Research Project

 The Research Project

English 101

Prof. Thornton

The Research Project is designed to explore a topic in depth and to present accurate facts and examples to support your thesis. The Argumentative approach is very common in research. Students gather and interpret the information and make judgments. They should report responsible, impartial findings while avoiding bias, prejudice and hasty generalizations. The Research Project includes several steps:

1.       CHOOSE A TOPIC (THESIS STATEMENT)

2.        CREATE A PRELIMINARY WORKS CITED PAGE (USING MLA CITATIONS).

3.       DEVELOP AN OUTLINE

4.       ORGANIZE THE DOCUMENTATION

5.       WRITE THE ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER

6.       COMPLETE A WORKS CITED PAGE

*EACH STEP IS NECESSARY TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL PAPER.

The Topic for the paper should explore some controversial issue of your future career; the topic is subject to the approval of the instructor. The career designation is a beginning. You many choose a topic in the field itself or research a related area that affects the primary career. Example: if you intend to pursue a career in computers, you might choose such issues as censorship on the internet, privacy or computer crime, etc. Considering a career in education? You might explore the increase in standardized tests and the effect on students. If you are interested in athletics, possibility of payment for student athletes or the effect of Title IX funding on college athletics might be of interest. Topics should be specific and targeted, not broad and unwieldy. The goal is to put forth a specific point and to clearly prove it with evidence from your sources.

THE FINAL PAPER SHOULD BE TYPED (COMPUTER), DOUBLE-SPACED 12-PT FONT ,

AND FIVE PAGES MINIMUM—TITLE PAGE, OUTLINE AND WORK CITED PAGES ARE NOT INCLUDED
IN THE FIVE PAGES.

YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO SUBMIT A FIRST DRAFT TO BE PEER-TUTORED IN CLASS AND REVIEWED BY ME IN ADDITION TO THE FINAL PAPER.

  

IMPORTANT DUE DATES FOR THE RESEARCH PAPER:

TOPIC DUE: (THESIS STATEMENT): Wednesday, September 19

PRELIMINARY WORKS CITED PAGE DUE (4-SOURCE MINIMUM): Wednesday, October 10

OUTLINE DUE: Monday, October 29

PAPER  DUE, ROUGH  DRAFT: Wednesday,  November 14

FINAL PAPER: Wednesday, November 28

PARTIAL LIST OF TOPICS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE:

·         ABORTIONS

·         SUICIDE

·         CHILD ABUSE

·         ASSISTED SUICIDE

·         ALCOHOLISM

·         AUTHORS

·         HISTORIES

·         GUN CONTROL

·         TEEN PREGNANCY

·         SCHOOL PRAYER

·         CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

·         WAR

·         WELFARE

·         DRUGS

·         DISEASES

·         BIOGRAPHIES

 ONCE AGAIN, THE TOPIC IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE PROFESSOR.

PLEASE DO NOT BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.

ONCE YOU HAVE CHOSEN YOUR TOPIC,  YOU CANNOT CHANGE IT.

CHOOSE AN INTERESTING SUBJECT- ONE THAT IS WORTHY OF YOUR TIME AND EFFORT,

NARROW THE SUBJECT TO A MANAGEABLE AND WORKING THESIS.

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR A SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH PAPER:

                 1.  TIME MANAGEMENT-LEARNING TO MEET DEADLINES

                2. PERSEVERANCE-STAYING FOCUSED ON THE ASSIGNMENT

 3. DECISION MAKING-CHOOSING A TOPIC

                4.  RESEARCH SKILLS-SEARCHING FOR THE CORRECT SOURCES

5.  LEARNING TO US THE VARIOUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE:  BOOKS, JOURNALS,
THE INTERNET, ETC.

6.       CHOOSING THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT WILL SUPPORT YOUR THESIS

7.  LEARNING TO CONTROL INFORMATION- WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS NOT (EDITING)

8.  ORGANIZING THE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT, INCLUDING THE CREATION   OF A WORKING OUTLINE

9. USING APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR TO CREATE A COHERENT ARGUMENT

 10. LEARNING CORRECT DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR SOURCES.

GOOD LUCK!