For your final paper, you will write a 2,000 – 2,500 word (8-10 pages) research paper analyzing a game of your choice in terms of one of the class’s weekly topics. The following weeks are not allowed as choices: journaling, writing, & DKP, library workshop, and intro.
Include any shortcomings in the game design that relate (if any) and how you would redesign those aspects to improve the game. In other words, this paper is not a sales pitch for your favorite game – it is a critical and thoughtful analysis.
NOTE: Unlike many other forms of research papers, in this one, you will use the first-person perspective. You are playing the game, and it is your experience that is a large part of the data.
You will be recording your research data in your journals. See the journal assignments for more information.
You must use at least 1 reading from class and at least one outside peer-reviewed source and have a minimum of 3 academic sources. You may and probably will use other sources (forums, media, etc.) but these do not count towards this minimum.
You may use one of these templates for structuring your paper – but they are not required (and may not work depending on your choice).
Before you begin writing the first draft you are required to submit a proposal for the paper. You may be required to submit a 2nd draft of the proposal if your original proposal is not feasible. A peer review of the proposal is required.
You will be handing in a complete paper draft partway through the semester. You will be required to peer-review one of your classmate’s drafts. The draft should be a nearly complete paper with citations and a bibliography.
All drafts in addition to the final paper must be written in APA style, Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, and in Word format (.doc or .docx).
You will present your paper at the end of the semester. (Details under the section on presentations.)
The “Final Research Paper” assignment category is worth 40% of your final grade and includes the following components: proposal, proposal peer review, draft 1, draft 1 peer review, and the final paper.
Here is a checklist of requirements to help you stay organized:
2,000 – 2,500 words
APA style
Times New Roman, 12-point font
double-spaced
Word file
1 class reading
1 outside source
3 academic sources
