ENGL 101A – FINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Goal
Students will write a research-based paper from the topic list provided. The essay should present a clear, debatable thesis that evidences thorough academic research with a minimum of 4 scholarly, peer-reviewed sources (minimum 8 sources total).
Description
Students will provide evidence of prewriting activities that organize their information in anticipation of an essay, including a research question process. From this initial research process, students will begin research and synthesis of sources. Once the research question is sufficiently answered via synthesized research, the student will then generate a thesis statement. This thesis statement should be relevant to argument-based research and utilize various sources to support this debatable, clearly stated conclusion. After the peer review process, students will then be able to revise, edit, and publish a final draft. The minimum expected length of this paper is 6 pages, not including a works cited page which brings the total to 7 at least. Students must use 8 sources minimum, including 4 scholarly sources.
Step 1 – Creating a Research Question (draft one and post to the discussion by 7/10) __/10
Step 2 – Gathering and Sharing Research Materials(share a scholarly article link + description in the article share discussion board for week 5 part 3 – due 7/11-7/12) __/20
Step 3 – Draft a Thesis Statement (share to thesis statement discussion board for week 6 – due 7/12) __/10
Step 4 – Rough Draft Instructor Review (five full pages + six sources cited due 7/15 on CANVAS) __/30
Step 5 – Receive Rough Draft Peer Review + Instructor Review Comments + ONLINE OPTIONAL ZOOM CONFERENCES (7/16) __/30
Step 6 – FINAL DRAFT (due to CANVAS 7/19) __/200
POINTS – 200 Total
Step 1 – Draft a research question – 10 points
Step 2 – Share an annotated scholarly article – 20 points
Step 3 – Draft a thesis statement – 10 points
Step 4 – Submit a rough draft + peer review – 30 points
Step 5 – Instructor comments + conference – 30 points
Step 6 – Typed final draft – 200 points
THE PROCESS:
Topic – reflect on prior work on your topic: What do I know? What do I not know? What do I expect to find? What factors/relationships affect this topic? How can I seek to understand this topic more clearly?
Research Question – ask an analytical question (see Week 5 course materials), then perform research in order to answer this question – synthesize research findings for your ‘answer’
Thesis – the research’s ‘answer’ to your research question becomes your thesis
STRUCTURE:
A) Introduction
a) Topic introduction
b) General summary/logic/research question (theory/perspective)
c) Thesis
B) Body
a) Clearly establish subpoint of this paragraph
b) Review the existing body of research/literature
c) Synthesize support
d) Reconnect subpoint findings to thesis
C) Conclusion
a) Synthesis restatement
b) Summary, recommendation, or prediction
c) Wrap up loose ends
TOPIC IDEAS:
Information technology’s role in interpersonal relationships
Information technology’s role in personal health
Information technology’s role in education
The government’s role in internet regulation
The psychology of tech-based consumer behavior
Data collection and personal privacy
