Historical Fiction Research Paper

Teachers: Melode Ortwein, Christopher Carnley, Jodie Price

Historical Fiction Research Paper
Purpose: Students will demonstrate knowledge of developing and presenting a research paper.
Rhetorical Situation: A) Informing classmates of history that coincides with the book that will be read by the class B) Informing in a formal situation
Methods: Students will be divided into groups and will be assigned a history topic to research. They will be informed of purpose of doing this project.
Materials: Giant Post-Its, markers, research grid, small post-its
1. Groups collaborate to determine appropriate sources and how to locate them.
2. Each student in the group will conduct research and write their own paper on the group’s topic. Students will be given a graphic organizer to help them organize their thoughts. This paper will be in any format that they wish, not necessarily a research format.
Assessment: Peer Review, Teacher Review, Talk Back
3. Students will be given a guided format to compose the paper in research style. Teacher will discuss the change in rhetorical situation. The first paper was intended to inform your peers. The research paper is intended for a more formal audience.
Assessment: Reflective summary, teacher review, talk back
4. Groups will collaborate on presenting their findings to their peers by using giant post-it to record info. It will be posted on the wall. The class will be given a time to go around and look at all of the post-it.
Assessment: Peer review by using little post-its to record what they like and what further info they need about the topic.

5. Begin reading of the book that is written around the historical facts that have been researched by the class.

LETTER TO PARENTS

Dear Parents,

As a teacher, I feel an obligation to prepare students for future studies. A crucial skill for any student attending college is the ability to compose a research paper. To that end, our class will begin this process very soon.
Our class is engaging in a writing unit that deals with research. It will be based on Florida History. The assignment will be related to our next novel, The Land Remembered. Not only do I feel that students will have a personal interest in it, but the novel’s historical fiction will reference interesting facts about Florida.
The purpose of the assignment is to further the students’ skills in writing. They will learn to conduct research, cite sources, paraphrasing information and to formulate a research paper.

Sincerely,
Melode Ortwein
Jodie Price
Chistopher Carnley
(850)555-5647