Research Paper Instructions:
Select a research question. This question will serve as the topic that you will explore and center on throughout your research.
Then, prepare an essay of argumentation that focuses on some aspect of the issue. Remember—you must take a position about this issue and you MUST include a clear claim that centers on your position. Place the claim as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Guidelines:
- Your research project essay will need to be between eight (full) to ten pages in length.
- Read and carefully follow all of the guidelines for MLA on the purdue OWL website.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ - You will need to incorporate 8 – 10 outside sources (Note: dictionary.com does not constitute a source. into the essay—use paraphrase and/or direct quotations). From these sources at least 4 need to be books and the rest may be database articles, documentaries, etc.
- You will need a Works Cited page at the end of your essay that includes the 8 – 10 sources.
- Follow these style specifics:
- Only write in third person
- Do not use contractions
- Follow all MLA guidelines
Research:
Your research will be for the following reasons:
- To establish background or preliminary information.
- To support an assertion with facts, statistics, or professional information.
- To exemplify an idea with testimony, examples, and the like.
- To support the claim
Process:
- Select a topic that you will enjoy researching and writing about
- Read and explore this topic carefully—what are the positions already expressed about this issue?
- Select a specific position that you will assert in your claim. This will be a working claim that can evolve with your research and growing understanding of your topic.
- Begin prewriting activities (i.e., brainstorming to find out everything you already know about this topic, asking questions, further researching this topic)
- Research extensively: include citations or paraphrases. Vary your resources. Do not depend solely on Internet resources—points will be deducted for not using other resources such as books, handbooks, journal articles.
- Limit web resources to those that include one of these suffixes: edu, .gov., or .org (unbiased). For any other Internet resources, discuss with me before using.
- Wikipedia is not an acceptable website for this paper.
Other guidelines:
- For this paper you must use at least 8 – 10 outside sources (Note: dictionary.com does not count as a source).
- A clear claim needs to be composed
- Present at least three reasons to show the logic of your position. Develop each reason thoroughly.
- Write in third person (he, she, him, her, his, hers, they, their, them, etc.) NO first or second person.
- Works Cited—this is part of the document and should appear as the last page of the document. Document the sources and place in alphabetical order.
- I am willing to write my paper on Sexual Harassment.
