Handout for Week of 19 & 21 March

Student’s Name_______________________________________

M. Hall

English 1301 / 1302 / 2320

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 January, as suggested, and some of them 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 before spring break.

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 and in your 1301 text.  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 must withdraw from the class.  Please note that 26 March 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 19 & 21 March.  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 26 & 29 March or earlier.  Share your pretty good, typed (handwritten corrections are fine) first page in MLA format, complete with title, and with your thesis statement at the very beginning (we’re not doing O. Henry here, okay?).

A.   ___Inadequate or not submitted

B.   ___Lookin’ good so far!

C.   Instructor signature______________________________________

3.   Week of 2 & 4 April or earlier.  Share your pretty good, mostly complete, and typed (handwritten corrections are fine) bibliography (aka works cited).

A. ___Inadequate or not submitted

B. ___Yes, this looks promising

C. Instructor signature______________________________________

4.   Week of 9 & 11 April 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 autumn term.

B.___You probably have a winner here!

5.   Week of 16 & 18 April.  As usual, first half of class for working on your paper (which should not be necessary).

16 April or earlier.  Submit research paper at the beginning of class for ten extra points.  Regardless of class or section, 16 April at the beginning of class is an absolute. 

23 April.  Your official due-date; submit your paper at the beginning of class.

30 April.  Your not-later-than date 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.