Research Paper Time Line - This Will Also be Given to You as a Handout

Student’s Name_______________________________________

 

M. Hall

English 1301 / 1302 / 2302

8 and 9 October 2012

 

Research Paper – Rocks, Shoals, and a Time Line

 

We may have to be flexible on this schedule, said flexibility solely at the discretion of the instructor.

 

We will also work on other projects while on the research paper.

 

At least half of each class will be devoted to research paper drafts, questions, and mutual aid.  You must budget your time carefully.  Many of your classmates began the research paper in August, as suggested, and some are close to completion.

 

1.    Your research paper grade is 25% of your final grade. 

2.    The grade for your research paper will be based on the final draft alone. 

3.    Your research paper will be graded according to the rubrics on the multiple handouts given you on the first day of class and again shortly at midterm.

4.   “But you said…” is a null concept.  Your instructor will not make any promises or conjectures; he will make general suggestions when asked, but they are not contractural.  Your instructor is not going to proof-read your paper; it is your paper.

5.   “But you didn’t tell me…” is another null concept.  You are responsible for all class presentations and for reading the masses of material in the handouts, in your 1301 text, on angryverbs.blogspot.com, and on Blackboard.  English 1302 and 2320 students – your successful completion of 1301 voids any excuses; the freshman MLA research paper is a basic.

6.   About the sample research papers: your book contains an excellent specimen; further, you will read, with the permission of the writers, numerous old papers – some of them quite bad - from previous classes, some of them high school classes.  Again, these are not contracts; high school papers are not graded as rigorously and, indeed, your instructor may well have missed an error.  These papers serve solely as an aid, and are not authoritative.

7.   Downloading from the ‘net – don’t.  Even your befuddled old teacher can work up a simple string search, and changing words around won’t block a find.  If you turn in work not your own, you will be awarded an F for the class.  Please note that 5 November is the last Angelina drop day.

8.   No excuses – three months is more than enough time to write a 10-page MLA paper. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time Line - Have your instructor sign for these items both on your copy and on his:

1.   Week of 15 & 16 October.  Your topic and thesis statement must be final by the end of class; you will not be permitted to change them.  Two months is enough time to make a decision.

 

A.   Topic____________________________________________________

B.   Thesis statement___________________________________________

________________________________________________________.

C.   Instructor signature________________________________________

 

2.   Week of 22 and 23 October or earlier.  Share your pretty good, typed (a few handwritten corrections are fine) first page in MLA format, complete with title, and with your thesis statement at the very beginning.

 

A.   ___Inadequate or not submitted

B.   ___Lookin’ good so far!

C.   Instructor signature______________________________________

 

3.   Week of 29 and 30 October or earlier.  Share your pretty good, mostly complete, and typed (a few handwritten corrections are fine) bibliography (aka works cited).

 

A. ___Inadequate or not submitted

B. ___Yes, this looks promising

C. Instructor signature______________________________________

 

4.   Week of 5 and 6 November or earlier.  Share your pretty good, mostly finished, typed (handwritten corrections are fine) rough draft, complete with bibliography, heading with sequential page numbering, and all other bells, whistles, guts, and feathers.

 

A.___You are welcome to repeat the class in the spring term.

B.___You probably have a winner here!

 

5.   Week of 12 and 13 November.  As usual, the first half of class will be granted for working on your paper (which should not be necessary).

 

19 and 20 November.  Submit research paper NLT the beginning of your first class of the week for ten extra points. 

 

27 and 28 November.  Your official due-date; submit your paper NLT the beginning of your first class of the week.

 

3 and 4 December.  Your NLT at the beginning of your first class of the week with a ten-point penalty.  This is the mercy; three months is enough time to write a paper, find a computer, buy an ink cartridge, and retrieve your paper from your friend’s pickup truck in Louisiana.