How using social media affects teenagers rachel ehmke

Research Paper

Research Paper Instructions and Rubric

Research Paper – 150 points

Your final essay in English is a research paper that provides an opportunity to delve fully into a topic of your interest. Writing a research paper—while a challenge—offers a reason to read, research, reflect, think deeply, then address and formally answer in writing a question worth exploring. See the bottom of this document for possible topics.

This assignment is designed to utilize all the skills we have learned this semester, including in-text MLA citation techniques and documentation of sources we have learned in our lab sessions.

The length of the essay should be a minimum of four pages, but no longer than seven pages.

RESEARCH PAPER TIMELINE AND ASSIGNMENTS:

Select a controversial topic - My choice of topic is HUMAN CLONING

Minimum of 4 pages and no more than 7 pages.

A controversial topic is one that reasonable individuals can argue over and that has at least two sides. Gun control and abortion are two classic topics that are controversial; the life of your favorite actor or the history of baroque music are not controversial.

Once you select your prompt, begin researching reliable sources and compiling them into an annotated bibliography. This is a good time to visit our Library and the library’s website and database of academic articles.

List of sources, a working thesis, and first pages of rough draft - 20 points

When this step in the process is due, you will need to have compiled an annotated bibliography (a list of sources with brief descriptions of the source) from your research on your topic. As you encounter sources that relate to your topic, be sure to paraphrase key ideas, record word-for-word quotations you may want to use, and note page numbers from the sources that you can easily reference once you begin to write the paper.

As a research paper, this assignment requires research, which means you need to reference at least three outside sources:

· An article or essay from a reliable, trustworthy source. You should try to include an article from one of the library online databases, if possible.

· One book on the topic, if available; otherwise, you may use another trustworthy source.

· One other source (i.e. another essay from the library database, a website, video, DVD, interview with someone knowledgeable about the topic, etc);

· Note: Please do not cite Wikipedia for this research paper

Turn in your annotated bibliography along with the first pages of your rough draft. By this due date you will need to identify a working thesis statement. (A “working thesis” refers to the idea that because your research will eventually lead to what position you take on your topic, the final thesis will begin to take shape as you read and think about your topic.)

Your thesis statement—which in its final version will answer the question you have identified to research—is a one-sentence (or occasionally two-sentence) statement of your central idea.

You’re encouraged to contact your instructor at any time and at any stage of the paper to check your progress and ensure you’re on the right track.

Rough draft – 20 points

A portion of class time will be devoted to peer review, so bring four copies of your rough draft to class. Be sure to bring your paper on a flash drive to make corrections during our lab session.

Your final draft (150 points) is due.

Note these important steps:

Please title your Word document using your last name, like this: Potter Research Paper

The final draft of the research paper will be submitted to Canvas.

We studied plagiarism earlier in this semester, so be sure to review what constitutes plagiarism so you avoid it in this essay. Plagiarism may result in a grade of F for the research paper.

Observe the news and select a controversial topic that interests you. Be sure to select a topic that can reasonably be argued from two opposing perspectives.

Use this rubric as a checklist to ensure that you meet the requirements of the assignment and avoid potential pitfalls:

Thoroughly

Somewhat

Minimal or not at all

Follows MLA formatting, double-spaced, 12 point font (Arial or Times New Roman), left-justified only, and heading listed in proper order

10

5

0

Essay’s content and argument reflect critical thinking and a depth of thought that makes reading the essay worthwhile for the reader

20

10

0

Essay’s spelling, punctuation, and grammar are error-free (no comma splices, fragments, run-ons, etc.) Commas and semi-colons are used correctly. Author and other names are spelled correctly.

10

5

0

Essay is well-organized, easy to follow, and seeks to prove the thesis

10

0

0

Essay begins with an introductory paragraph that includes a thesis statement (often the last sentence of the introduction)

5

2

0

Essay cites at least three reliable, academic sources, and in-text citations match the first words of sources as listed in Works Cited.

15

7

0

Essay properly cites quotations, paraphrases, and sources of information not commonly known

5

2

0

Essay is at least 4 pages and no more than 7 (not counting Works Cited page)

5

2

0

Essay has creative title that fits with topic

5

2

0

Although you are arguing on behalf of a claim or thesis, your essay avoids unnecessary use of “I” and other overt references to yourself

5

2

0

Essay avoids slang, casual diction, and maintains a scholarly, formal academic tone. Words such as "huge" and "big" are replaced with words such as significant, essential, important, critical.

10

5

0

Commas and periods are placed insideclosed quotation marks (except periods that go after an in-text citation)

5

2

0

Once people are introduced with first and last names, the essay uses last names.

5

2

0

News sources such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and others are italicized. Article titles are placed in quotation marks.

5

2

0

Essay demonstrates that the student looked back at earlier writing assignments and has corrected errors he or she tends to make (avoids run-ons and fragments, formatting errors, and uses commas correctly, etc.)

20

10

0

Essay avoids dropped quotations by using signal phrases

10

5

0

Works Cited page is properly formatted (using Noodletools is recommended)

Missing Works Cited will result in minus 20 points

5

2

0

Essay score – 150 points possible Total:

150

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