Writing a research paper can be a daunting experience.  This class is designed to jumpstart college bound writers on how to write a research paper.  Please notice that this class is not designed to teach students how to write a good paragraph.  Students that sign up for this research paper course should already be very comfortable writing a paragraph. If you are unsure if your students is ready for this course, please reach out to the teacher to discuss. 
In this course, students will be writing a research paper over a historical person. The students will get to choose the historical person, but it must be someone in history who was born before 1950. Students will choose their historical person during the first week of class and will then be required to find their own sources to read and research after their topic is chosen.  After students have chosen their topic and gathered sources, the next step will be to develop an outline for the paper. The teacher will guide the students during class time in making their outline.  After the outline is made, the students will begin writing the various paragraphs listed on their outline under the guidance of the teacher.  
Class time will include discussion of the chosen topic and sources, sharing of ideas and brainstorming together between teacher and student,  and students asking questions about procedure. Writing time will also be provided during class time, but the majority of the writing will likely occur outside of class time. 
Editing will occur as the research paper progresses.  Some editing will occur during class time; other editing will occur through the student sending the teacher a digital copy of the paper as the paper progresses and the teacher will send back edits that the students needs to make. 
If the research paper is completed to the teacher's and student's satisfaction before the 10 weeks are up, the remaining class sessions will be refunded. 
This class size is kept small so that individual attention can be given in class to each student. 
Week 1 - Students and teacher will discuss together the plan for the course and students will begin brainstorming their topic together. If class time allows, students and teacher will begin discussing the plan for the outline. 
Week 2 - Students will finalize their outline for the paper 
Week 3 - Students will begin writing their introductory paragraph. 
Week 4 - Students will continue using class time to edit their writing and add additional paragraphs. 
Weeks 5-10 - Students will continue writing and editing their paper.  A works cited page will be included at the end of the paper.