Week 15: Wrapping Up the Inquiry/Research Synthesis Section
There are no videos this week. You are revising and uploading your final essay. Make sure it is submitted before the due date and start on the final week and the assignments there.
To do:
Revise your essay.
Consider getting feedback again (Before Wednesday, 4/24, morning)
Go over the grading criteria.
Upload it for grading by Saturday, 4/27, 11 PM.
Move on to Week 16.
Inquiry/Research Synthesis Assignment
Directions:
Choose which idea/thing you wish to research. You can pick anything we’ve read about already – or something completely different. The only warning there: Make sure it can be problematized and argued academically, it allows you to find academic journal articles on it, and it allows you to highlight diverse perspectives.
Problematize. (I can’t offer generic questions here to cover all the different ideas students may have for this, so I implore you to contact me and let me work with you on this step — or to use the WRC or each other, but get help problematizing!)
Study & consider the audience’s expectations. See the course rubric.
Make sure you have and use 4 or more academic journal articles with named authors & that cite sources at the end of them to provide discussion and diverse perspectives. Do not use book reviews, editorials, or any other materials that might be printed in a journal that aren’t articles. Be careful not to use Websites! (Please note that your sources may NOT be using MLA, so you likely won’t be using sources the same way they are.)
Create an introduction that focuses on your ideas – and not sources. (That means do NOT name or use sources in your introduction.) Study how your sources start their articles. Would that work for you, too? Do you want to use a personal narrative opening again?
Compose 4 or more body paragraphs. Make sure that at least 2 paragraphs have multiple sources in them and that there is synthesis discussion between sources multiple times – especially pointing out differences between the sources. (In other words, make sure you have source-to-source synthesis multiple times in your synthesis essay.)
Remember to include a conclusion that restates the thesis (in different words) and reviews your essay.
Make sure the final essay is in MLA format with a Works Cited page correctly done.
Like always, use the WRC, classmates, and your instructor for feedback on the essay before it is due.
Grading (worth 80 points):
****If you don’t use 3 or more academic journal articles in your final essay, it will earn a 0.
Does the finished product have a clear focus? Does it have a thesis and body paragraphs that tie back to it? (10 points) ___
Does the finished essay have an introduction, 4 or more body paragraphs, a conclusion, and a works cited page? (5 points) ___
Does the essay use and properly cite 4 or more ACADEMIC journal articles found through research (or 3 articles and other approved source(s))? (5 points) ____
Are the sources in the essay introduced w/ an attempt to build the author’s(s’) credibility? (5 points) _____
Does the essay set up the quotes before you move into them? In other words, do you have a top bun? After your quotes, do you explain how they fit your idea? In other words, do you have a bottom bun?
(10 points) _____
Does the essay have 2 or more attempts at source-to-source synthesis that your instructor would deem successful? Does it use author names and include differences in those discussions? (20 points) ____
Does the finished essay demonstrate problematizing/critical thinking? Does it avoid absolutes & bring in alternative ideas, and acknowledge exceptions? Does it explain how you agree/disagree and your explanation of ideas? (15 points)_____
Does it follow MLA rules (set-up, in-text citation, works cited)? (5 points) _____
Is it free from mechanical errors (punctuation, spelling, sentencing, paragraphing, etc)? (5 points) ____
