Tutoring Materials for Monday: Assignment

ENG 101: The Research Paper: a Four-Part Project. 

Select a social justice issue that you are interested in.  Here are some sample starting points, from which a more specific topic must be constructed:

 Domestic Violence
The War on Drugs
Mass Incarceration
Women’s Reproductive Rights / Abortion
Immigration
Gay Marriage/LGBTQ Rights
Bullying
Gun Control/Right to Bear Arms/ 2^nd Amendment
Animal Rights
Gender and Equality
Race and Equality
Police Brutality/Police Community Relations
Activism in Popular Culture
Voting / Voting Rights
Education (e.g. tuition costs, equal opportunity, curriculum)

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PART I (aka Paper #3)

Proposal of Topic/ Research Question(s) (10% of final grade)

DUE: APRIL 30^TH via Blackboard

 Write a two paragraph proposal that describes what you are interested in writing about.  You should explain why the issue is important, what aspects you are curious about investigating, and offer a broad idea of where you think you might be able to find information on the topic.  Stronger proposals tend to have a set of questions that guide your exploration of the topic.  IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY “I WANT TO WRITE ABOUT ‘STOP AND FRISK.’”  This is a huge topic.

You may use the personal voice on this assignment (e.g. “I am curious about…”).

Some questions to guide your thinking:

• What time period are you covering?
• Why is this topic important?
• Who are the subjects in question? Who does it affect?
• Where, specifically, are you covering?
• Are you covering a specific demographic? (Teenagers?  Men/women?  Low-Income families?)

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PART II (aka Paper #4)

Review of Research (10% of final grade)

DUE: SATURDAY, MAY 10^th via Blackboard

Complete a “modified” works cited page of your paper.  Under each of your FOUR sources, write a total of two paragraphs (see below).  This would leave you with a total of EIGHT paragraphs for this assignment.

THREE of your FOUR sources should be books, magazines, or journal articles.  You may also choose to include interviews with experts/relevant subjects or multimedia (i.e. documentaries, relevant videos, audio), but be sure to use the library resources to find the three required books/articles.

1. Paragraph #1: Summary of the Source. In narrative form, include the main findings of the source (cite where appropriate). Stronger summaries include a combination of properly cited direct quotes, paraphrasing, and your own narrative voice.
2. Paragraph #2: Explain exactly how this will fit into your research. Explain in detail how you imagine this source fitting into your research project. (Will the source provide context for the intro?  Will it provide evidence for a particular argument/question you will raise?  Is it something that you will consider when addressing the counterargument (i.e. does it seemingly go against your point?)  Be as specific as you can.

In other words, this would look exactly like a works cited page, except you will have two paragraphs following each source.  Said another way, you will have two paragraphs between each source, and two paragraphs following the last one.

You may use the personal voice in this assignment (e.g. “This source supports my argument about…”)

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PART III (aka Paper #5)

Research Paper (15% of final grade)

DUE: SUNDAY, May 31^ST via Blackboard

Part 3: Research Paper First Draft (MINIMUM 1000 Words).  **PRINT 2 COPIES TO BRING TO CLASS** (20% of final grade.)

Write a thesis-driven paper that:

1. Uses the intro to provide context to the problem you have selected;
2. Finishes the intro by posing a research-based solution (or series of solutions) to the problem you have selected (i.e. the thesis)
3. Includes a body that uses framing sentences and research-based evidence (along with what we have learned about quote integration to support your solution.)

DO NOT USE THE PERSONAL VOICE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.

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PART IV 

In class Writing Reflection (5% of final grade)

Monday, June 1^st  in class

Write a 600-word, thesis driven, organized essay that draws upon your personal experience in going through the research process.  Specifically, within the body of your essay, please include answers to the following questions:

• How / why did you choose this particular topic?
• What is your relationship to the topic you have chosen?*
• Consider your thoughts on this topic before you began your research and compare this to your views on the topic currently. Do you view your topic any differently, based on what you have learned?  How so?
• How can you personally make a difference in the topic you have chosen? What are some things you can do to make a difference within the particular issue you have selected?

THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD ANSWER THESE IN A LIST, OR IN ORDER.  You are expected to also show what you have learned as a writer, so avoid informalities (besides the first-person).  Recall the principles of structure we have been using this semester (e.g. framing sentences, evidence, and so forth).

*For this question, please write only as much as you are comfortable sharing.  Some of these may be quite personal.

(Naturally, this will make use of the personal voice.)