HSLDA Heart Beat: Writing Research Papers

Mission: Research Paper
Volume 70, Program 2110/16/2006
How can I teach my high schooler about research papers when I barely remember them from my college days? Tune in to today’s Home School Heartbeat, with Home School Legal Defense Association President Mike Smith, for an answer.

Mike Smith:This week, I’m pleased to welcome my good friend Becky Cooke, a high school coordinator at Home School Legal Defense Association. It’s great to have you with us, Becky.

Becky Cooke:Well, thank you. I’m delighted to be here.

Mike:Before we begin discussing how to write research papers, let’s start with a basic question: what is a research paper, Becky?

Becky:A research paper is simply a piece of writing that systematically and carefully investigates a particular subject or event. You parents may remember that when you were in high school and were asked to write a research paper, you used such sources as an encyclopedia, articles, books, and so on to write a lengthy paper in your own words about what these sources said. Today, however, students are expected to review multiple sources and then use the arguments and views contained in these sources to support the students own independent judgment. This type of writing is called analytical writing, and it will teach your students how to think critically. As far as length goes, these papers are usually 5-10 pages long. Since the emphasis in college is on this style of writing, it’s important for your children to begin mastering it in high school.

How to Begin
Volume 70, Program 2210/17/2006
My high schooler needs to learn how to write a research paper—where do I begin? Homeschool mom Becky Cooke shares some practical advice, on today’s Home School Heartbeat with Mike Smith.

Mike Smith:Becky, many parents find that writing is a very difficult subject to teach—often, it’s easier to demonstrate than to explain. Can you offer some suggestions for the parent who has just assigned a research paper to his or her student?

Becky Cooke:Well, you know, Mike, it’s important for the parent to not only encourage the children in their writing, but also provide specific guidelines for the assignment. Begin by giving the child a list of narrow topics, because children often choose ones that are too broad, resulting in a superficial paper. Then also provide a list of suggested sources to use for investigating their topic. Of course, this means the parent must familiarize himself with these ahead of time. Having the children formulate an outline will help to organize their ideas in the order of presentation, giving their papers a good flow. Also, it’s helpful to start with a short research paper (five pages) before working toward longer ones—say, 10 pages. Remember, though, for all of us the most difficult part of writing is, really, getting started. Even with the best teaching, best course of study, it comes down to practice, practice, practice, practice. That’s the most effective tool in becoming a good writer.

Understanding Citation
Volume 70, Program 2310/18/2006
Is your homeschooled high schooler learning how to write a research paper? Then tune in for a few practical tips, on today’s Home School Heartbeat with HSLDA President Mike Smith.

Mike Smith:Becky, learning how to write a research paper is an important part of high school—but those citations are so confusing! How can parents teach the intricacies of citation in their homeschooling?

Becky Cooke:Well, because there are several citation systems that are acceptable to be used—such as MLA, APA, or CBE—it’s not important to know every system, but rather to learn one system (realizing rules can change later). If the student has the skill of one system, he can easily adapt to the others as the need arises. For most general high school papers, the MLA is often used. But if the child takes a course from another teacher, he needs to check which system is required. Since kids may try to exclusively use the Internet for research, it’s a good idea to require a variety of sources so they will be forced to know how to use and cite different types of material. There are writing handbooks and websites available that detail the latest guidelines for citing all the different kinds of sources. Another reason for teaching citation, though, is to teach children to avoid plagiarism—and also to avoid those long quotes and excessive paraphrasing which hinder independent critical thinking.

Make it Fun!
Volume 70, Program 2410/19/2006
Is it hard to engage your high schooler’s interest in writing a research paper? Then stay tuned to this edition of Home School Heartbeat, with HSLDA President Mike Smith.

Mike Smith:Today I’m talking with Becky Cooke, a high school coordinator at Home School Legal Defense Association. Becky, once parents have assigned a research paper to their student, how can they make the writing process a little more interesting?

Becky Cooke:Well, Mike, if I knew the answer to that question, I would have made a million bucks by now! But seriously, here are some tips. Writing research papers will be more enjoyable if the kids are interested in the topic. Depending on the topic, the child may want to interview people who have relevant information about it, or they may want to actually visit the area or place pertaining to the subject. Now, a common problem which makes writing more difficult is having too little information for the assigned length of paper, so the student tries to stretch this information to fill the required number of pages by repeating himself using different words. So encourage the child to have more information than needed. On the other hand, some students may research ad nauseam, without beginning to write; so step in and help him begin. Also, as your child researches, ask him about his findings to ensure he is forming his own thoughts on the subject. A few probing questions will show him how to think about his topic and what issues still need to be researched.

Evaluating the Paper
Volume 70, Program 2510/20/2006
Parents, need some advice on how to evaluate your homeschooled high schooler’s research paper? Mike Smith discusses that topic with HSLDA High School Coordinator Becky Cooke, on today’s Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Smith:Becky, this week we’ve been talking about the process of writing a research paper and how to teach that in a homeschool. Once a student paper is done, however, parents may feel unsure about how to grade or evaluate it. Do you have any advice to build parents’ confidence there, Becky?

Becky Cooke:Parents should remember that grading research papers—or any writing assignment—is subjective. But you can use a rubric, which is a simple system of listing the grading categories you might want to include. Next, indicate how much each category will count toward the grade, with the total number of points adding up to 100. Giving this sheet of categories and point totals to the child along with the assignment will let her know up front how her grade will be calculated. Then as you read through the finished product, award points for the relevant categories, which will then be added up for the final grade. For example, let’s say grammar and form is worth 25 points. Read your child’s paper, concentrating on her grammar and form, and give a point total anywhere up to the 25 points. Do this for every category. This system helps you grade the paper, and your child will better understand the grade she receives.

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