English Assignment

Assignment #3: Neutral report/overview of the Issues/Debate

ASSIGNMENT:

You are finally writing a paper!

This paper will be on the same topic that you had for your research proposal and your research logs. In fact, you should use all or most of those sources for this paper (and add some—see below).

This paper is an objective report on the arguments made within your debate.

You have a sample paper and other materials for it in your course packet and on Bb.

Length & Format: at least 3 full pages with one-inch margins, double-spaced, 12 point font

This is an objective report on the debate or problem that you are researching.

__ The beginning of the paper should briefly explain the debate (maybe giving a history of it, if relevant). Tell us things like how long this has been going on, who is involved, and any background information that is needed to understand the rest of the paper. This information should be up-to-date.

__ This paper is a survey of the topic/debate—you are summarizing the conversation about this issue. I want the body of the paper to be organized not by the articles but by the issues or debates. Your sources will not set the organization; instead you will use them (summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting them) to explain the positions you are discussing. This will NOT be a simple 5-paragraph essay.

The research: Continue your research (go back to the document “research topics” for some tips on research)

For this assignment, you are required to have 12 authoritative and relevant sources on your bibliography—6 can be the ones you used for your research log assignment. See below for requirements.

Your research needs to include:

· At least 2 scholarly sources.

· No more than 8 from websites (not articles from databases but actual websites

· Variety of sources: newspapers, magazines of different types, professional newsletters, government documents, and certain Internet sites. Most sources should be from general, well-written publications for the educated public—The New York Times, The Economist, government studies, etc.

· Variety of content: Taken together, your sources need to represent all sides of the debate

References (APA) or Works Cited (MLA) page: As you research, put your citations in a word document. Do it as you go—not at the last minute! A draft of this reference/works cited page will be due ahead of time as a homework assignment (see syllabus), and then you’ll revise that and submit it with your paper.

THE GRADE: What will count most?

__ The paper must be neutral

__ The paper must be organized around ideas, not sources.

This paper practices and showcases several information literacy goals that you will be graded on:

· Use of appropriate sources: You must cite from at least 4 sources from each “side” (8 sources total).

· In-text citation: When you cite sources, whether summarizing, paraphrasing, or quoting directly, make sure that you properly document the sources.

· Integrating sources: Always set up/frame your quotations (refer to lesson on “framing quotations”)

REVISION CHECK LIST :

This is not a list of everything that you need in a research paper. It’s a revision check list for common errors:

The bibliography:

· The bibliography contains the number and type of sources required in the assignment sheet. If not, stop here. You need to finish your research.

· The reference or works cited page is in alphabetical order

· Use of databases is properly indicated

· Websites are listed in your bibliography with full information: author, title of article, title of journal, if any, sponsoring organization, date posted, URL (for APA), date viewed….

The paper:

· The paper contains the number of required citations

· Long quotes are in block quote format

· If there is no author, the article title is named either in the sentence or the parentheses

· All article titles in MLA format are in quotation marks (in the paper and in the bibliography)

· All book, journal, and newspaper titles (for MLA AND APA) are either underlined or italicized (in the paper and in the bibliography)

· If you used someone’s WORDS, those words are in quotation marks in the paper, AND their documentation information is in parentheses at the end of the quote. See handbook.

· If you paraphrased (did NOT use their words but DID you their information or ideas), their documentation information is in parentheses at the end of the quote

· Tables and graphs, pictures, etc. are properly documented.

· All quotations are framed by your words (integrated quotes).