research project fast food nation

Research Project

The research project is a long-term project that will ultimately result in a typed, five-page research paper (five pages of text, not to include works cited or outline). Your task is to write a paper following the guidelines described in The Owl.

Topic

• Must      be argumentative
• Must      involve an issue, or related issue, brought up in Fast Food Nation
• Must      be recent (within last ten years)

Requirements

• The      final paper must be at least five double-spaced, typed pages (size 12      font); five pages of text does not include outline and      works cited
• You      must use at least five sources in paper; at least three sources      must be print sources, including electronic sources (sources found on the      Internet, Infotrac, CD-ROM, etc., must also exist in print). Information from television programs,      lectures, personal interviews, and so forth may be used provided that it      is correctly documented.
• The      paper must have an explicit thesis statement and precise topic sentences
• Support      your points using evidence from your sources (expert testimony,      statistics, examples, etc)
• Your      paper should be a synthesis of information from your sources and your own      inferences, comments, and conclusions. You should not be overly reliant on any one source, nor should your      paper be a patchwork of information from your sources.
• Information      from your sources must be correctly and accurately quoted, paraphrased,      and summarized
• Sources      must be documented using MLA-style parenthetical references (in-text      citations) and a works cited page 
• You      must be prepared to make all source material, including print sources,      available to instructor. 

Research

Because the quality of your paper depends on the quality of your information, you will want to give yourself ample time and opportunity to gather and analyze materials.