English homework

Com. 102 / MVCC / Johnson

World War Z Research Paper

As part of this course you are required to complete a 9 - 11 page research paper. Your paper can be

either expository—where you inform and explain a topic—or argumentative, where you argue

persuasively FOR or AGAINST an idea. Because we are focusing primarily on the book World

War Z in this class, you will also need to include at least one paragraph about the book in your

paper. Your task is to research your topic and write an insightful paper. Your paper will include

mostly secondary sources. Below is a step by step guide to get you started.

Read the following steps below before starting your paper. Good luck!!

1. Choosing your topic. Be careful when choosing a topic. Choose one that you like, and about which you can find sources. Try to go online and do a preliminary reading of your topic to get a feel for the

information that is out there. It's a "first come, first served" on the topics, so the earlier you choose your

topic the better chance you will have at getting the one you want. Also, everyone must choose a

different topic.

The Research Question. After you have chosen your topic and have browsed through some

preliminary sources, your next task is to form a working question that will guide you in your research.

Although most research implies questions, for this assignment you must formulate one specific question

before you begin your search. This question will provide direction and the necessary basis for the

selection and evaluation of sources you will do as you perform your research.

The questions can vary. However, avoid questions that are so specific that they can be answered in a

few words. For instance, "Who is Thomas Paine?" is a question that can be answered briefly. Formulate

questions that will give your research direction. For instance: "What are Paine's dominant themes in his

writings?" "What did Paine's contemporaries, critics, as well as other authors, think of his works?" Or,

if you are writing about the U.S. prison system, "Why are so many prisoners in the U.S. incarcerated

because of drug charges?" In class, we will discuss the research question further.

The question must be clearly formulated before you begin your search. It will be part of your

research proposal You must write your question in the Research Proposal, which is due

Thursday, April 24, in the library.

2. Types and Number of Sources. Students must use a variety of sources in the works cited for a total of at least eight (9 including WWZ). Your eight sources must be found using the online library catalogs,

including critical sources, reference materials, books or other information from the Moraine Valley

library or other libraries. Your sources should reflect a diversity of different material, such as:

Two or three scholarly journal sources (databases)

Two or three books

Two reference sources (encyclopedias, etc.)

Magazines, newspapers

One or two Internet sites

You should NOT get all of your information from the Internet. Explore the resources at the library. Since we

will be visiting the library ONLY on April 24, you will have to do much of the research on your own time.

You will be required to write bibliographical information on 10 Source Sheets and have these checked by the

teacher. These sheets will also be checked by the teacher for points.

3. Evaluating Sources. When you have located a source that you feel will be useful to you for your paper, you will be responsible for evaluating that source. You will want to first evaluate the usefulness of that source in

answering the question you have posed at the beginning of your research. If it is an Internet source, you will

want to be especially careful in evaluating the authenticity of the Web site, being careful to check out the

author of the article, the date it was written, and any other factual information that verifies its legitimacy.

4. Writing Source Sheets. Once you feel the source you have located is a valid source and will be useful to you, fill out a Source Sheet for it, following the steps and procedures we outline in class, following

MLA style. Be careful!! You will be graded on this!

5. Take Notes. Using your 10 Source Sheets, a spiral notebook, or highlighted text, take notes from your sources in an organized fashion. Scan each source to see if you will be using any extended citation

(more than two sentences) from it. If so, photocopy the page or make a copy from the Internet if it is a

Web site. You will need to document three sources from which you have quoted text verbatim in

your paper. Keep the paper copy to hand in with the final research paper.

6. Write an outline. When you are finished with your note taking, your next step is to write a comprehensive outline for your research paper. We will work on this in class. It will be worth points.

7. Stay organized. Keep a folder to keep all of your notecards, outline and other notes.

Due Dates

Topic chosen Tues., April 22 Beginning of Class

Four Sources due Tues., April 22 In class & April 24

4 more sources Thurs., April 24 In library

All 10 Sources due in pocket folder Tues., April 29 Beginning of Class

Comprehensive Outline/Thesis: Thurs., May 1 Beginning of Class

E-mailed Rough Draft Sun., May 4 6 p.m.

OR Rough Draft Conference Tues., May 6 At Conference

Final Draft with Works Cited Thursday, May 8 Beginning of Class

IMPORTANT NOTE: Each of these projects must be done in steps. I cannot accept anything done

"out of order." Also, there are no "late grades" for the research paper. Missing class can seriously

affect your grade.

What Do I Write About?

Okay, so now that you know what is expected of you in terms of length, bibliography, and note taking, you

may have no clue about what to write about. Here are some general guidelines to help you as you go about

doing your research. Your research paper should include:

 A thesis, which will probably be some kind of answer to your research question.

 Analysis of at least eight sources. You must read your original works or books, and discuss them. Choose your texts carefully. Choose works not only that you like, but ones that seem to represent a

certain theme, or that are similar in terms of style or techniques.

The bulk of your paper will be made up of analysis. You must include quotes from each text to illustrate

your analysis, and document each source according to MLA guidelines. It is also necessary to include

documentation of all of your sources and critical sources in your paper. This will be done using

parenthetical citation according to MLA standards. We will go over this format in class.

You must also include at least one paragraph that relates your topic to the book, World War Z. As a result,

the book is one of your sources and must be include in your Works Cited page.

 A well-thought out conclusion that restates your thesis.

 A Works Cited page that includes all the resources you have cited, in alphabetical order.

 Copies of pages from the text that you cite from your sources, placed in a pocket folder. _______________________________________________________________

The grade you receive will be based on the quality and variety of your sources, the clarity and depth of your

writing, the completeness of your paper, its length, and the degree to which the sources relate to the research

question you originally ask. You will also be graded on grammar, according to MVCC standards.

Plagiarism is prohibited, and anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive an automatic 'F' on the

research paper, and possibly for the class.