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Unit 3 prompt and calendar: Research paper ENGW 1302 Rhetoric and Composition II, Spring 2016, Amy Adams


UNIT 3 PROMPT AND CALENDAR: RESEARCH PAPER
ENGW 1302 RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II, SPRING 2016, AMY ADAMS

This paper is the culmination of the previous projects. You will write a focused research paper on your chosen topic within the broader class topic of human behavior in modern society. Like a good reporter, you will provide most of the “conversation” on your research question, present some of the current points of view, and bring it all home with a “so what?/who cares?/what’s the news?” argumentative payoff supported by evidence. During this unit we will be focusing only on your research paper. You should be working on it consistently, and bring it to class every day.
This project has several things to turn in. Refer to your calendar for the due dates for these items:
  1. Research proposal
  2. Annotated bibliography of your sources
  3. Outline
  4. Peer review rough draft
  5. Final paper

This counts as your third paper in the class and is due Monday April 11, and yes you will be able to revise it.
Mechanics/notes: The tone for this paper should be academic, thoughtful, and professional. Base your claims on evidence. No contractions, no ranting, no unsupported claims. This paper will rely heavily on the sources you choose, but you must remain in control of the paper. No quotes over one line will be accepted – find a way to synthesize the ideas into your own ideas and write from your own mind, while staying in an academic tone. You may choose the point of view that best fits your audience, purpose, and occasion. Find the document on Canvas under UNIT 3 called “3 types of research paper templates” for ideas on tone, point of view, and how to structure the paper. The paper must follow the following criteria:
  • 6-8 pages, plus a Works Cited page
  • Proofread and edited meticulously
  • Engaging, precise title
  • Works Cited in MLA format, ordered alphabetically
  • In-text citations in precise MLA format
  • Careful use of “source burgers” as covered in class – NO HUGE QUOTES OR QUOTE QUILTS!
  • Audience: The English department at St. Edward’s which means a semi-formal academic tone. Some papers will be chosen randomly to be reviewed. Keep in mind that this is a picky audience! No contractions (meaning you write “cannot” instead of “can’t” etc. Your paper will be run through a plagiarizing program, Turnitin.

The basic plan: Everything is on the calendar here, but this is a quick overview of what is happening, in order.
  1. Swim around in the topic – we just did that a little bit with our last unit.
  2. Start scholarly research by searching on the SEU database for peer-reviewed journals and credible sources.
  3. Choose your sources. You must have at least 6 sources, and no more than 10 (you are not writing a book!), comprised of these categories:
    1. Scholarly sources: must have at least 3 of these. This means credible, peer-reviewed journals, studies, reports, documentaries, etc. You will find these using the SEU library database.
    2. “Semi-scholarly” sources: may have 3-6 of these. This means sources that are sourced by scholarly sources – meaning that their writers and creators get their information from credible places. Think of publications like The Atlantic,or The New York Times or The New Yorker, Harper’s, Science Magazine, an art exhibit, photographs, visuals, etc. See me if you are not sure about a source. You may consider various categories: video/film; print; and visual.
    3. Primary sources: at least 1 is required. In addition to drawing on published research, you will conduct your own research to help answer your research question. This research might take the form of surveying your fellow students at St. Edward’s, interviewing your professors, recording oral narratives of family members, observing students in the library or computer labs, emailing professionals in particular field, collecting texts from online communities, etc.
  4. Annotate your sources for a grade. Due date for this is on the calendar, instructions follow the calendar.
  5. Create outline. Again, see the document on Canvas under UNIT 3 for templates on how to do this.
  6. Draft, revise, draft, repeat – always revising along the way.
  7. Peer edit.
  8. Turn in final paper, and yes you will be able to revise.



UNIT 3 CALENDAR
DateWhatHomework and/or what is due on this day

Fri Mar 4

Start UNIT 3 Brainstorm

DUE: Paper 2, OPINIONATOR COLUMN

Mon Mar 7

I will show examples

The research proposal
Homework: Brainstorm further by taking your brainstorm notes and using them to go into discovery mode. Go on to the SEU library database and spend an hour or surfing around searching for sources, using the notes and topics that interest you under our broad area of study. Print out at least 3-5 sources – either the whole article or the abstract.
Also – read chapter 16 in your textbook
Due: Bring the printed sources, and come to class ready to discuss.

Wed Mar 9

Annotated bibliographies
Primary research
Homework: Open and read all documents in UNIT 3 in Canvas. Keep perusing sources and start annotating sources. Look at chapter 19 for how to take notes and summarize. Also read pages 402-407 in your textbook.
Due: Rough research proposal – does not have to be perfect, bring in your idea and we will work on them in class.
Fri Mar 11NO CLASSCLASS DOES NOT MEET TODAY BUT YOU DO HAVE HOMEWORK!
Due: Email me your completed research proposal.
Mon Mar 14SPRING BREAKNO CLASSES MEET                 Note: You could conduct primary research over the break…
Wed Mar 16SPRING BREAKNO CLASSES MEET                 Note: You could conduct primary research over the break…
Fri Mar 18SPRING BREAKNO CLASSES MEET                 Note: You could conduct primary research over the break…
Mon Mar 21Proposals returned
Regroup
Homework: Keep perusing sources and start annotating sources (instructions on next page)
Due: Bring in your primary research data and/or plan.
Wed Mar 23MLA formats/rulesHomework: Keep perusing sources and start annotating sources. Review chapter 21 of your book.
Due: Bring your rough annotated bib to class and we will work on them. Also bring your textbook to class.
Fri Mar 25EASTER BREAKNO CLASSES MEET. Be sure to finish up your annotated bib and outline!
Mon Mar 28EASTER BREAKDAY TIME CLASSES DO NOT MEET. Be sure to finish up your annotated bib and outline!
Wed Mar 30Work on outlinesDue: Annotated bibliography and outline
Fri Apr 1TBDTBD
Mon Apr 4Outlines/bibs returnedHomework: Read chapter 13 in your textbook about style in arguments.
Due: Find 2 examples of things that really stood out to you from this chapter and respond to them: What did you learn? How might you use this knowledge? What do you think about your own personal style in writing?
Wed Apr 6WorkshopDue: Bring everything you are working on in class- paper workshop day
Fri Apr 8Peer reviewDue: Bring in two copies of your research paper to share for an in class peer review.
Mon Apr 11Start UNIT 4DUE: Paper 3, RESEARCH PAPER






ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY  – due March 30 (see calendar)
An annotated bibilography is a list of sources and your notes about them. Each source is summarized in what is called a “bibliogrpahy citation.” This is one of the steps of the writing process. The purpose is to find and note the most important parts of each source so that you are ready when you start to draft your essay. This actually makes writing a paper much easier. You’ll see!

Steps:
  1. Read the or review the source closely while taking notes. If the source is a video or audio with no transcript you will have to take notes while watching or listening. Use your annoting skills – highlight important passages, make marginal comments, enter a conversation with the author/creator.
  2. Create a complete, correct MLA citation for each source (like on a Works Cited page). Keep a current MLA guide either open on your computer, or use chapter 21 in your book, which you will keep open WHILE WRITING THIS.
  3. Write the actual annotations. IMPORTANT! Each annotated summary starts right after the citation without moving down a line. Use the format shown below and in the examples I show you in class. Each annotation should be 150–250 words, 90+% of which must be summary written in your own words. No “quote quilts.” Each annotation should include:
    1. Brief description of what the work is.
    2. Brief background on author/creator, genre.
    3. Very short summary of relevant parts.
    4. A statement of the author’s apparent purpose and the overall claim or claims this piece makes.
    5. A description of what you think about it, and how this author’s argument fits in to your paper and the larger conversation on this topic.

EXAMPLE OF HOW AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY LOOKS.It’s odd – I agree! Notice how the student started typing her notes right after the MLA citations? Do that.

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