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Research Project Formats
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Formal Research
Essay
Most of
the time, a research project culminates in a formal research paper. While
it is only one option for this project, and while it is quite traditional, the
research paper is a great choice because you already have many of the skills you
need to construct it. In addition to the general requirements for the
research project, here are some guidelines for the essay:
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5-6
full pages of text (1500-1800 words)
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Standard
MLA page format
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An
introduction with a clear controlling statement
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Body
paragraphs with topic and summary sentences
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At
least 18 source references (an average of 3-4 per page)
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Visual
aids (charts, pictures, etc.)
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Web Site
A more
techno-centered project would be the web site. This type of project would
focus on writing and graphics, and the organization would be based on a series
of logically organized, linked web pages. In addition to the general
requirements for the research project, here are some guidelines for the web
site:
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1500-1800
words of writing
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Clean,
creative, surfable web design
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An
introduction page with a clear controlling statement
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A
clearly navigable site of at least 6 web pages
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Links
to other sites with good info on your topic
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At
least 18 source references
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Plenty
of visual aids (charts, pictures, etc.)
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PowerPoint
Presentation
The
PowerPoint presentation is similar to the essay and web site projects.
Here, though, the information is organized in a chronological series of slides. In
addition to the general requirements for the research project, here are some
guidelines for the PowerPoint option:
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1500-1800
words of writing
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Clean,
creative, page design
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An
introduction page with a clear controlling statement
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A
clear, chronological use of slide
organization
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Links
to web sites with good info on your topic
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At
least 18 source references
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Plenty
of visual aids (charts, pictures, etc.)
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Video/Radio
Journalism
A
creative possibility would be the video or radio journalism project. This
challenging task would work well for locally centered research, such as a family
genealogy project or an essay on the effects of coal bed methane on the county
economy. Research would include interviews in addition to the other
required web and print sources. In both video and radio projects, the
product would be based around a carefully written script. In
addition to the general requirements for the research project, here are some
guidelines for these options:
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A
typed script of 1500-1800 words
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An
introduction segment with a clear controlling statement
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Logical
organization
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Recognized
use of at least 18 source references
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Plenty
of visual aids (video) or sound aids (audio)
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Clear,
quality production
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Pictorial Essay
The
pictorial essay is perhaps the most challenging project. In the spirit of National
Geographic magazine, this project uses a combination of carefully chosen and
placed photographs/pictures that represent the topic. And accompanying each
picture is a 50-100 word paragraph explaining the picture's significance in
terms of the project's overall goal. In
addition to the general requirements for the research project, here are some
guidelines for the pictorial essay:
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1500-1800
words of writing
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An
introduction paragraph with a clear controlling statement
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Clean,
creative format/organization of pictures
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At
least 10 pictures, carefully ordered with 100 word captions for each
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At
least 18 source references
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A
concluding paragraph that ties all of the pictures together
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