Grade Level(s):  7 and 8

Subject(s):  Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Technology

Learner Outcomes:
To prepare a working outline
To write a final thesis statement
To write a rough draft
To revise and proofread the rough draft
To write the final copy
Time Frame:  5 class periods of 40 minutes (may vary) 

Materials:
Completed Note Cards

Technology Tools/Courseware:
Computer with word processor and internet connection

Teacher Notes: 
Encourage students to get other proofreaders such as parents and teachers.
Make sure students avoid a purpose statement such as "The purpose of this paper is to tell
    you about...".
The conclusion should not merely be a restatement of the thesis but reach beyond it.

Procedures:
1.  Instruct students to make an informal list of topics and subtopics.  This will give the paper a
    scope and direction.  This document will not be included in the final paper.  Its purpose is to
    help the students plan and organize their information.
2. Students will rewrite their thesis statement to make sure it is not merely a topic but grows out
    of their research and points forward to a conclusion.
3. The teacher will explain the content of the introduction, body, and conclusion of the research
    paper, and students will organize their completed note cards.
4.  Students will prepare a rough draft .Teacher stresses that the ideas need to follow a logical
    sequence.
5. Teacher pairs students, according to a peer tutoring type situation, and has them evaluate their
    partner's rough draft according to the RUBRIC.
6. Teacher leads a discussion of what needs to be considered when evaluating, revising, and
    proofreading.   CHECKLIST
7.  Type the final copy on the word processor.  Run the program's grammar, style, and spell
    checker on your writing.
 

Modifications:
Handouts large print for students with visual difficulties
Use of video projector / LCD panel for visually impaired
Cooperative learning ( peer tutoring)
Extended time
Comply with individual's IEP
For less advanced students, break the task into more manageable parts.  For example,
    have the students get into small groups and give each other feedback after the
    introduction, body, and conclusion.
 

Enrichment Activities:
Students can analyze and evaluate revisions of a writer's model or sample.

Evaluation/Assessment:
Teacher evaluates the final thesis statement and the working outline.
Students evaluate their partner's rough draft according to the RUBRIC.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives (IGOs) and other standards:

English Language Arts:
    Listening/Speaking:
              7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15, 7.16,
              7.17, 7.18
              8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.12, 8.13, 8.14
    Reading Comprehension:
              7.23, 7.24, 7.27, 7.28, 7.28, 7.29, 7.30, 7.31, 7.33, 7.34, 7.36, 7.37
              8.16, 8.17, 8.18, 8.19, 8.21, 8.22, 8.23, 8.24, 8.27, 8.29, 8.30
    Reading Vocabulary:
              7.47,
              8.38, 8.39
    Writing:
              7.51, 7.52, 7.53, 7.55, 7.56, 7.57, 7.58, 7.59, 7.60, 7.61, 7.62, 7.64, 7.65
              8.48, 8.49, 8.50, 8.51, 8.53, 8.54, 8.58, 8.59, 8.63, 8.64
    Spelling:
              7.66
              8.75
    Language:
              8.83, 8.84, 8.85, 8.86, 8.87, 8.88, 8.89, 8.90, 8.91, 8.92, 8.93, 8.94, 8.95, 8.96, 8.97,
              8.98, 8.99, 8.100, 8.101, 8.102, 8.103, 8.104, 8.105, 8.106, 8.107, 8.108, 8.109, 8.110,
              8.111, 8.112, 8.113, 8.114, 8.115, 8.116, 8.117, 8.118, 8.119, 8.120, 8.121,8.122, 8.123,
              8.124, 8.125, 8.126, 8.127, 8.128, 8.129

    Study Skills:
              7.133, 7.134, 7.137, 7.147, 7.149, 7.152, 7.153, 7.154, 7.155, 7.157, 7.158
              8.130, 8.131, 8.133, 8.134, 8.135, 8.137, 8.142, 8.143, 8.144
    Computer Technology:
              7.163, 7.164, 7.165, 7.166, 7.167, 7.169, 7.170, 7.171, 7.172, 7.173
              8.145, 8.146, 8.147, 8.148, 8.150, 8.151, 8.152, 8.153, 8.154, 8.155
Science:
    Nature of Science:
              7.5, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9
              8.5, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9
    Scientific Attitudes/Habits of Mind:
              7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13
             8.10, 8.11, 8.12, 8.13
    Scientific Processes/Thinking Skills:
              7.14, 7.16, 7.17, 7.18, 7.19
              8.14, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18, 8.19
    Science Technology, and Society:
              7.74, 7.78, 7.83
    Computer Technology:
              7.84,7.85, 7.86, 7.88, 7.90, 7.92
              8.80, 8.81, 8.84, 8.90, 8.91, 8.92, 8.93, 8.95, 8.97, 8.98

Social Studies:
    Computer/Technology:
         7.59, 7.60, 7.61, 7.64, 7.68
               8.59, 8.60, 8.61, 8.64, 8.65, 8.67, 8.70

National Standards

References: 
     Kinneavy, James, and John Warriner. Elements of Writing.  Orlando:  Holt, Rinehart and
    Winston, Inc.,  1993.

    Lester, James.  Writing Research Papers:  A Complete Guide.  Harper Collins Publishers Inc.,
    1990.

    Mulderig, Gerald, and Langdon Elsbree. 12th ed.  The Heath Handbook.  Lexington:  D.C. Heath
    and Company, 1990.
Grammar Resource
Revision Checklist
 
 

Lesson 1	Lesson 2	Lesson 3	Lesson 5
Finding a Topic	Gathering Data	Taking Notes	Works Cited

Research Paper Sites: