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ENGL 108C |
Accelerated First-Year Composition |
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Assignments - The Play - The Research Paper Online Writing Lab (OWL) |
Research Paper The purpose of writing a research paper is to construct an argument of your own in relation to the topic that you choose with the help of what other people have already written on that topic. While writing a research paper, you can use other people’s writings (secondary sources) in two ways: you can quote a secondary source either to agree with it to support your own argument, or to disagree with it/refute it in order to strengthen the impact of your own argument in the eyes of the audience and to eliminate confronting/conflicting view points. We can trace several important themes in the literary texts we have read this semester. For this last writing assignment, you will need to choose a theme that is central to at least two of the texts that we read in class. Once you choose your theme and decide in relation to which two texts you want to discuss it, you will need to do some research to find at least two secondary sources for each of your primary sources. List of possible literary texts that you can use as your primary sources in the research paper. Primary source: A literary text that you are writing about Secondary source: Critical/analytical writings published in print or on the Internet about the literary texts that you decide to discuss in your research paper. The research project will be conducted in three steps: - First you will need to submit a 100-word topic proposal in which you talk about how you are going to discuss your theme in relation to the two texts that you have chosen. - Secondly, you will need to find at least four secondary sources (two for each) and write an annotated bibliography for your sources. - Lastly, you will need to draft your research paper based on a sketch outline that you need to submit together with your draft. Grading Criteria: First of all, I will look at the quality of your argument; whether you are really making an argument in relation to the two texts that you have picked and how well you connect these two texts to each other around the theme that you have chosen to discuss with the help of secondary sources to support your argument. Secondly, I will look at the organization of your research paper; whether you have an interesting title, an attention catching introduction that includes a clearly identifiable thesis statement and whether your paragraph divisions truly serve your purpose of tracing one theme in two different literary texts. Thirdly, I will look at how you make use of your primary and secondary sources and whether you integrate your quotations smoothly into your own writing and whether the passages you quote are relevant. This will also include the correct use of the MLA/APA citation style. Lastly, your language will be considered including word choice, appropriate tone and mechanics of grammar and spelling. Format Your research paper should be about 1200 to 1500 words long (excluding the ‘works cited’ page), typed, double spaced and page numbered, with your name on top of the first page. Due Dates: You will need to submit your topic proposal on Wednesday, November 15th. Your annotated bibliography is due on Monday, November 27th. The draft of your research paper is due on Friday, December 1st. You will need to submit a sketch outline of your paper together with your draft. The revised Research paper is on the last day of classes, Friday, December 8th.
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