Reasearch paper and slides

Term Research Assignment FAQ’s

This is an overview of questions received regarding the assignment. It is not all inclusive and may be

added to throughout the term.

Q. If I am working on this assignment with a partner, do we both need to turn in an

assignment?

A. No, only one assignment needs to be turned in by one of the partners. Please make sure both

names are on the memo. One of the partners must upload the assignment into D2L.

Q. Do I have to use Word to complete the assignment?

A. Yes. This is another use of what you learned this term using Word. Combine the two parts of the

assignment in to one file. You will be graded on how you used Word as well.

Q. Are there any Word format requirements?

A. Yes, the assignment must be single spaced (DO NOT use the default spacing in Word), with a 1”

margin. The font must be 10 or 11 point Times New Roman.

Q. What exactly should the completed assignment include?

A. The completed assignment is made up of two parts – both completed using Word.

1. A 1-2 page typed persuasive memo – written to Ava Stevens – from you (representing

your business, non-profit, government entity, or committee). This memo outlines HOW

you plan to persuade your audience and what your main persuasive point(s) will be and

how you will back these points up with your research. Basically it is a narrative or

outline of your argument. Think of me as your boss, and this memo is being used to

prove to me that you have the needed information to continue with this persuasion. How

you organize this memo is your choice – but you may find bullet or numbered points

helpful in presenting some of the information. Remember you cannot end a memo with

a list. There needs to be at least a one sentence close to end the memo (don’t just

stop…write for the reader). Don’t forget to use the correct second page heading for the

second page of your memo.

This memo is NOT your entire argument – it is designed to prove you are ready, with the

necessary resources, to write the persuasive argument. Don’t make the mistake of using

this memo to argue your point. Remember to write to your audience – Ava Stevens

– what does she need from you to know you are ready to write the persuasive

argument to your audience?

2. A 2-4 (or more) page typed annotated bibliography – the minimum number of sources on

this annotated bibliography is 6. Of the 6 sources, at least 3 must be from peer reviewed

academic journals. (Information is provided below to explain how to verify if the journal,

and therefore the article, is peer reviewed.)

Each source will have two paragraphs. The first paragraph is an overview of the

article. DO NOT use the abstract to write this – read the article and explain the overall

idea of the article using your own words. You are uploading this in D2L and it will be put

through Turn-it-in. Please don’t earn zero points because you plagiarized. The second

paragraph is WHAT you will use out of the article to back up your argument. It is taking

the needed information from the article and explaining briefly how you can use it to

strengthen your persuasive argument.

Don’t forget to include the proof that the journal (and therefore the article) is peer-

reviewed. You will include a “snip” of copy of the line from Ulrich’s to prove the journal

was peer-reviewed (see below).

You are using MLA documentation for this Annotated Bibliography. That means you

need to make sure you present the source in the correct method. The first line of the

source starts at the left margin and the remaining lines of the source are indented 5 spaces

(see below).

“When deciding how to cite your source, start by consulting the list of core elements.

These are the general pieces of information that MLA suggests including in each Works

Cited entry. In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order:

1. Author. 2. Title of source. 3. Title of container, 4. Other contributors, 5. Version, 6. Number, 7. Publisher, 8. Publication date, 9. Location.

Each element should be followed by the punctuation mark shown here.”

Bagchi, Alaknanda. "Conflicting Nationalisms: The Voice of the Subaltern in

Mahasweta Devi's Bashai Tudu."Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature,

vol. 15, no. 1, 1996, pp. 41-50.

This information was taken directly from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab Webpage on November 11, 2018:

<Https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style _guide.html>

Q. How do I find strong articles for my topic?

A. Your goal is to find good search words or phrases. Brainstorm what you could look for and then

use Google Scholar or Academic Search Premier to find articles. You can use non-peer reviewed

articles, but verify they are strong articles for your topic and your credibility. One of your articles

should be about the organization you are representing so you can build credibility. Creative

thinking will help you to come up with ideas to search – if you are not finding information please

contact Ava Stevens and she will help guide you in your search.

Q. How do I identify if the articles are peer reviewed?

A. To verify these articles are from peer-reviewed journals, please verify using Ulrichs International

Periodicals Directory. Ulrichs’ can be found online through the PSU Library. Go to

www.pdx.edu, click on “Library”, click on “Databases & Articles”, and then click on “U” in the

alphabet presented to get to Ulrichs’. To verify the journal is peer-reviewed, type the name of

the journal in the search bar and hit enter. When the journal comes up, if there is a striped

referee shirt to the left of the journal listing, then the journal is peer-reviewed. If there is no

striped referee shirt, then the journal is NOT peer-reviewed.

An example of what this will look like in your paper is below. Please make sure to include

this with all your peer-reviewed journal articles. The assignment will be marked down if you

don’t show which articles are peer-reviewed.

Q. Why did I have to identify who I was representing?

A. To be able to create a strong argument you need credibility. Therefore who you align yourself

with makes a lot of difference. You can use this in your memo to help with your persuasive

argument. This means one of your sources can be background on who you are representing (a

company or non-profit’s web page for example).

Q. Why did I have to identify the audience when they won’t be given the actual assignment/

argument?

A. To be able to find the right information, and to build the correct persuasive argument, you must

know your audience – what they know and what they need to know to be persuaded. Without this

information your argument will be generic and very basic – and will not be persuasive for that

specific audience. Remember, your goal is to write for your audience.

Q. What do I do if I get stuck or need help on this assignment?

A. Contact Ava Stevens at [email protected] and she will help guide you – but please do

not procrastinate and expect immediate help the night before the project is due.