Search and Shape

About the Book

In Search and Shape I illuminate the essential elements in the writing of high school research essays, and reveal the central principles that all good research essays have. I address questions of topic choosing, using sources of information, organizing and writing drafts, writing bibliography entries and footnotes, composing final copy and other crucial aspects as they apply to the special art of writing high school research essays. As examples to illustrate these principles, three research essays written by high school students are included.

I also demonstrate how the research essay can be presented orally in the high school classroom. By providing practical suggestions for voice training, selecting a speech format, drafting and polishing the speech, then delivering it. A sample illustrated classroom speech is included.

Search and Shape is an essential book for anyone who studies or teaches at the high school level.

About the Author

Stanley Sparkes is a retired high school teacher. He began writing for the educational marketplace in 1972 by helping prepare an educational kit for Cassie Brown’s famous novel Death on the Ice. Since then he has written other high school classroom support materials for novels, plays, anthologies, and basic writing.