This is a research paper for my 11th grade students, but it can be modified for any grade on the high school level. It is biographical in nature and focuses on an American author (since I teach American literature). I got the format for this handout from a colleague, but I changed a lot of stuff, as well as the focus of the paper, to American authors.

This paper teaches the student how to research, how to use MLA formatting, and how to properly cite sources both paranthetically and in a Works Cited page.

I spend the majority of a class period explaining the project, and then I take them through the steps in several classes. We visit the school's media center for research. Then we come up with thesis statements in class. We also do a peer edit in class on the rough draft before the final paper is due.

UPDATED! This item has been updated on May 24, 2010 to reflect the 2009 MLA changes!

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KEYWORDS: research paper project Works Cited citation MLA online resources writing thesis