Research/ Film Term Paper
You have a choice. Your term paper may be a research paper or a paper on a film that analyzes socio-political activity as it relates to Black (African American) People in this country and the American political climate, regime and/or structure.
-The research paper is a thorough approach to analyzing a major political activity as it relates to Black people. Examples: The Barack Obama Presidency, Shirley Chisolms’ run for President, The Civil Rights movement, a focus on a local Black politician- their constituency and policies, etc. I can assist you to some degree on help with a topic. The topic will require you to do actual research. This is not fictional. This is to be on a real person, place, thing, event that actually took place.
More than 3 (three) cited reference are required to accompany the research paper. Those cited references must be on a separate page. The cover page is separate. Both the cover and references page do not count toward the numbers of pages you need to write. Research requires references.
-The film paper is an analysis of film, not a documentary. You may email me the name of the film you wish to write your paper on up to two weeks before the film paper is due for approval. I can also provide a suggestion of a film if you are interested in this paper, but are unsure of a film to analyze.
Film analysis is your understanding of the complexity of the content, a thorough analytical overview of the actual political activity that took place (which the film should be based on) and the importance of this activity as it relates to Black people today. Must include MORE THAN one (1) cited source to accompany the film paper. The referenced sources are necessary to back up the validity of the film.
Additional rubric on this project will be provided during an online Zoom session and on Canvas. Some rubric/guidelines are outlined below. The others are in the Rubric section and the Announcements section.
Please refer to your research paper guide for information on the format of the assignment.
The paper (At least 5 pages) must be an original piece of work written by the student for this class.
Whichever paper you choose, it must be submitted to me, as a typed document. I will not accept any handwritten papers.
Citation- Whichever assignment you choose; All papers require proper citation/works cited and/or reference page. Papers without citation/references and a reference page will result in a zero grade for the assignment.
Your term paper is 25% of your overall grade.
Guidelines-
1. Direct Quotation: Every direct quotation must be identified by quotation marks, by appropriate indentation or by other means of identification and must be promptly cited in a footnote. The “MLA Style Sheet” or K. L. Turabian’s manual outlines proper footnote style for any academic department for writers of term papers, theses and dissertations. Also be sure to use the Publication Manuel of the American Psychological Association 6th edition (APA). These and similar publications are available in the African Studies writing center, Matador Bookstore, and at the reference desk of the Oviatt Library. You can choose to do an APA OR a MLA Style paper; I have no preference. Footnotes are not required. A cover page is required and not counted towards the number of pages. It is just a cover page. The Works cited/references page is not counted towards the number of pages of the paper either. It is just a references page.
Paraphrase: Prompt acknowledgment is required when material from another source is paraphrased or summarized in whole or in part in your own words. To acknowledge a paraphrase properly, one might state: “to paraphrase Locke’s comment . . .” and conclude with a footnote identifying the exact reference. A footnote acknowledging on1y a directly quoted statement does not suffice to notify the reader of any preceding or succeeding paraphrased material.
Borrowed Facts or Information: Information obtained in one’s reading or research that is not common knowledge among students in the course must be acknowledged. Examples of common knowledge might include the names of leaders of prominent nations, basic scientific laws, etc.
Intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism is taken very seriously. CSUN policies on plagiarism are located under Student Affairs/Academic Integrity on the CSUN website. http://catalog.csun.edu/policies/academic-dishonesty/
This also includes, but not limited to collusion, piracy, cheating and falsifying documents. All clear violations of academic integrity will be met by the proper sanctioning. In this course, academic dishonesty will result in an automatic F for the course and will be reported appropriately.
Now that we have moved to an online format, all papers will go through a system which can check for plagiarism.
You may be required to submit your paper through one of these systems.
Additionally, cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic Program at a CSU campus is listed in Section 41301, Title V, California Code of Regulations as an offense for which a student may be expelled, suspended or given a less severe disciplinary sanction. Academic dishonesty is an especially serious offense and diminishes the quality of scholarship and defrauds those who depend on the integrity of the University’s Programs.
