How to Write a Research Paper for Beginners APA & MLA Bundle - Middle & High

Research Paper Bundle has both my APA and MLA units! Teach the research paper in either or both formats from start to finish! This could also be used to compare the two formats since different teachers prefer different formats.

**UPDATED TO 9th EDITION MLA.

The research paper is my least favorite unit to teach. It is cumbersome, multifaceted, and exhausting because students have such a difficult time grasping the concepts at first. Therefore, I constructed this unit for those of us who need an easier, more comprehensive way to teach the research paper without pulling our hair out. This unit teaches the basics of writing a research paper for beginners.

In this unit students learn how to . . .

Evaluate Sources

Collect useful information

Incorporate quotes, paraphrases, and summaries

Write a thesis statement

Cite correctly using MLA and APA format

Organize information

Write introduction, body, and conclusion

Create a Works Cited/References page using MLA and APA format

Specific Activities Included:

✏ Evaluating Sources Group Activity with Student Instrution Handout and Exit Ticket

✏ Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing . . . Oh My!

✏ Research Brainstorming Sheet

✏ Source Cards Template

✏ Introduction Paragraph handout with example

✏ Body Paragraph handout with example and highlighting task plus answers

✏ Conclusion Paragraph handout with example

✏ Works Cited Made Easy /References Made Easy

✏ Incorporating Citing Information task

✏ Citing or Incorrect Citing application task with answers

✏ Works Cited example / References Example

✏ Writing Topic and Concluding sentence practice

✏ Find the Error (Competition with answer key)

✏ Detailed Research Checklist (editable)

✏ Research Paper Rubric (editable)

✏ Overview of Research Process handout

✏ Feedback Assessment

This unit comes with 2 separate lesson packs for both MLA and APA.

► One tackles the topic of multitasking. I have selected websites to use so that teachers can limit sources in order to better check for plagiarism and make sure the Works Cited (MLA) and References (APA) and documentation are correct without having to look up a million different sites chosen by students. Some of the sites support multitasking while others do not, but students choose those relevant to one of the five topic choices given in the lesson. This unit does not teach how to do long quotations or how to cite multiple works by the same author because those topics do not come up in this beginner’s research paper. A student outline is not used in this unit because the beginning paper is short, and this process makes it so easy that an outline is not needed. Of course, you may add those details if you wish.

► The second pack is the same as the above, except it is geared towards a general topic that the students or you decide.

BOTH ARE THE SAME UNIT ADJUSTED FOR APA & MLA.

A note about feedback assessment included here: This is for students to prove they have read and understood your feedback on the paper. Oftentimes, students do not read feedback if they are happy with their grade (I have had plenty of students tell me that), but teachers spend a lot of time writing comments and correcting errors. Thus, the final activity in the packet holds students accountable for reading and understanding your feedback.

This research unit provides day-by-day lesson plans. The pages are packed full!

It will take approximately 2 and ½ weeks of 90 minute block classes. It may take more or less time depending on your school’s schedule and level of students in your classes.

There are a variety of activities included in this unit such as individual and group work, a competition, scaffolding exercises, etc.

Enjoy this unit, which makes research MUCH SIMPLER for students and teachers!!!

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