writing a career analysis research paper english

Investigate a job/profession/career area you are considering, such as nursing, accounting, criminal justice, computers, business management, engineering, etc. Specify your job title: parole officer, pediatric nurse, physical therapist, social worker, etc. 

Length

Your final career paper will be a minimum of eight (8) typed (double-spaced) pages, not including the title page, formal outline, and "Works Cited" page.

Sources

To expand on your knowledge of research and documentation, the English and Communication Department curriculum requires that you use a variety of reliable sources to gather both primary and secondary information. By using the prescribed sources, you will gain experience with sources most students would normally avoid.

· Use a minimum of eight (8) current sources. Vary your sources (government publications, EBSCOhost, Internet, etc.). As part of your sources, you must include the following secondary sources:

1.  Occupational Outlook Handbook

2.  America's Career Infonet

3.  Chronicle Guidance Publication (Occupational Brief) Your instructor will provide the password for you to download theses briefs at no cost.

4.  At least one article from a website

· As part of the eight required sources, conduct at least one personal interview with a person who is working in your career area, and incorporate this information throughout your paper. Don't use family members or friends for the required interview, and don't substitute a telephone or email interview for the required personal interview. I want you to leave your comfort zone and meet new people as well as make connections. Although you may certainly use these resources as additional sources to go beyond the minimum requirements and enrich your paper, they cannot substitute the personal interview requirement.

· Include at least one table, chart, or graph

Copies of all sources must be submitted with the final paper.

Audience

Your audience for this essay will be students interested in pursuing a career in your chosen field. This essay is not about your goals and aspirations; it's about your career. Assume the persona of an authority in the field; after all, you will be quite knowledgeable after having done your research. Your job is to educate your audience about your chosen field so that your reader can make an informed career decision.

Format

Since the career paper covers more areas and has a broader focus than those papers you wrote for English Composition I, you will need to use headings and subheadings to guide your reader through the text. Read carefully the information provided for levels of headings. In addition, I will help you use headings correctly.

Documentation must follow the new MLA style of documentation as well as manuscript form:

1.  One inch margins on all sides

2.  12 pts. font sizeEvaluation

3.  Times New Roman font style

4.  Effective use of headings and subheadings

5.  Formal outline, the text, and a "Works Cited" page

6.  Title page

If your paper is missing any of these requirements, it will not receive a passing grade.

Evaluation

The final research paper will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1.  Effectiveness of your introduction and conclusion

2.  clarity of purpose;

3.  Organization, Development, and coherence

4.  Integration and use of source information

5.  Variety of sources

6.  Documentation and Works Cited list

7.  MLA format

8.  Grammar, usage, and mechanics

See the career analysis final draft rubric in "What You Will Learn" and review how each criterion is defined. Your research paper will receive a grade that will include points earned for assignments, activities, or tests.  The final grade for the career analysis paper is worth 30% of your final grade for this course.

Due Dates

Your instructor will post your schedule of assignments in D2L content.  Follow the schedule diligently.You will receive credit for each assignment in the process of writing the paper. You will receive credit only if you complete each step on the date it is due and you have followed the instructions and guidelines for preparing the assignment.  If your assignment is late, don't fail to submit it anyway. The feedbacks you receive on these assignments are crucial to successful completion of your final paper. You may not receive full credit, but you may receive some points, plus, most importantly, feedback.