Research Paper

Introduction: I am looking forward to our final paper assignment: a short research paper. Over the next three weeks, we will learn and practice skills to help you present information from sources carefully and ethically so that your readers will be able to learn more about your topic. This paper will build on your past papers. You may use the same sources if they are credible and relevant to your research topic.

Purpose of Paper: This paper will be a research essay.  You will write to explain the problem you are researching this quarter, to offer a solution, and present plenty of specific evidence/details/information to help readers understand why the solution is reasonable.  

You will choose whether this paper will count as 150 or 200 points toward your final grade. Please see the grading explanation at the end of these guidelines!

Topic:  For this research assignment, you will present a potential solution to the problem you have been working with all quarter. In your paper, and you will offer information from credible and relevant sources to explain and support the solution. A statement of your solution will be your thesis statement.

Your goal is to learn from credible sources, and then help a college-level audience understand your problem and solution in more depth. You may use the sources you’ve been gathering throughout the quarter or you may find new ones.

Sources: This paper should information from at least five credible and relevant sources, and you will carefully cite all information from sources with strong in-text citations and an effective list of sources at the end of your paper. One of the sources will be an interview with a person impacted by your problem.

A strong paper will include the following elements:

• A clear thesis at the end of your introduction that offers the umbrella over the whole essay: it should offer the overall main focus of your paper and clearly state the solution you are proposing.
• Sharply-focused and well-developed support paragraphs that offer 1) clear topic sentences in your own words stating the main idea of the paragraph, 2) information from five or more sources cited carefully, and 3) your own discussion of the source information in your own words,
• An interesting introduction that draws a reader into your paper, introduces the problem, offers interesting and helpful background information, and presents a clear thesis statement,
• A satisfying conclusion that reminds readers of your important ideas,
• An intentional use of first and third-person point of view. The “I” or for “first person” point of view, might be powerful in your introduction and/or conclusion or if your paper includes relevant and powerful information from your own experience. Please use first-person point of view carefully and intelligently, to enrich your essay. Third-person point of view is often used in traditional academic writing. You will make intentional decisions about which makes sense.
• MLA formatting and documentation of your sources, both for in-text citations and the Works Cited page at the end of your paper.
• The final draft should include clear and direct sentences, strong vocabulary, no empty words and very few errors. It should show that you have carefully proofread and edited. 

The paper needs to be at least 1,500 words but no more than 2,000, double spaced, with effective MLA formatting.

Audience:  Your audience is a general but intelligent academic audience who is well-read and interested in this topic but may not be familiar with the specific problem you are researching. Your audience will have clear expectations about academic writing, research and sources but will need thorough explanations of information. Your audience wants to understand potential solutions to your problem.

Important Smaller Assignments in the Process of Writing a Strong Research Paper

• Analysis of the assignment and brainstorming,
• A rough outline due on Canvas,
• A rough introduction due on Canvas
• First rough draft of at least three paragraphs due on Canvas,
• Complete rough draft due on Canvas,
• Final draft that shows substantial changes and improvement from the rough draft. The final draft should be polished: You should offer strong vocabulary, clear sentences with few errors. It should demonstrate that you have used the assignment sheet, rubric and checklist so that the paper meets the important assignment expectations and is your best work.

Grading: You have a choice to have this paper earn 150 or 200 points. Here's why: The goal of English 101 is that, by the end of the quarter, students will demonstrate important reading, writing and thinking skills that will be helpful to you as your progress as a strong and successful college student. What you did at the beginning of the quarter is often less important than what you demonstrate at the end of the quarter. 

So, if you started the class off slowly, if you had a rocky start, you may want a chance to earn more points and demonstrate your learning. It may help your motivation, your confidence and your grade to have the chance to earn more points and that’s why you may choose the 200 point option.

However, if you are currently satisfied with your grade and your goal is to maintain it, you may not need the chance to earn more points. If that's the case, you may want to choose the 150 point option.

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