open doors. In the foreground, a “demonic-looking winged creature, seemingly a combination of bird and cat” (“Dorothea Tanning.” Contemporary) stands waiting to attack.
This unusual self-portrait by painter/sculptor
Dorothea Tanning caught the attention of surrealism pioneer Max Ernst, who later became Tanning’s husband. This work, titled Birthday, is considered a “central icon of the surrealist era, as well as one of the great self-portraits of the 20th century” (“Dorothea Tanning.” Traditional). According to Baigell, Tanning has produced one of the most uniquely individualistic bodies of work in the surrealistic movement and, surprisingly, her work does not appear to have been influenced by her famous husband (351). Self taught, her style evolved over the years while “her interest in symbolic and dream material has remained constant” (“Tanning, Dorothea”).
Works Cited Baigell, Matthew. “Tanning, Dorothea.” The Dictionary of American Art. New York: Harper & Row, 1979. “Dorothea Tanning.” Contemporary Authors Online. Thomson Gale. 10 Oct. 2006. Biography Resource Center. Andover West Middle School. 20 Mar. 2007 . “Dorothea Tanning.” Traditional Fine Arts Online. Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc. 20 Mar. 2007 . “Tanning, Dorothea.” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2007. Grolier Online. Andover West Middle School. 2 Apr. 2007 .
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Chapter Four: Preparing the Works Cited Page Rules for Print Sources FORMATTING THE “WORKS CITED” PAGE •
Arrange the entries on your “Works Cited” section alphabetically by the first word(s) in the entry (cut and paste as necessary).
•
Use “hanging indentation” format ((indent the second line of an entry and all other lines half an inch) o Select Format, then Paragraph. From the Indentation submenu, select Special and choose Hanging.
•
By should read “.5.”
Since all parts of a research paper should be double-spaced (and only double spaced), select Double form the Line Spacing drop-down menu under Format
Paragraph.
The Works Cited Page lists only those works you actually cited in your text. Each citation is made up of the following components (or parts). These parts form a string of sentences that follow each other. If one component is not available or not applicable, simply skip to the next one. 1. Author’s name •
Last, First Middle.
•
Second (and third) authors’ names are listed First Middle Last.
•
If no author’s name is given, start the citation with the title.
2. Title of article • Quotation marks around the article title, punctuation inside 3. Title of source •
Underline the titles of major works, including the names of websites and databases.
4. Publication information •
City (the home office of the publisher - found on title page or back of title page) o If more than one city is listed on the title page, use the first city listed. 33
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 o If the city is not well known or the city’s name is common, include state, province, or country, as appropriate (example: Gloucester, MA).
Use the standard two-letter abbreviation for states and provinces.
o Put a colon after the city and a space before the publisher. •
Publishing Company (found on title page or back of title page) o Use shortened forms of publishers’ names o Leave out articles—A, An, The o Leave out words like Co., Inc., Books, House, Press, Publishers. o Place a comma after the publisher’s name and a space before the date.
•
Date (copyright date – look for © on reverse of title page) o If more than one date is listed, use latest date found.
5.
Articles from journals (newspapers & magazines) •
Start entry with author and title, following guidance above.
•
Enter title of periodical. It should be underlined but not followed by punctuation.
•
Enter either Publication Date or Volume# and year. o Dates are always written: day Mon. year. Abbreviate the names of all months except May, June, and July to three letters. o Volume and year are always written: number (year).
•
Page Numbers are separated from publication date or issue by a colon and a space. o Do not use any abbreviations for “page” or “pages.”
Citation Formats for Print Sources P-1. A Book by One Author Format:
Author’s name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Date.
Example:
Hughes, David. Memoirs of a School Counselor. Boston: Beacon, 2005.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 P- 2. A Book by Two or Three Authors Format:
Author 1, Author 2, and Author 3. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Date.
Example: Holmes, Denise, Steve Murray, and Deborah B. Downes. Effective Teamwork for Middle School Administrators. New York: Penguin, 2006.
P- 3. A Book with an Editor ( only applies when you are referring to the entire book; otherwise use P- 5) Format:
Editor’s Name, ed. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Date.
Example:
ONeil, Marcia A., ed. Developing District Curriculum Plans. New York: Random House, 2004.
P- 4. An Article in a Book Arranged Alphabetically (Encyclopedia, Dictionary, etc.) Format:
Author of Article. “Title of Article.” Title of Book. Edition. City: Publisher, Date.
Examples: Selvitella, Julie. “ Paper Maché.” Encyclopedia Americana. 2004 ed. Danbury: Grolier, 2004. “Noam Chomsky.” Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 2001. P- 5. An Article in a Book with an Editor (Anthologies, Collections, etc.) Format:
Author of Article. “Title of Article.” Title of Anthology or Reference. Ed. Editor’s Name. Edition. City: Publisher, Date. Pages.
Example:
Fawcett, Todd. “Designed to Submerge.” Fabulous Science Projects. Ed. Kaye Levesque. Rev. ed. Boston: Harvard UP, 2004. 68 – 89.
P-6. Article in a Periodical (Journal, Magazine, or Newspaper) Format:
Author. “Article Title.” Periodical Title [City] Date of issue or Volume # and (year): Pages.
Examples: Murray, Stephen. “Extreme Hiking.” Lawrence Tribune [Lawrence, MA] Jan.1987: 10.
2
Fegan, Geraldine. “Simple Citations.” Knowledge Quest 106 (2004): 15-18.
P-7. An Image Published in a Book (Painting, Sculpture, Photograph, Map, or Chart) Format:
Creator’s Name. Title or Description of Image. Date Created. Owner of Original, City (if applicable). Title of Book in Which Published. By Author (or Ed. Editor). Vol. #. City: Publisher, Date. Page or Plate Number. 35
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 Example: Sargent, John Singer. The Daughters of Edward D. Boit, 1882. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. John Singer Sargent. By Trevor Fairbrother. New York: Abrams, 994. 42.
Rules for Online Databases 1.
Author’s name – not always available: check at the top and bottom of the article.
2.
Title of article – enclose article titles in quotation marks.
3a. Original source - applies if the article appeared first in print. •
Complete the appropriate information for the type of print source. o City may not be listed.
3b. Name of electronic source – applies if the article appeared first in electronic form.
4.
•
Enter the name of the electronic source, underlined, followed by period.
•
Enter the edition, version, or year (if available), followed by a period.
Database Name – Underlined. •
5.
May not apply to certain sources.
Owner - either the company who owns the database or (for free databases) the sponsor of the database. •
6.
If using an article that first appeared in electronic format, put a comma after the owner’s name, followed by the year of electronic publication (if known).
Providing Institution – The name of the organization whose website you used to open the database. •
Does not apply to free databases. Do not follow with a period.
7. Date of Use: use standard format for dates.
8. URL of service (the web address of the database). •
Put a “less than” mark (<) before the URL and a “greater than” mark (>) after it, followed by a period.
•
Do not include hyperlinks in your Works Cited entries: enter “Control Z” to undo automatic hyper-linking by your word processor (automatic hyper-linking underlines the URL).
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
Citation Formats for Online Databases S-1. Article from any book reproduced on a subscription database (Biography Resource Center, INFOTRAC, ABC-CLIO, etc.) Format:
Author. “Article Title.” Title of Book. Vol. #. City: Publisher, Date. Pages. Database Name. Owner. Providing Institution. Date of Use .
Example:
“Robert Frost.” Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 21. Gale Research, 1997. Biography Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Andover West Middle School. 10 Oct. 2006 .
S-2. Article from a periodical on a subscription database (INFOTRAC, Biography Resource Center, News Bank, etc.) Format:
Example:
Author. “Article Title.” Periodical Title date of print publication or volume # and (year): Pages. Database Name. Owner. Providing Institution. Date of Use . Shaw, Jonathan. “The Legacy of Red Auerbach” Time 20 Nov. 2006: 42-48. NewsBank. Andover West Middle School. 20 Nov. 2006 .
S-3. Article in an online encyclopedia: Format:
Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Reference Work. Edition or version (if applicable). Owner, date of electronic publication. Name of Providing Library or Corporation Date of Use .
Example:
Roberts, J. J. M. "Gilgamesh, Epic of." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2006. Grolier Online. Andover West Middle School. 5 Nov. 2006 .
S-4. Image from a database (Painting, Sculpture, Photograph, Map, or Chart) Format:
Creator’s Name. Title or Description of Image, Date Created. Owner of Original, City(if applicable). Name of Database. Date of Use .
Examples: Vinci, Leonardo da. Mona Lisa, 1503-1506. Louvre, Paris. World History: Ancient & Medieval. 2006. ABC-CLIO. Andover West Middle School. Nov. 2006 .
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5
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. World Geography. 2006. ABC-CLIO. Andover West Middle School. 5 Nov. 2006 .
Rules for Internet (Free Web) Sources It is often difficult to identify the citation components required for documenting information found on the “Free Web.” Check at the bottom of the web page, the website’s home page, and the site’s “about” pages for authorship information, the name of the sponsoring institutions, and dates. If you cannot find the information for a particular component then skip it. Keep in mind that the goal is to make it possible for the reader to locate the source of your information. The components (parts) of “works cited” page entries for Internet sources are discussed below in the order in which they appear in a typical entry. The general rules for “Works Cited” page entries all apply to citations for Internet sources. 1. Author’s name 2. Title of document or web page – Enclose in quotation marks. 3. Name of website - most web pages are part of a larger website. •
To find the title of the website either: o click on “home”; or o shorten the URL to the end of the domain and click enter.
•
A website is considered a major work and its title is underlined.
4. Date of electronic publication and/or last update of page or site. •
Use the standard format for all dates: day Mon. year.
5. Name of any associated organization or institution. •
This is usually the sponsor of the website.
6. Date of Use: use standard format for dates. Do not follow with a period. 7. URL of web page (this is the web address of the page). •
It is usually easiest to copy this from the address box and paste it into your entry.
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• •
WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 Put a “less than” mark (<) before the URL and a “greater than” mark (>) after it, followed by a period. Do not include hyperlinks in your Works Cited entries: enter “Control Z” to undo automatic hyper-linking by your word processor (automatic hyper-linking underlines the URL).
Citation Formats for Internet Sources W-1. World Wide Web (general Web site from the “Free Net”) Format:
Author (if known). “Title of Page of Document.” Title of Site or Larger Work (if applicable).Date of electronic publication, last update for page or document. Name of any Associated Institution. Date of Use .
Examples: Simon, D. N. “Documenting Sources in Your Work.” Andover West Middle School Library Website. 2006, 8 Nov. 2006. Andover Public Schools. 8 Dec. 2006 . “Venus.” Windows to the Universe Sep. 2000. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. 1 Mar. 2004 . W-2. Image from any “free web’ source (Painting, Sculpture, Photograph, Map, or Chart) Format:
Creator’s Name. Title or Descripton of Image, Date Created. Owner of Original, City(if applicable). Name of Site. Date of Use .
Example:
Van Gogh, Vincent. Irises. 1889. Getty Museum, Los Angeles. J. Paul Getty Trust. 2 Jan. 2004 .
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
SAMPLE “WORKS CITED” PAGE
Works Cited Fawcett, Todd. “Designed to Submerge.” Fabulous Science Projects. Ed. Kaye Levesque. Boston: Harvard UP, 2004. 68 – 89. [Article in a Book with and Editor] Fegan, Geraldine. “Simple Citations.”
Knowledge Quest 106 (2004): 15-18. [Article in a
Periodical]
"Gilgamesh." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 2006. Grolier Online. Andover West Middle School.
5 Nov. 2006 . [Article in an Online Subscription
Reference Work]
Holmes, Denise, Steve Murray, and Deborah B. Downes.
Effective Teamwork for Middle
School Administrators. New York: Penguin, 2006. [Book with Two or More Authors] Hughes, David. Memoirs of a School Counselor. Boston: Beacon, 2005. [Book with One Author] Selvitella, Julie. “ Paper Maché.” Encyclopedia Americana. 2004 ed. Danbury: Grolier, 2004. [Article in a Book Arranged Alphabetically]
“Venus.”
Windows to the Universe
Sep. 2000.
University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research. 1 Mar. 2004 . [Article, Document, or Web Page from the “Free Web”]
Vinci, Leonardo da.
Mona Lisa.
Medieval. 2006.
1503 -1506.
ABC-CLIO.
Louvre, Paris.
World History: Ancient &
Andover West Middle School. 5 Nov. 2006
. [image from a Subscriotion Database]
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008
GLOSSARY
active window:
Any image window or dialog box currently being used.
applications:
Software programs designed to perform a specific task or group of tasks, such as word processing, communications, or database management.
cite:
The act of indicating the source of information. Authors cite their sources for two important reasons: 1. to give credit to the originator of an idea or research they wish to discuss, and 2. to allow readers to locate the source of the information and read it in context.
content:
Meaning or message contained and communicated by a work of art or writing.
cut and paste:
Cutting means copying text to the clipboard and then deleting the same text from the document. Pasting means inserting a copy of clipboard information into a document at the cursor location.
default:
Settings or options the computer automatically adopts if the user does not specify any.
draft:
A preliminary version of something written, such as a speech or report.
drop-down menu:
A menu of commands or options that appears when you select an item with a mouse. The item you select is generally at the top of the display screen, and the menu appears just below it, as if you had pulled it down.
essential question:
A query that poses a basic argument or hypothesis of a writer, who then attempts to prove it with research. It is usually a rhetorical question, or one without an obvious answer. This question expresses the writer’s opinions.
GUI:
Graphical User Interface that uses pictures and symbols to make things more “user friendly.”
icons:
Pictures on the computer screen that represent documents, folders and applications. Clicking on the icon with a mouse or pointer will activate the file.
keyboard:
The set of typewriter-like keys that enables you to enter data into a computer.
monograph:
A publication complete in one volume or a finite number of volumes. It is more commonly known as a ‘book.’
mouse:
A hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you move it around on a mouse pad.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 orphan:
A single word or line of text that is left on the top of a page or column that was continued from a previous page or column.
paraphrasing:
Rewording a statement using different words and/or grammar while keeping the same meaning and approximate length.
parenthetical citations:
Documentation located within the text of a research paper that includes the author's name and page numbers placed in text in parentheses. It serves as an arrow to full citation in the Works Cited at the end of the document.
periodicals:
publications which are issued at least twice a year, including journals, magazines and newspapers.
primary sources:
Original manuscripts, records, or documents produced at the time an event occurred including letters, diaries, memoirs, newspapers, personal papers, public documents, field research reports, etc.
quoting:
Directly copying the words of another author. Placing quotation marks (e.g. “word”) around the text you are quoting and referencing the work.
research outline:
A research outline is a list of all of the steps you need to take to find the answers to your questions about your paper.
rhetorical question: A question that is asked not for the purpose of getting information, but to to provoke thought. secondary sources:
A source created by someone either not present when the event took place or removed by time from the event. Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, journal articles, histories, and encyclopedias.
subscription database:
A database that can be accessed or licensed only through a subscription. The library pays for the license so students have access from the library.
summarizing:
Condensing the main points of an article or story, using as few words as possible, and putting it in one’s own words
text box:
A rectangular area on a dialog box where text can be typed.
thesis statement:
The thesis statement may be a concise and general summary of the main points of the essay, or it may be the logical conclusion to the argument made in the essay.
widow:
The first line of a paragraph appears at the bottom of a page with the remainder appearing on the following page.
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WMS InfoLit & Tech Manual 2007-2008 windows:
A window is a visual area, usually rectangular in shape, containing some kind of user interface.
word processing:
The creation, input, editing, and production of words in documents and texts by means of a computer system.
Works Cited:
A listing of sources cited in a research paper. It is always used with parenthetical citations and appears at the end of a research paper. Sources cited are listed alphabetically by the author's last name (or by title, if there is no author).
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