Name: ____________________________________________________________

English 6

United States National Parks

Project
1. Pick Your Topic:
This is the very first step of any research project. For this National Parks
Research Project, you may choose from any of the parks listed below. There
will be a lottery for whom will choose first, second, and so on. Make sure to
pick a park that is of interest to you and one that you can get enough
information about it. You must have AT LEAST 4 sources (1 book, reference
material, internet, magazine, newspaper, video, brochure, etc.) For this
project, only 1 source can be an encyclopedia. You may use resources at
school, but you may have to find others at the public library.

Acadia
Arches
Badlands
Big Bend
Biscayne (Florida
Keys)
Carlsbad Caverns
Channel Islands
Crater Lake
Death Valley
Denali
Everglades
Gates of the Arctic
Gettysburg

Glacier Bay
Grand Canyon
Grand Teton
Great Basin
Great Sand Dunes
Great Smoky
Mountains
Hawaii Volcanoes
Hot Springs
Isle Royale
Mammoth Cave
Mesa Verde
Mount Rainier
Mount St. Helens

North Cascades
Olympic
Point Reyes
Rocky Mountain
Sequoia / Kings
Canyon
Shenandoah
Valley Forge
Virgin Islands
Yellowstone
Yosemite
Zion

**Circle or highlight 5 that are of interest to you and research where they are
located.
Top 3 Choices and locations:
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
____
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
____
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
___

2. Sources:
You will receive colored slips to take down needed information as you find
your sources. This will be extremely helpful when you put your bibliography
page together---you MUST include one colored slip per source. Remember:
you must use information from 4 different sources and at least one source
must be a book.
3. Note Cards:
You will be required to use note cards when doing your research for the
project. Informational notes taken on note cards SHOULD be written in YOUR
OWN WORDS (which is called paraphrasing) and each note card should
contain 3 related key ideas. You are required to have at least 75 note cards
for this project. There is a sample included in this packet, but I will also go
over how to correctly make your note cards in class. Dont forget to write
your SOURCE and PAGE NUMBER when making your notecardsthis will make
it much easier later when you are writing your bibliography.
4. Typed Outline:
Once you have all of your notecards completed, you will arrange them by
topics and subtopics. This will help you develop an outline for your paper. An
outline is like the skeleton of your bodyit gives your paper structure. You
are required to complete the outline using outline form and include the
following MAIN TOPICS:
I.
Opening Paragraph (Introduction)
II.
History of the Park
III.
Plants and Animals
IV.
Natural Features
V.
Visiting/Attractions
VI.
Climate
VII.
Closing Paragraph (Conclusion)
You are able to add more main topics if you come across them in your
research. There is an outline sample included in this packet to help you get
started.
5. Paper Format:
Your research paper needs to be 3-5 pages, typed, double-spaced. Font size
should be 11 or 12 point and it should be written in Times New Roman or
Calibri. Do not include extra spaces between paragraphs, and margins
should be set at 1 inch on all sides. The paper needs to be written in your
own words otherwise you are plagiarizing (taking credit for someone elses
work) which is ILLEGAL and you will receive a zero.

6. Visual:
You are required to have at least three visuals that relate to your topic for
your research paper. These should be included after your main research
portion of the paper and must include a typed explanation with each. A
visual includes anything such as pictures, charts, graphs, timelines, etc. (See
example later in packet.)

7. Title Page:
This page should be the cover of your report. I have included a sample so
you know how to create this page and what information you need to include.
You will need the title, your name, your research topic, a picture, teachers
name, class name, and date the final copy is due.
8. Bibliography Page:
You are required to include a bibliography written in MLA format, citing all the
sources you used for this paper. Remember to put your sources in
alphabetical order. There is a sample in this packet. We will review how to do
this in class as well.

HAPPY RESEARCHING!!

Impact Statement
What is an Impact Statement?

It briefly summarizes the meaning and significance of your research

o What have you learned that is so great about your National Park?

Answers the questions So What? and Who Cares?

o What is it about your National Park that makes people want to go
there?

You may want to focus on natural features and tourist attractions in your
park.

Try to make your park appealing so people want to go there after reading
your paper.

At the beginning of a research paper, its important to address the impact of

whatever topic you chose on our world today. By starting your paper out in this
manner, it draws the reader in and makes them want to read more. Look at the
following example to help you form your own Impact Statement at the beginning of
your research paper.

Example:
Matthew Henson overcame social boundaries and prejudice to become the first AfricanAmerican to reach the North Pole during a time when African-Americans were not considered to
be equals to other Americans. However, without Hensons guidance and help, it is believed the
expedition to the North Pole led by Robert Peary would never have been completed. Henson is a
hero among the African-American community and to the United States as he is co-discoverer of
the North Pole. Henson not only overcame the hardships of being born into a poor, farming,
African-American family at a time where African-Americans were not considered equal, but he
also overcame the physical hardships of one of the most difficult expeditions to complete at that
time.

Your Impact Statement:

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________
Organizing Your Main Topics: Once you have all your notecards, organize
them by main topics. Write the titles of your main topics in the center wheel
and add details surrounding them.
Main Topic 1:

Main Topic 2:

Main Topic 3:

Main Topic 4:

Main Topic 5:

Main Topic 6:

Main Topic 7:

What should my research paper look like?

Turn In a Hard Copy

Turn in Digitally

Impact Statement
Concept Circles
Outline
Rough Draft with Edits
Edit Sheet

Cover
Final Paper
Bibliography
Visuals

Research Paper should include:

Title Page (should look like sample)

Filled out concept circles
Impact Statement
Typed Outline
Body of paper is at least 3 full pages typed (double-spaced).
Three visuals relating to your topic with captions or references
Bibliography (with at least four required sources in alphabetical
order like the sample)
Completed Peer and Self Edit Sheet

Word Processing Guidelines:

11 or 12 point font size

Font: Times New Roman or Calibri
Double Spaced
No extra spaces between paragraphs (only hit return/enter once,
and click Remove spaces after paragraphs)
Do not end the paper with The End.
Words to Not Use In Your Research Paper
My paper is about
My story is about
I hope you enjoy my
Let me tell you about
paper
I
In this paragraph I
This paper is about
will
We, Us
Lets read on to find
And that was my
out
paper
Today Im going to
My paper is about
No personal opinions
tell you about
or feelings about the
subject
You, Your
My, Mine, Me

Sample Note Card

Each note card you fill out will need the following information:
o
o
o
o
o

Your name on top

The note card number (1 75) on top
The category in the middle
Three facts in your own words
The source title you got the information from (book or
website)

Name
Natural Features
Fact 1:

Fact 2:

Fact 3:

National Park Service

Website

Sixth Grade Research Project

Yellowstone National Park
Parks
name

Timothy Thompson

Your
name

A colored
picture from
your park

Teachers
Name

Class Name

Mrs. Smiths Class

English 6
May 25th, 2013

Date Due

Tips for Writing Your Bibliography

Remember:
The items in your bibliography are listed in alphabetical order by the first thing
written on each line (like the example below).

The first line of each item is lined up on the left hand side. Any line after the first of
the same source is tabbed in. (second line and on)
Your bibliography should be double spaced and you should have a space between
each source item you have listed.
Dont forget a PERIOD at the end of each entry.
Remember to double check the correct order for listing the information.
Dont forget the title Bibliography at the top of the page.
Your bibliography is the VERY LAST page(s) in your report.

Sample:

Bibliography
"Battery." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1990.

"Best Batteries." Consumer Reports Magazine 32 Dec. 1994: 71-72.

Booth, Steven A. "High-Drain Alkaline AA-Batteries." Popular Electronics 62 Jan. 1999: 58.

Brain, Marshall. "How Batteries Work." howstuffworks. 1 Aug. 2006

<http://home.howstuffworks.com/battery.htm>.
"Cells and Batteries." The DK Science Encyclopedia. 1993.

Dell, R. M., and D. A. J. Rand. Understanding Batteries. Cambridge, UK: The Royal Society
of Chemistry, 2001.

"Learning Center." Energizer. Eveready Battery Company, Inc. 1 Aug. 2006

<http://www.energizer.com/learning/default.asp>.

"Learning Centre." Duracell. The Gillette Company. 31 July 2006

<http://www.duracell.com/au/main/pages/learning-centre-what-is-a-battery.asp>.

Research Paper Grades and Due Dates

Requirements
Prewriting

Points

Due Date

Note Cards (75 cards):

Set 1 (25):
Set 2 (25):
Set 3 (25):

______/25
______/25
______/25

Main TopicsConcept Wheels

______/20

Citation Colored Sheets (At least 4)

______/10

Impact Summary (in packet)

______/10

Typed Outline

______/20

Title Page

______/10

Final Paper
3-5 Typed Pages of Text

______/10

Impact Statement included in paper

______/10

Opening and closing paragraphs

______/10

Final Paper Content (included all information needed and

written in own words)
Correct Format
(Font Size, Font, Double Spaced, Removed Spaces between
paragraphs)
Three Visuals

______/40

Bibliography Page (correct format)

______/10

Transitions between paragraphs

______/15

______/15

______/5

Spelling, grammar, and punctuation

______/10

All Content of Paper Included (5 pts each)

Title Page, Concept Circles (7 total), Outline, Paper (3 full
paged), Three Visuals with captions, Bibliography, Rough Draft,
Self Edit, Peer Edit

______/45

Total for the Final Paper

______/20
0
______/31
5

Total for the Entire Project