Research Paper Assignment

1.  The Assignment:  Your magnum opus will be an essay of 10-12 pages (size 10 or 12 font, double-spaced).  You will be writing an argument to prove a thesis that asserts a point about your subject. 

In the text of the paper, you will refer to information that comes from at least six outside sources.  At least two of these sources must be books; the others may be articles from on-line databases, articles from college or government sponsored websites, interviews with experts, documentaries, lectures—if you have other kinds of sources, see me to have them approved.

You may quote from your sources, but no more than 200 words of your paper may be quoted.  The rest of the paper will be in your own words, paraphrasing, summarizing, and explaining the information you find in your research.

You will make an outline of at least five main categories with three levels of detail.  Your outline will be done in correct, traditional outline form.

You will be taking notes on 3x5 or 4x6 index cards, following my very specific format—at least 30 note-cards in a box with dividers.

Your works cited page will comprise at least six sources, listed alphabetically by the first word, following correct MLA format.  Your paper will be generously peppered with parenthetical citations (MLA style) to indicate the source of your information.  You should expect to see an average of one citation per paragraph—an average of three paragraphs per page (do your math here—that makes about 30 parenthetical citations in a typical paper).

2.  The Calendar

April 8            Outline Due                                                                         15 points

April 15          List of Potential Sources Due                                           20 points

April 22          30 Note-cards Due                                                               30 points       

April 29          Rough Draft Due                                                                35 points

May 15           Final Paper Due (No late papers will be accepted!)      100 points

                                                                                                                        __________

                                                     200 points

3.  The Grade:                                                   

     The entire project will be worth a total of 200 points—100 of these points will accrue as you complete the sections of the assignment; 100 points will result from the completed paper.  Your paper will be graded on correctness of grammar, punctuation, and spelling; correctness of MLA works cited and parenthetical notes; structure of paragraphs (topic sentences and supporting information); intelligence of thesis; depth of research; uniqueness of argument; maturity of vocabulary and sentence construction.

            No paper written in a hurry at the last minute is likely to earn an A: I am looking for significance and interest.  Surprise and intrigue your reader, my dears—you may also surprise yourself!