10 Steps to Complete a Summarybased Essay Honors

10 Steps to Complete a Summary-based Essay Honors LA 11 How to Use Source Material: Create a Summary-based Essay Provide Support and Evidence Avoid Plagiarism

STEP 1: Find Sources Find sources that are appropriate for your topic Find sources that are credible: unbiased knowledgeable experts in their field reputable, fair and balanced organizations

STEP 2: Gather Your Source Material Copy and paste source material to a document for your annotations. � Write/type the source at the top of copied source material. (You will use this to write your Works Cited page. ) � Copy and paste just the portion that gives you the information you need. � Copy and paste each source onto its own document, with the source typed at the top.

STEP 3: Read to Learn Read annotate each of your copied-and-pasted source documents. �Underline key words, names, dates, and useful evidence �Interact with the material: draw diagrams, jot down your reactions, questions, comments �Interpret, make connections, draw conclusions, integrate new information with your ideas and prior knowledge �Complete this step with each of your copied-and-

STEP 4: Write a Summary of Your Learning Without looking at the copied source material, summarize what you learned. �In your own words, tell what you learned from each source. �After writing summaries of your learning from each source, check for accuracy. �Make sure you haven’t copied any wording from your sources.

STEP 5: Combine Your Summaries Your summaries form the body of your essay. �Your summaries and comments—your connections, analyses, and evaluations—make up your discussion. �Plan the order of your essay—make a list or outline. �Identify major points from your summaries, following your plan of organization. These will be your topic sentences.

STEP 6: Add Supporting Evidence from Your Source Material Determine what would help support and clarify your discussion �Look back at your source material for this specific information that you need. �Grab these pieces of evidence from your summaries, your paraphrases, and useful direct quotes and drop them where needed to support your major points. �“Sandwich” this borrowed material: Introduce it, use it, comment on it.

STEP 7: “Sandwich” Borrowed Source Material For each use of source material, provide the “sandwich” � Introduce the borrowed material with attribution: According to UCLA professor James Green, � Use the source to illustrate what you mean or additional specific facts or explanation: According to UCLA professor James Green, “Advertising is influential to social morals. ” � Comment on the source material: interpret, connect, or explain the quote—say what is significant about the information: According to UCLA professor James Green, “Advertising is influential to social morals. ” Indeed, the models of behavior and consumption we view shape our sense of propriety.

STEP 8: Write an Introduction After the body of your essay is drafted, write an introduction to your essay. �“Hook” your reader—lead into your topic and create interest in your topic �State what your topic is �Provide any background information needed to understand what your topic is about and/or why it is important �Provide a look at what major points your essay will discuss (a “plan of development”)

STEP 9: Write a Conclusion Wrap up your essay and leave readers with a final, memorable idea about your topic. �Briefly summarize your major points—without repetition of your wording in the essay �Restate your thesis—what is important/significant about your topic �Exit with a flourish—leave your readers with a final idea to “chew on” and remember (just as you “hooked” your reader)

STEP 10: Write a Works Cited Page From your copy-and-pasted sources document (see Step 2), alphabetize and format a works cited page. �Refer to the OWL Purdue guidelines (MLA 7) to format your list and each citation. �Refer to the sample works cited page to see how your page should look (double spacing, hanging indent) �Make sure your in-text “key word” (last name, “Article first word, ” or website name first word) matches your works cited list, including matching the formatting.

PREPARE YOUR FINAL DRAFT: Read ALOUD and Revise, Revise Use an editing guide and CAREFULLY; listen to your sentences. �Read once for the sound of your sentences and revise. �Read again for the organization and support of your ideas and discussion. �Read two or three more times for punctuation, spelling, use of plurals/possessives, and grammar. �Check use and formatting of sources in your