Brief Research Paper (5 full pages)
EXTENDED TO MONDAY 7/1 by 11:59pm- Due date extended because Mission IT will be working on the system on Sunday morning
(Do NOT use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance. Fewer points if you do.)
(See the 12 required parts of the paper and Checklist/Rubric below.)
Overview
What you’re going to do:
You will write a brief research paper (page length choices are below) regarding one specific issue from the list of topics below. You will analyze (explain) one of challenges and/or opportunities this issue presents for African Americans and (if you want to add) also for one of the related ethnic, gendered or immigrant groups mentioned in class (maximum possible: African American and one other group, if necessary. You cannot substitute the other group for African Americans). Then you will propose a possible original solution or substantial update to an existing solution to the issue regarding your chosen topic.
To Do
Due Date: Sunday 6/30 by 11:59pm
Submission: To turn in: upload to Canvas in Week 3 assignment portal.
Format: See the 12 required parts of the paper and Checklist/Rubric below and in the Canvas module for more details and examples.
Pages: 5 full (not partial) pages in Canvas, not including citation page (minimum 3 verifiable sources) – Maximum possible -100 points (fewer points for fewer pages or partial pages)
Format: Papers should be (a) double-spaced, (b) use a small font, such as Calibri or Times New Roman 12 point, (c) use the academic format you are familiar with (APA, Chicago, or MLA).
Paper Topics:
Choose ONE.
Then pick ONE specific issue to focus on. (See example below.)
Do NOT try to cover the entire topic. Fewer points if you do.)
Beauty
Business and Labor/Work
Education
Family
Gender
Health
Music/Culture
Police
Spirituality/Religion
Sports/Athletics
Voting
Dos and Don’ts
Do not say “all African Americans” or “all black men or women.” The treatment of groups may sometimes be very different based on class or other issues (for instance, wealthy elites are generally not treated the same as low-income people, although it could happen.
Do not use “I,” “we,” or “they.” This is not a personal essay.
Do not use yourself, family members or friends as examples. Use only verifiable outside academic sources.
Do NOT use a video, Wikipedia, social media, or class textbook as outside sources.
No ChatGPT or AI assistance. Fewer points if you do. If total AI use, possible little or no points at all.
EXAMPLE OF A PAPER WITH A SPECIFIC ISSUE
Example of a thesis statement for a specific issue with a specific proposed solution:
Topic-Education
Specific Issue: Free breakfast programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District
Thesis Statement – In many schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), free breakfasts are provided for students. But items such as cows milk are often included. Frequently, African American, Latinx and other students of color are lactose intolerant. Currently, students and/or parents must inform the school’s Food Service Manager if they want to request a substitute beverage. But many parents are not knowledgeable about the possible substitutes and/or may have trouble filling out forms, if English is not their first language. Therefore, the breakfast programs should be updated so that on school counseling days, the form could be offered to parents and explained right there.
ELEMENTS OF THE PAPER (12)- Fewer points if anything is missing:
TOPIC–Select your topic.
PICK A SPECIFIC ISSUE–Narrow it down to a specific issue from that overall topic.
TITLE– Provide an original one, relevant to your issue. (“Research Paper” is not relevant or original.)
INTRODUCTION–Provide a brief general overview of the issue. (No quotes should be here.)
THESIS STATEMENT –Should be the last one or two sentences at the end of the introduction, NOT in the body of the paper. (Other professors may have different instructions for their thesis statement requirements.)
For this course, the thesis statement (your argument) should be in TWO parts:
Brief statement of the problem or opportunity. (For this course, phrase it as a statement, even though, if using APA, you may begin this project with a research question.)
Brief statement of your specific original solution or what you built substantially and specifically on from an existing solution.
BODY OF THE PAPER (in three parts)
(Body-first third)
HISTORICAL INFORMATION–Give key relevant historical background of your specific issue. Be specific, not vague. Also include in this historical section of the paper:
At least one full relevant quote from an outside source.
Do NOT use a video, social media, or class textbook as outside sources.
(Body-second third)
CONTEMPORARY INFORMATION –Give an explanation of the key elements of the issue today. (Contemporary analysis.)
Explain an important current aspect or aspects of your issue. Be specific.
Provide examples. Be specific. Fewer points for vague, overly broad general explanations.
OUTSIDE SOURCES—In the body of the paper, also provide full quotes from outside verifiable scholarly and/or news sources—as timely as possible, but NOT more than ten years old.
The quotes should not just be a few words.
Check the paper page length you chose to see how many full in-text quote(s) and in-text citation(s) are required from outside verifiable scholarly and/or news sources (that a reader can double-check are timely and accurate.).
Do NOT use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance, social media, videos, or personal blogs.
DEFINITIONS–Provide dictionary or encyclopedia definition(s) for at least three (3) key words or terms within your body paragraphs (in-text).
Work these dictionary or encyclopedia definitions into your paragraphs where appropriate.
Do NOT just list the definitions at the end of your paper.
Indicate the title of the dictionary or encyclopedia with each
Also include the titles and complete citation information on your separate citation page at the end of your paper. (See below.)
Do NOT make up your own definitions or use social media definitions.
(Body-last third)
SOLUTION—Provide an original solution of your own to your specific issue. Or provide a substantial original update to a SPECIFIC existing solution from an organization, cultural, political or educational entity, or a foundation. Include the name and specific details about the organization or entity in the body of your paper.
Provide an original new solution. (Fewer points if your proposed original solution is something already being done.)
Or provide a substantial original update to an existing solution.
Do NOT give vague generalities. Fewer points if you do.
Provide only ONE solution, not just a string of vague ideas.
Do NOT put the solution in the conclusion. Fewer points if you do.
CONCLUSION- Wrap up the paper with a brief reminder of what you have covered and the significance of your solution.
CITATION PAGE-Provide a separate page with all of the sources you used in the academic format you chose.
(This is a separate page, NOT part of your paper page count.)
APA (7th edition)- References (note “s” on the end)
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)- Bibliography
MLA (9th edition)- Works Cited (note “s” on the end)
(Revised in part from: TILTHigherEd.com, © 2014 Mary-Ann Winkelmes, and Palmer et al. (2016), Measuring transparency: A learning-focused assignment rubric)
UPLOAD YOUR PAPER—Submit your paper to Canvas in the Research Paper section of the module by the deadline.
Be sure to first save a copy to your own device in case of your device having technical difficulties.
Canvas will not save your paper in case your device malfunctions.
In case a student’s device malfunctions, they might have to rewrite their entire paper by the deadline or receive “0” points.
TURNITIN.COM– Your paper automatically goes through the TurnItIn.com plagiarism/AI checker.
A paper receiving a red TurnItIn.com “flag” cannot be graded as is, and
Needs to be revised before the deadline, so no red flag continues to show.
Do NOT submit a paper or part(s) of a paper from another source, such as from copying or purchasing all or part(s) of a paper(s) or sources from online. Fewer or possibly no points if you do.
Do NOT resubmit a paper you have already used for another class. That is called “self plagiarism.”
Purpose Skill Development: This assignment will help you practice the following skills that are essential to your success both in this course and in your life beyond school: By the end of this assignment, you will be able to:
Skill Development: This assignment will help you practice the following skills that are essential to your success both in this course and in your life beyond school:
By the end of this assignment, you will be able to:
Construct an appropriate research paper.
Organize a logical, comprehensive analysis in your paper and potential solution to the main issue.
Utilize (correctly) an appropriate number of relevant outside sources for your research paper.
Knowledge Development: Your research paper will analyze (explain) the specific issue you chose from your topic. This will include a specific thesis (argument) and original solution of your own or substantial update of an existing one, per the instructions and the Checklist/Rubric in the Canvas module.
Tips for Success
Write full pages in Canvas. For example, a 4 ½ page paper will not be counted as a full 5 pages).
Use one of these academic formats that you know: APA, Chicago or MLA, your choice.
Do not add extra spacing to make the paper seem longer.
Fewer points for overly large font or overly wide spacing.
Grading Rubric
Grading is based on the length/quality of your paper (see above) and the Checklist/Rubric (below and in the Canvas Module).
Writing Resources:
Two Writing Center webpages at other colleges/universities—
Thesis Statements https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
Research and Citation Resources- Purdue Online Writing Lab
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html
RESEARCH PAPER CHECKLIST/RUBRIC—
To help you double-check that you have fulfilled all of the research paper instructions.
(Remember, no ChatGPT or other AI assistance can be used. Fewer points if you do.)
Checklist/Rubric
WHAT DO I WANT TO SAY?
HOW DO I SAY IT APPROPRIATELY?
Research Paper title
Interesting and relevant?
Research Paper topic
Research Paper wording should not be too broad
Clearly and specifically written (not too broad or vague)?
Do not say “all African Americans” or “all black men or women.” The treatment of groups may sometimes be very different based on class or other issues (for instance, wealthy elites are generally not treated the same as low-income people, although it could happen.
Be sure to provide dictionary definitions from verifiable sources for your key terms and concepts.)
Research Paper – thesis statement – Is it arguable?
Thesis statement- Can someone take the opposing side?
Focus of your central argument- Is it clearly stated? (In the paper, the thesis statement will be the last sentence(s) in the Introduction)
Main points in the research paper
Thesis statement should not be a summary or question.
For purposes of this paper, the first part of the thesis statement should briefly indicate the problem you will analyze and the second part should briefly indicate your solution.
Clearly stated? (Be as specific as possible.)
It should not be a personal essay or biography of individual(s). Do not use “I”, “you” or “we”.
Context
Indicate context specifically with accurate dates:
Historical time period (the era)- should not be too broad. For instance, do not try to cover the beginning of humankind through the present in this short paper.
Geographical location- Do not try to cover the entire U.S. or world; pick a specific city or state.
(The issues involved may have been handled very differently, depending on the year(s) and location of the participants.
Quotes and appropriate verifiable sources – You need full-sentence quotes (not just a few words) with properly formatted in-text citations in the body of the paper, as well as citations at the end on the citation page. Do not make up your own formatting.
Solution
Which outside sources are most appropriate? Do you have at least the minimum number of verifiable, appropriate sources that specifically and directly back up your statements (not including the sources of your definitions)? Do the sources provide the most up-to-date information on this topic?
Identify or provide a specific and complete possible solution for the issue as it manifests itself in the present-day (not just a broad, vague goal).
This is an example of a solution that is NOT specific or complete: “Students should be educated about this important matter.”
The solution should be in the body of the paper, not the conclusion. If building on others’ work already started, be sure to cite that source(s) in the body of the paper.
Provide an appropriate quote and in-text citation for the already existing solution.
Also if you are updating the existing solution, please clearly indicate what you are adding or updating and how it differs from or improves the existing solution. Be specific and complete, not broad or vague, so it is clear what you are adding.
Citations-Appropriate academic format
Correct spelling, page numbering, formatting, grammar and paragraph construction
Do NOT use:
Use the latest version of the format with which you are most familiar for citations: MLA (9th), Chicago (17th), or APA (7th). (For APA- You do not need an abstract, literature review, or methodology section for your paper in this course.)
Do NOT use overly wide margins or spacing to try and make your paper seem longer than it really is. The extra spacing will be deducted and the pages will be counted as if the extra spacing was not there.
Type full pages. Partial pages will not be counted as full pages. For example, a 4 ½ page paper will not be counted as 5 pages.
Do NOT use the textbooks as outside sources after the historical section (first third) of the paper.
For sources: Do NOT use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance; do not use-social media, personal blogs, personal or family opinions, videos, or course lecture materials as if they were outside sources, Wikipedia or inappropriate semi-entertainment open-source webpages such as Vice or Medium.
Do NOT resubmit a paper or part(s) of a paper from another source, such as from copying or purchasing all or part(s) of a paper(s) or sources from online. Fewer or possibly no points if you do.
Do NOT resubmit a paper or parts of a paper you have already used for another class. That is called “self plagiarism.”
Do not use slang, first names only for figures in examples, abbreviations/acronyms with no full explanation first, “text-speak,” or profanity. Do not employ key terms and concepts with social media meanings. Only use definitions from verifiable academic sources, and provide definitions per instructions above. Do not provide your own definitions.
