Writing a Research Paper: Learn How to Research, Outline, Write, and Present
In this 6-week course, students learn how to research, outline, write a research paper, and create and present a presentation based on the research paper.
Victoria Atkinson, M.A.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(123)
What's included
6 live meetings
5 in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. While students will be given time to work on the research paper in class (as time permits), they will need to complete the bulk of the parts of the research paper process outside of class. This includes outside research, the thesis and outline, rough draft, final draft, and presentation.Assessment
Each part of the research paper process will serve as an assessment of the student’s understanding. Students will receive feedback and letter grades on each part to help them understand how they can grow as research paper writers.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Do your students struggle with writing research papers? Do you want them to learn how to write a proper research paper through firsthand experience?
In this course, students will choose a topic and will write an actual research paper over the first five weeks of the course. This is the best way to learn: by doing. I will show students how to find quality sources at public libraries and online, how to plan out and outline their paper for maximum success, and then how to write a well-written, well-supported research paper. Lastly, students will create a presentation based on their findings and will present it to the class during our final class meeting. This will give students a chance to learn how to conduct a professional presentation in addition to the research paper.
Here is a list of our weekly topics and additional notes for each week:
WEEK 1 - Introduce the Research Paper, How to Research + Note-Taking
*Instructions on how to select a topic for the research paper will be on our Outschool classroom page upon signup; students should select their topics before the first class meeting
WEEK 2 - Annotated Works Cited + In-Class Research Time
*Will need to have sources or source information on hand to complete this
WEEK 3 - Thesis and Outline
*Will need to have all sources on hand to complete this
WEEK 4 - How to Write the Paper
*A rough draft of the paper is due by class time on week 5
WEEK 5 - Review Rough Draft through "Stations"
*The final draft should be turned in no more than 5 days after this class meeting to give time to create a presentation for the final class meeting
WEEK 6 - Research Paper Presentations
Each meeting will begin with a lesson on how to complete that week's portion of the research paper. Students will then use the remaining class time to work on that week's assignment. Week 6 will consist of student presentations and a debriefing of the research paper process. During this time, students will share their successes and hindrances with the rest of the class.Learning Goals
Students will be able to research, outline, and write a research paper using MLA format. They will also learn how to create and present a professional presentation on their research paper findings.
Other Details
Supply List
Students will be provided with a variety of handouts to help them understand how to complete each part of the research paper. They should also have access to a public library so that they may find book sources for their research papers.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2020
4.9
123reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
South Carolina Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
✨AVAILABILITY UPDATE:
After teaching as an English adjunct and lecturer from August 2023 - May 2024, I have officially taken on a full-time teaching/Development English Program Director position at a local community college as of May 2024. I will have to pause teaching here indefinitely, but I am leaving my profile open to eventually offer some self-paced/subscription courses. I also want to be available for my former students who may want to reach out with life updates.
✨PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies Education from North Greenville University and a Master of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. I am a certified teacher and worked in a private school setting in South Carolina from 2015 to 2020. I taught college prep and honors-level English classes, as well as AP English Literature and Composition and AP US History. I have had students pass both AP Exams and receive college credit for those courses. Since November 2020, I have been teaching from home through Outschool, and I love it! I also homeschool my daughter.
✨TYPES OF CLASSES I TEACH:
I teach a variety of English classes. These include my weekly, ongoing Creative Writing Club; various essay writing courses; AP Literature; and American Literature courses.
✨PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION:
As an educator, my main focus is building relationships with my students. Students are more willing to listen to you when you are willing to listen to them, so I always try to make them feel like they have a voice in my class and that their presence is valued. Maya Angelou said it best: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." I work very hard to create a warm, welcoming environment for all learners. I also allow students to communicate however they feel most comfortable, whether verbally or in the chat. My virtual classroom is a cozy, safe space.
On top of that, I believe that every student is capable of learning, and I love to take a facilitator or "tour guide" approach to teaching: guiding students and giving them the opportunity to learn through self-discovery. I think it is important for students to learn through their own thinking and reasoning skills so they can take responsibility for their own learning. These are important skills that they need to take into their everyday lives, so I strive to help students develop them in an academic setting.
Lastly, I am a big proponent of creativity. I want my learners to have the freedom to explore their curiosities and inspirations. In my creative writing classes, that means I allow learners to write whatever their heart desires, and in my academic classes, learners can take notes however they like and complete creative projects.
✨ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
I am married to my best friend and am a mom of three: a 9-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son, and a 1-year-old daughter.
My favorite TV shows are The Office and Parks and Recreation, and I think that shows in my personality. I also love Marvel, Stranger Things, and The Great British Baking Show, so I guess you can say my likes are all over the place. Ultimately, I love to be goofy and have fun in the classroom, and I hope your learners have fun too!Reviews
Live Group Class
$19
weekly or $110 for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
50 min
Completed by 33 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-8 learners per class
