Explain a research paper is a formal paper that requires reading, selecting, evaluating, and organizing material for written presentation. Because of the type of paper it is, the writer must observe certain guidelines. Some basic requirements for this research paper assignment are given below. Your complete paper will contain the following:
1. Proposal (instructions in this handout)
2. Reflections (instructions in this handout)
3. Research paper (3-4 pages) Note: The research part of the paper must be 3 to 4 pages. The
Proposal, Reflections, and Works Cited do NOT count as research paper pages. Each page of the research paper must go the bottom margin of the page to count as a full page. Partial pages do NOT count for full pages. Graphs, charts, and such do NOT count.
4. Works Cited (does NOT count as a research paper page but must be included)
5. Conference submission to Turnitin —rough draft of all material for conference credit Due date: Tuesday, 19 July at 11:00 p.m. (worth 20 points of research paper final
grade plus an extra quiz grade added to the research paper)
6. Final submission to Turnitin —final draft of all material for research paper credit Due date: Wednesday, 27 July at 11:00 p.m. (final grade for paper)
Caution: Please be sure to submit your papers before the deadline. Submission before the deadline is acceptable; submission after the deadline is not. Do Not submit a paper that has been previously submitted for another class.
Topics: You must choose an approved author from the list provided by the instructor. This is a literary analysis paper of a work or works by your chosen author. This paper is NOT a biography. You must analyze a work or works of literature written by the author you have chosen from the list. Do NOT write a biography concerning the author’s life.
Length: three to four (3-4) typed text pages. To count as a full page, the type must go the bottom margin.
Note: The Works Cited page does not count as a text page, but it does count as a necessary part
of your paper.
Sources: –minimum of five (5) separate quoted or paraphrased sources NOTE: You must
quote or paraphrase from five (5) different sources. You must have five (5) in- text citations from five (5) different sources. Using one (1) source five (5) times counts as one (1) source. Your primary source (your author) counts as one (1) source no matter how many time you use one or more of her/his work(s).
–minimum of two (2) types of sources—book, newspapers, magazines, and such.
–NO encyclopedias, Brainy Quotes, Spark Notes or such like, class notes, textbooks, or
.com (If in doubt about a source, ask the instructor for approval.) –Use of more than five sources is acceptable. All sources must be published.
Note: Not all Internet sources are reliable. If you choose a source that is not reliable, it will not be counted in the required number of sources. In addition, unreliable sources will lower the score of your paper. When in doubt, ask the instructor for approval.
Evaluation: Your paper will be evaluated according to the handout “Research Paper Grading Criteria” that accompanies this handout.
Documentation: Specific and extensive examples for documentation are given in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Eight Edition). There are several copies of these books on reserve in the college library. There are also on-line copies. Be prepared to use the MLA (Eight Edition). A MLA section is on the class Moodle site.
Citations: Use parenthetical documentation. Examples for in-text citations appear in the example research paper in the MLA. If you have doubts about how to cite quoted material, check the MLA Handbook (Eighth or Ninth Edition).
Caution: The purpose of this assignment is to produce a research paper that goes beyond a listing of facts. This paper should demonstrate the writer’s ability to comprehend, evaluate, analyze, and apply his or her knowledge to the literary work chosen for research. Do NOT submit a paper that has been previously evaluated, graded, or accepted for another class.
Paper Format Requirements: (Check the MLA for a complete list of requirements)
This paper should not be a group of sentences taken from various sources and linked together. It should be original work that is supported by material gathered from your own personal research. Previously graded, evaluated, published or copied papers are not acceptable. Do NOT submit papers from other classes.
Plagiarism—Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s ideas or expressions in writing without acknowledging the source. In other words, the person gives the impression that she or he has written or thought of something that was borrowed from someone else’s work. Do NOT plagiarize. If any idea or work is quoted or paraphrased from someone’s work, give the author credit. Plagiarized work may receive “0” for a grade.
Any specifics not addressed on this sheet will be subject to the guidelines in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Eighth or Ninth Edition).
English 1302 Requirements:
If you do not complete the following steps, your paper will receive a failing grade.
1. Your paper must include a Works Cited page (MLA format) that correctly corresponds to the in-text citations.
2. Your paper must contain appropriate parenthetical (in-text) citations must correctly coordinate with the required Works Cited page.
3. Submit your paper on or before the specified deadline to Turnitin.
Failure to complete all of the above will result in an automatic “F” for a grade.
Turnitin
Turnitin is used for submission (link in Research section). Turnitin checks for copied or plagiarized work. Any paper marked by the Turnitin Originality Report for more than 35% to 40% copied may not receive a passing grade. Papers over 50% will fail. Do your own work.
Research Paper Grading Criteria
1. 20pts–Conference—Submit the following to Turnitin. Rough draft of research paper[4]; Works Cited[4]; Proposal [4]; Reflections [4] Turnitin submission [4] (numbers in brackets represent the point value for each part of the conference requirements. )
Turnitin bonus quiz Score: ______________
2. 10pts – Final Works Cited page
3. 10pts – Form and format (margins, page numbering, heading, length) 4. 5pts – Proposal
5. 5pts – Reflections
6. 50pts – The paper:
5pts – Introduction (beginning information, quotes, clear thesis statement,)
5pts – Grammar (conjunctions, correlatives, transitions, voice, subject verb agreement,) 5pts – Language (slang, contractions, smoothness, appropriateness, point of view,)
5pts – Sentence Structure (fragments, run-ons, variety, parallelism,)
5pts – Punctuation (commas, semicolons, end marks, quotations,)
5pts – Organization of material (logical sequence)
5pts – Use of quotes or paraphrase, [no] long quotes
5pts – Conclusion (no new information, effective summation, [no] quotes)
5pts – Appropriate documentation and form
5pts – Overall evaluation (use of quotes, cut and paste, originality, quality, point of view,)
Tone: formal, serious, scholarly
Audience: instructor and other academic readers
Point of View: third person only for research paper
Note: Do not use any form of first or second person unless in a direct quote from the source. Example: NO I, me, my, we, us, our, you, your
Purpose: literary analysis of author’s work(s)
Length: 3-4 typed pages (MLA rules)
Note: pts = points
Additional Research Requirements
Proposal
1. Once you select your author, you need to select a work or works by that person. In short
answer form, complete the following: (Do not write an essay paragraph. Do not copy the questions.)
1). Why did you choose the work(s) that you selected. What interested you?
2). How are you going to introduce your subject matter, and why are you going to
introduce the material in the manner you have chosen? (organization)
3). What is the exact thesis you intend to state in your paper? (Underline the thesis on
your proposal only.) Why did you choose this thesis?
4). List the points (at least 3) you will use to support your thesis. 5). Why did you choose the 3 points you have listed?
2. Type your proposal in MLA format.
3. Your proposal needs to be a minimum of 100-150 words. Include a word count at the end. 4. For your proposal (not in the research paper), you may use either first or third person.
On a separate paper, in short answer form complete the following: Questions 1, 2, and 3 (Do not write an essay paragraph. Do not copy the questions.)
Reflections
1. How successful do feel your overall efforts were in writing this assignment? 2. What do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of your paper?
3. What is your overall level of satisfaction with this assignment?
4. Write your reflections in MLA format.
5. Your reflections need to be a minimum of 100-150 words. Include a word count at the end. 6. You may use first or third person for this assignment but not in the research paper.
Examples for the research paper MLA format are given below.
Caution:
1. The complete (full) heading goes on the first page only. Heading is 1 inch from the top of the page and placed on the left side of the page.
2. The header is last name followed by page number and goes on every page of the paper. Header is placed 1⁄2 inch from top of the right hand side of the page.
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