“RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES
AND EXPECTATIONS
A
hard copy (paper copy) of the paper will be due in class November 30, 2023.
The completed term paper will
account for 30% of your final grade.
The paper must be at a minimum
8 (full) typed text pages in length (not including the
bibliography) and MAXIMUM 10
typed pages (not including the bibliography)
All papers must have page numbers! Papers
that are shorter than 8 (full) text pages will be deducted by the
percentage of pages missing (for example, 6 pages of a 8 page paper means that
you BEGIN with a maximum 75%) and are THEN to be graded on content,
sources, and presentation. Likewise, papers that exceed 10 (full)
text pages will be deducted by the percentage of pages added.
Graphs, tables and maps used as illustration will not be
counted toward the total.
No encyclopedic sources of any
kind are allowed.
Non-bibliographic website sources of are limited to a maximum of one (1).
If
you chose to do so, (and after you have chosen a topic) I will gladly provide
feedback on your thoughtful outline and bibliographic sources. This is offered on a voluntary basis: there
is no requirement to do so.
All papers are to be
typewritten using 12 point font (Calibri
or Times New Roman only), line spacing
2.0, with standard 1.0″ margins.
Exceptions to these guidelines will be reduced in grade (for failure to
follow instructions). Paragraphs are NOT
to be separated by a line space. Shifts
from one subheading to the next should be separated by one (double) line
space. All papers must have a title
page, but please DO NOT place a running header that includes your
name.
Sources for the paper MUST BE
PRINT SOURCES and can include books, periodical articles, journal articles, newspapers,
maps, photographs. No encyclopedic sources of any kind are allowed. A minimum of one source per paper page length
is required (no maximum). Research
papers and bibliographies must be alphabetical and in APA (American
Psychological Association) format.
Please consult Purdue Owl https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
Anything that you list in the
bibliography must also be cited somewhere within the text of your research
paper.
Note about Citations: Website URLs are
not bibliographic citations.
Citations for your sources
are critically important. ANYTHING
that you find out from a published work must be cited in the text. All in-text citations in your paper must be
in APA format (no exceptions). In
cases where you read something and are paraphrasing the information (paraphrase:
a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form)
you must cite the source.
Failure to follow citation
guidelines places you in danger of plagiarism (Plagiarism: to steal and pass
off the ideas or words of another person as one’s own, i.e. without giving
recognition to the actual source or author).
Plagiarism is a death sentence
(see course syllabus). Become aware of
what you are writing and learn to be especially careful not to plagiarize
others’ work.”
The topic proposal submitted earlier in the semester is:
“Research Paper and Presentation Topic Proposal
City: Virginia Beach hampton area
Subject Focus: Ethnicity
Additional Research Path: Economy and Equality
General Idea:
The research paper aims to conduct a concise geographical analysis of Virginia Beach, spanning its founding to the present day. It will explore key factors such as demographic shifts, economic developments, social dynamics, and environmental changes that have shaped the city’s geographical landscape. Through this analysis, the role of diverse actors in influencing Virginia Beach’s geography will be examined, including government officials, urban planners, developers, community activists, and ethnic groups. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex processes driving urban change in Virginia Beach by adopting an inclusive approach into examining the city’s spatial evolution and how it has changed over time.
“
