7 -10 pages due by 48 hrs(embedded_rubric_FinalProject_COM-339-)

OVERVIEW

You are required at the end of the semester to submit a Final Project in the form of a Research Paper. This assignment affords you the opportunity to look closely into a particular topic of relevance to our course, to analyze the issues, and to communicate your analysis in writing. This assignment counts for 25% of the overall grade for this course, so you should be prepared to invest a significant effort in researching and writing it.

You will produce your paper in three stages that are detailed below. Your starting point will be to choose a topic to research. Some typical topics are listed as follows:

· How American English evolved

· What role nonverbal behavior plays in the way we use language

· How animals communicate differently than humans

· What major changes will occur in human language in the next century

· How did English evolve differently than other major languages

· How language is used in my occupation or career

· How language is used differently on the internet versus face-to-face interactions

Look through the text for some further ideas on potential topics that might be of interest. The focus of this assignment is how well you research and support your paper, rather than on the actual topic selected, so pick something that seems interesting to you.

First, choose a topic and conduct preliminary research on the topic. You will inform your mentor about your choice at the end of Module 1.

Second, submit an outline of the main areas you intend to address in your paper and the main sources you propose to use so that your mentor can provide some final advice about your direction. This outline is due at the end of Module 3.

Third, complete your paper and submit the final version at the end of Module 4.

The goal of this three-step process is not to make unnecessary work for you, but rather to provide sufficient work-in-progress feedback that will help you produce your best work.

You should choose an aspect or theory of human language that you would like to research and discuss in a paper. At this stage you may have more than one aspect or theory that you are considering. Narrow your list to no more than two or three possible choices.

Once you have chosen a topic or narrowed your choices down to those that you are serious about pursuing, notify your mentor by the end of Module 1. After receiving feedback from your mentor and deciding on which aspect or theory you want to discuss in your paper you should spend a few hours conducting preliminary research so that you will be ready to move to Step 2.

After deciding which aspect or theory of human language you want to investigate you will produce an outline of the major areas/topics you intend to address in your paper.

A good paper is one that is built around a clear structure, so you should OUTLINE the main points of your paper before you start writing. It’s easier to overhaul your outline than it is to overhaul a fully written paper, so spend some time thinking about the structure of your paper before you begin writing.

In terms of organization, your paper should have a clear introduction, a body and a conclusion. See the section on Format in Step 3, below, for more detail.

As you do your research and compose your outline, bear in mind that your final paper should include the following elements:

· a clear argument

· appropriate and sufficient evidence to support your argument

You are required to submit your outline to your mentor by the end of Module 3.

Based on the comments that you mentor provides on your outline, you will revise accordingly and produce the full version of your research paper.

You will be submitting your research paper either as a Word document or a PDF file. Your paper should be between 7 and 10 pages in length. The structure of your paper should be as follows:

· Title page stating topic, your name, and the course code.

· Chapter (or Section) 1, an introductory chapter where you state the thesis and main reasons, or points that you will discuss in support of the thesis.

· Chapter (or Section) 2. This should be the body of the paper where present your reasons supported by research and evidence including proper citations from sources you have consulted.

· Chapter 3 (or Section) 3. The last chapter/section will be your conclusion, or summary, of the document.

· Works Cited or References page. You will need to consult at least three (3) credible outside sources, which should be listed on this page.

· Either the MLA or APA style guide may be followed.

· Your sources cannot include any .com sites, textbooks, encyclopedias, or information from Wikipedia. Citations should appear within the paper for every fact, statistic, or quotation utilized.

The final version of your work is due at the end of Module 4. Consult the Course Calendar for the exact date.

Write your paper in coherent paragraphs. Each paragraph should flow naturally and logically from the previous paragraph, and onto the next paragraph, following a clear train of argument. It is better to restrict your paragraphs to one main point. Punctuation is free – make use of it.