Research paper assignment

Purpose and assignment
Required elements
Research paper format guidelines

Purpose:  This assignment has been designed to help you learn basic skills for writing a research paper.  You’ll be required to use the library, choose and narrow a topic, present research material in the paper, and write a Works Cited page.  In addition, you’ll continue to practice skills already learned in class such as writing a clear thesis, using transitions, incorporating quotes, and using the MLA format.

The Writing Assignment:  Imagine that you’re a writer for the magazine Self Improvement or Parents, and you’ve been assigned the task of writing one of the articles for next month’s publication.  You get to choose your own topic, but it must be related to the theme of the magazine.  You’re required to include at least seven quotes and/or summaries from at least three sources.  In addition, you are required to include a list of your sources on a Works Cited page.

Be sure to choose a topic that interests you.  Research can be fun if you choose a topic that you like.  Give your topic a fair amount of consideration, for while it is quite common to alter your topic as you research or write the paper, you cannot, unless you conference with me, switch topics after you have handed-in your research paper proposal.  If the final paper does not approximate your proposal, one hundred (100) points will be subtracted from your research paper score.

There are purposes to this strict rule:

1.      When you are required to let me know your topic before you begin writing, we both know you are writing a paper that fits the parameters of the assignment.

2.      This rule helps cut down on the number of recycled papers from other classes (college or high school) and plagiarized papers that are submitted.

3.      Most importantly, the rule aids me in emphasizing the importance of the planning and researching your topic before you begin drafting your paper.  When you switch your topic the week (or weekend) before the paper is due, the process of writing a research paper becomes truncated.  As with your other writing assignments in this class, I want you to get in the habit of giving yourself enough time to appreciate the recursive nature of writing.  In other words, I want you to give yourself some time to explore your topic, and write several drafts before presenting the final draft to your group.

Required Elements: 

¨      A well-focused subject--limit your focus to one aspect of the topic

¨      A clearly stated thesis that introduces the focus of your essay and content that supports your claims

¨      A logical plan with clear transitions

¨      Careful use of sources: use the MLA style of citing sources for direct quotations and summarized information

¨      Research notes written on note cards

¨      A prewriting plan of organization (outline)

¨      Two research assignments connected to your topic

¨      A preliminary draft

¨      Multiple copies of the final draft to be presented to your group

Research Paper Guidelines:

Type of Essay: Write a thesis paper.  That is, you may not present a mere report, but rather you must advance an idea or skill.  Additionally, you are to share with the reader the research that supports your idea or thesis.

Length: 4-5 pages of double-spaced type.

Sources:          Use at least one book or at least one periodical in your parenthetical citations.  DO NOT USE AN ENCYCLOPEDIA.

                        Include at least three (3) sources on your Works Cited page.

                        Include at least seven (7) cited quotes or summaries in your essay.

                        Follow the MLA format for quoting and citing sources.

                        Search for the best, most current research on your topic.

Format:  Include your work in the following order:

¨      Title page (MLA format)

¨      Final paper (MLA format)

¨      Works Cited page (MLA format; at least 3 sources)