RESEARCH PROJECT CHECKLIST

Note: This checklist is a required part of Assignment 4. Check off each point against your research project. If you complete all points conscientiously, your research paper should be acceptable. Do not submit a blank checklist. Each point must be marked.

_____ 1. I have at least 1000 words and no more than 1500 words in my report, not including my Works Cited list and checklist.
     _____ I have included my required identifying information in the upper left corner of the first page of my report.
     _____ I have underlined my thesis statement. I have double spaced my report. I have indented all paragraphs at least five spaces.
     _____ I know what first-person and second-person pronouns are, and I have not used these in writing my report.
     _____ I know what plagiarism is, and to the best of my knowledge, I have not plagiarized in preparing this report.
     _____ I have included all required parts in my printed package (report, Works Cited list, checklist).
     _____ I have satisfactorily completed Assignments 1-3, which is a requirement before I can submit Assignment 4. These assignments have been graded, accepted, and returned to me.

_____ 2. I have at least three nonfiction sources.
     _____ I have at least two different kinds of sources. For example, a magazine article and a book are two different kinds of sources.
     _____ Of my three minimum sources, no more than one is a general reference source (encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac, handbook, etc.).
     _____ I have not used a book of fiction, poetry, or drama as one of my three minimum sources.
     _____ Each source is cited at least once in my report.
     _____ I have not used Wikipedia, New World Encyclopedia, or blogs as sources.
     _____ I have not personal knowledge or personal commentary in my report.

_____ 3. I have carefully kept track of the locations of ALL the information I have borrowed--summarized, paraphrased, quoted--from other sources, and I have indicated those locations specifically in my research report using proper MLA documentation (citations and Works Cited entries).

_____ 4. I have carefully studied the examples of MLA Documentation style at the links provided in the assignment. I believe that I have properly formatted my citations and Works Cited entries, and I have based each on a MLA example entry that I can provide if requested. If I could not find a similar example, I consulted my instructor. I have provided citations and Works Cited entries for ALL borrowed material I have used in my essay. (Borrowed means any summary, paraphrase, or direct quote from any source.) In addition:
     _____ The first word in each of my citations is the same as the first word in the corresponding Works Cited entry.
     _____ If an author's name is given, I have used that name in my citation instead of a title or some other information. If an author's name is not given, I have used the title of the article in my citation and to begin my Works Cited entry for that source.
     _____ No more than 3 citations in a row are from the same source.
     _____ My citations are properly formatted and punctuated according to MLA guidelines.
     _____ I have placed the end period after a citation at the end of a sentence, not before it.
     _____ My Works Cited entries are complete and include all required information. My Works Cited entries are arranged in alphabetical order. In addition, they are properly punctuated and indented according to MLA guidelines.

_____ 5. I have enclosed all direct quotations in quotation marks.
     _____ I have checked that all direct quotations I have used are reproduced exactly from the source.
     _____ I have provided a citation with a specific location for each direct quote I have used.
     _____ I have counted my direct quote words, and my direct quotes do not exceed 10% of the total word count of my report. My use of direct quotes equals _______ %.

_____ 6. I have proofread my research project carefully, and I have included all required parts. I have reviewed the various requirements of the research project to ensure the completeness of my work. I have conscientiously completed this checklist.