IDRP

The Interdisciplinary Research Paper, or IDRP is a research paper written by students. The IDRP is about 8-10 pages, and follows the MLA format. Students enrolled in the Humanities Program in Eastern Middle School, which is in Silver Spring, Maryland will write the IDRP in seventh grade.

Background
IDRP was created in the 1970s in Eastern Middle School and is now used also at Roberto Clemente Middle School, and is currently being taught in both English and World Studies class, hence the meaning Interdisciplinary. The research takes about four months (or 8 months at Clemente), and the student will be taught all MLA rules and how the appropriate guidelines for the paper. Students also go on a field trip to McKeldin Library in the University of Maryland to research about their topic. The topic is based on the National History Day or NHD theme. For instance, the NHD theme for 2007 was Conflict and Compromise in History. So basically, students are asked to pick a topic that fits the NHD theme and is also of interest to the student. Students writes a thesis, and then has a conference with the teacher individually. Students will also write an outline and a rough draft, and the student will be with the teacher to talk about the work. Students also undergo a three hour class every Monday or Tuesday, depending on which day the student usually has World Studies and English. The two classes are combined to form one classroom, and the session is called the IDRP class. The IDRP prepares 7th graders throughout Montgomery County for writing reports later in life. IDRP also shows some of the progression to National History Day, a national, annual event which allows many students to compete on researching and making a project off of the years history theme. Without IDRP National History Day would not have as many participants. IDRP is an important event in Montgomery County Public Schools.

What a Student Works On
A student working on the IDRP will be learning how to aquire information from a variety of sources, and with that skill each student will need to produce 70 note cards, each with some information on the topic being researched. A student also uses the Writer's Inc, a book on proper ways to write, cite sources, etc. to use as a resource while writing. The students do research to find enough information to his/her topic, and then writes a successful 8-10 (or 10-12) page paper about the topic.

What's in the Paper
The paper consists of:

* 8-10 pages of text (or 10-12 at Roberto Clemente Middle School)
* Works Sited (at least 4 primary sources and 6 secondary sources)
* Possible Appendix (Where pictures, graphs, or charts are displayed)

The final draft in in 12 pt, Times New Roman font, and double spaced. The Works Cited is written in alphabetical order based on the author's last name, and folows the MLA works sited guideline.

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