Student’s
Name_______________________________________
M.
Hall
English
1301 / 1302 / 2302
16/17
October 2013
3rd
edition – throw away the previous two versions lest we all become hopelessly
confused.
Persuasive 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 15% 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 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 11 November is the last Angelina drop day.
8.
No
excuses – three months is more than enough time to write a 10-page MLA paper.
(over)
Time Line - Have your instructor sign for these
items on your copy and on his:
1.
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.
October. 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.
October. 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).
- 25 and 26 November. Jasper High School takes the week of 25 –
29 November off for the Thanksgiving hols.
Angelina College is off Thursday and Friday only. Thus, I will be on campus 25, 26, and 27
November, but student attendance for my classes only is optional.
- 2 and 3 December. Your official due-date; submit your
paper NLT the beginning of your first class of the week. Ten bonus points for turning in your
research paper earlier or at roll call on Monday the 2nd for
the M-W class and Tuesday the 3rd for the T-Th class.
- 9 and 10 December. Your research paper is due 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.
