Research Writing Assignment English 1302

Immersed in an academic writing situation, problem solvers begin from a point of view, rely on inductive analysis, and communicate findings through descriptive writing skills to develop a viable and logical theory. Objectives

• Utilize analytical writing form and MLA research style • Ensure well-developed paragraphs and paper coherence • Navigate the research writing process

Writing Process 1. Complete assigned lessons in eCampus 2. Complete a rough draft 3. Complete the Peer Review Assignment before the deadline (online students only) 4. Visit the Writing Center for revision and extra-credit 5. Submit your final composition to eCampus before the deadline

Required Skills Demonstrate inductive analytical form, theory building, smooth flowing sentences and transitions, valid documentation, and accurate source citations in MLA formatting. Required Sources You are required to cite at least five sources, one from each of the following categories:

One observation source: Observe the setting and people involved in your research project, create notes of your observations, and quote these notes. One interview source: Interview an expert related to your research project, transcribe your questions and your interviewee’s answers into an interview transcript, and quote your interviewee.

One book source: Find and cite one book from a library or bookstore. One peer-reviewed article sources: Find and cite one peer-reviewed journal article from the library’s database. Newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and websites are not peer-reviewed.

One photo, artistic representation, graph, table, or similar visual source: Embed and cite a visual image as a source. DO NOT COPY IMAGES FROM THE INTERNET. Create your own photograph, illustration, table, or graph.

Source Verification Requirement You are required to verify your sources by attaching your observation and interview transcripts and photographs of your book pages and journal article pages. Please complete the following:

• Create your observation and interview transcripts in MS Word and attach them behind your Works Cited page.

• Photograph the title page and all pages you are citing from your book source and journal article. • Highlight the text you are citing from your book and journal article using your choice of software.

If I cannot locate and match your source text to your citations, then I will assume you are plagiarizing.

• Paste your verification images to the end of your composition, behind your observation and interview transcripts following your Works Cited page.

Format Write a minimum of 1200 words and a maximum of 1500 words (4 to 5 double spaced pages) according to MLA guidelines for research papers. Include a Works Cited page, but do not include a cover page. Submission

1. Save your paper as a MS Word file with the following title: Last name-First name-Research (Smith- John-Research).

2. Click the “Submit Compositions” button in eCampus, click the submission link, and upload your digital file before the deadline published in our syllabus.

Penalties Compositions will be penalized or rejected without grading in the following cases:

• Plagiarized paper • Does not address the topic and/or objectives • Late or missing submission to eCampus • Incorrectly formatted (incorrect file format and/or rhetorical form) • Missing documentation (missing sources, missing Works Cited page, missing in-text citations) • Missing source verification (missing transcripts and/or missing photographed sources) • Unverifiable sources (no highlighting to match sources and/or I cannot match sources) • Missing one or more of the required sources

Extra-credit Visit NLC’s Writing Center, work with a tutor, capture a photograph of the tutor’s stamp, and email me your image.

Topics See the next page

TRADITIONAL and SAGE Research Project Topic Choices You are required to choose one of the following research options. If the following descriptions do not meet your needs, please ask for clarification or propose an adjustment before proceeding with your project. Research an Interesting Person Research aspects of a person’s life experience either in the past or the present. This should be something unique, extraordinary, or impressive. Focus on discovering and understanding how this person experienced or is experiencing life. For example, you may ask the question, “How does Jenny experience cancer, and what does survival mean for her?” Include a photo or artistic representation of Jenny living through her health challenge. Do not tell Jenny’s life story; rather, focus on how and why her experience with cancer shapes her life, creates an identity for her, and helps her know herself. Other ideas include researching a person who volunteers at a prison, a food pantry, or an animal sanctuary. You may research a person with an exceptionally dangerous job, a former inmate who now helps convicts assimilate into society, a person who lobbies politicians, or a person who fights climate change. Maybe you would like to research a person with a very interesting hobby such as skydiving (unless you are too chicken to try it). Capture photos or create artistic interpretations of the experience. SAGE students must choose a person doing something interesting for the environment or humanity. Research an Interesting Space, Place, or Environment Go to a park, a wildlife sanctuary, the Apple Store, a building, a bus depot, a homeless shelter, or any interesting place. Observe the environment and begin to discover and understand this place. Observe your relationship or another person’s relationship to this space and interview that person interacting and living in this space. For example, you may ask, “How do North Lake College students experience the college’s landscape?” Search your own perceptions and discover how other students see the landscape. Or, you may ask, “How does the city council view the downtown park?” The park may be a potential source of income (the city can charge visitors a fee), but a homeless person sees the park as shelter. You may see the park as a second home, a place where you play basketball with your friends. What do these various perspectives mean? Research the meaning of this space by creating and capturing images. This topic is a SAGE qualified research topic and addresses environmental and social sustainability Research an Interesting Event Reflect on an interesting event you experienced in the past or you are currently experiencing now. This may include a concert, a Quinceanera, an awkward wedding, a shocking funeral, immigration to America, a political rally, a protest, a near death experience. Please do not research your summer vacation; rather, research how and why an interesting event is shaping your life, provides meaning to you, and helps fashion your identity. You may ask, “How do I experience Beyoncé concerts?” Consider who you go with, when and why you go with particular people, and how you might think or feel both at the concert and after the concert. You may use old photos or capture new ones as artifacts. This topic is a SAGE qualified research topic and addresses self and social sustainability

Official NLC English Department Research Rubric

Criteria Unacceptable (0-7) Developing (8-13) Average (14-15) Good (16-17) Exemplary (18-20)

Topic/ Thesis/ Content

Lacks a debatable thesis. Topic is inappropriate for the assignment Represents a seemingly random collection of information.

A debatable claim is not evident. Analysis is vague or not evident and/or the paragraphs are not well developed. Reader is confused or may be misinformed. Topic may be inappropriate for the assignment

Thesis is focused on an appropriate topic and is adequately stated. Essay’s purpose is evident and paragraphs are well developed. Information supports an argument but sometimes may drift off point. Analysis is basic or general. Reader gains a few insights.

Thesis is clearly, logically, and effectively stated and developed. Essay achieves its purpose. Information provides reasonable support for an argument and displays evidence of a basic analysis of a significant topic. Reader gains some meaningful insights. Shows imagination in its approach to its topic.

Creatively, clearly, and logically states and develops its thesis and achieves its purpose. Presents clear, logical, and thought-provoking ideas. Balanced presentation of relevant and legitimate information that clearly the argument and shows a reasoned in-depth analysis of a significant topic. Reader gains important insights.

Organization Illogically organized. The reader cannot identify a line of reasoning and loses interest.

The writing is not logically organized. Frequently, ideas fail to make sense together. Lacks transitions.

The writing is arranged logically and uses adequate transitions, although occasionally ideas may fail to make sense together. The reader is clear about what the writer intends.

Ideas are arranged logically and clearly linked to each other to support the argument so the reader can follow the line of reasoning. Consistently employs appropriate transitions.

The ideas are arranged logically to support the argument. They flow smoothly from one to another and are clearly linked to each other. The reader can follow the line of reasoning. Uses surprising but appropriate transitions.

Quality of References

There are virtually no sources that are professionally reliable. The reader seriously doubts the value of the material and stops reading.

Many of the sources are questionable or are incorrectly used. The reader questions the value of the material.

Some of the references are from sources that are not peer-reviewed and have uncertain reliability. The reader doubts the accuracy of some of the material presented.

Although most of the references are professionally legitimate, a few are questionable (e.g., trade books, popular magazines, etc.). The reader is uncertain of the reliability of some of the sources.

References are primarily peer- reviewed professional journals or other approved. The reader is confident that the information and ideas can be trusted.

Use of Sources/ MLA Documentation

References are missing or incorrectly used. Information is cited to the wrong source or is plagiarized. No adherence to MLA guidelines. No Work Cited page.

References are seldom cited to support statements. Attribution and quotation marks are missing where required. Inaccurate Work Cited page. Lack of adherence to MLA guidelines undermines integrity of essay.

Attribution usually given, but some statements may be undocumented causing confusion about the source of some information and ideas. Work/s Cited may contain inaccuracies which do not compromise the integrity of essay.

Professionally legitimate sources that support claims are generally present and attribution is, for the most part, clear and fairly represented. Consistent adherence to MLA guidelines; accurate Works Cited page.

Compelling evidence from professionally legitimate sources supports claims. Attribution is clear. Consistent adherence to MLA guidelines; accurate Work Cited page.

Grammar/ Mechanics

Contains errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar that interfere with understanding.

Contains distracting errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar that reduce understanding.

Contains few errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Contains infrequent errors in spelling, punctuation, and/or grammar.

Writing is free from distracting errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.