Research Paper Reminder - This Will Also Be Given to You as a Handout

M. Hall                                                                                                  

English 1301, 1302, 2320

1^st day of class, 28 August 2012 / 29 August 2012, and again on 8 and 9 October 2012

 

Writing a Research Paper

 

This is an outline.  We will discuss each point in class as the term progresses.

 

Objectives: The student will write a college-level persuasive (state a thesis and then support it) research paper according to the MLA format:

 

1. Plan a research paper, select and limit a topic, write a preliminary thesis statement, and make a rough outline.

 

2. Research the topic, employing the ‘net and other sources, and make a working bibliography.

 

3. Take notes, evaluate sources, and use direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries.

 

4. Organize information for a research paper, revise the preliminary thesis statement, make a detailed outline, and take additional notes.

 

5. Draft and document a research paper.

 

6. Revise and finish a research paper.

 

Your usage reference is your textbook’s research writing content, which is based on the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, your copy of Bedford, and multiple handouts.

  

GENERAL NOTES:

 

1. Your complete paper must be computer generated.

 

2. Each page will have, on average, two relevant direct quotations, properly punctuated and sourced.

 

3. The minimum number of body pages is 5; the maximum is 10. Double-space, and follow the format in the MLA.

 

4. I must see your preliminary thesis statement and rough outline.

 

5. Neatness in the final draft is a sine qua non.  This reflects your professionalism

 

6. Computers behave strangely.  Storage devices can be pinched or destroyed, or perhaps the class clown playfully erases weeks’ worth of your work the day before it’s due.  Computers fail. Printers fail.  Plan ahead.  No one can live your life for you; you must anticipate all possible calamities. Make duplicates.  Print out parts of your paper as soon as you can, and store them safely.

 

7. Check your topic with your teacher and have him sign off on it. Make sure you can handle the topic and that there are adequate resources available to you.  See separate list.

 

 8.  Your paper must have at least five documented sources (more would be better), including at least one internet source.  Actually, all your sources may come from the internet.  One repetition of a source is fine, but I do want you to consider a variety of sites.  Explore!

 

 9.  Writing lab --Hanging around idly with such excuses as “I’m typing it at home” or “I can’t work with all these distractions” will not be accepted.  Get busy; this project is more demanding than it might seem.

 

10.  You cannot pass the class without a solid, professional research paper.

 

12. Use 12-point Verdana.

 

13. Your completed paper will be stapled neatly, and will be graded as follows:

 

Body  / content                                  35 points

Bibliography                                       25   “

Aesthetics (neatness, clean paper, clear typeface, no corrections, no dog-ears, and so on) will be graded subjectively            20 points

MLA                                                     20 points                   

           

14. The research paper will be graded holistically, but spelling and usage errors will be penalized at two points each, more if egregious.

 

15. You will turn in your final draft only.  

 

16. The research paper is 25% of your course grade - you cannot pass the course without a successful research paper.

 

17. The research paper is due:

 

1. If you turn in your paper NLT the beginning of class on 20/21 November, you will receive 10 extra points.
2. NLT beginning of class, 27/28 November, no penalty
3. I will accept your paper NLT the beginning of class on 4/5 December with a loss of 10 points.