English 1A Spring 2015 Final Research Paper Reading and Writing Schedule
Week 15 was revised slightly to increase probability of success for your research paper.
Because of the amount of student drops, I can consult with all of you on Monday, May 4, Week 15. This process will allow for a more significant revision and thus increase the probability of greater success on your research paper.
On Wednesday, May 6, bring the first 2-3 typed pages of your research paper for peer edit and/or for me to look at.
Final Research Paper: Chapter 6: How We Connect
Prompt is same as your syllabus but I revised the wording for added clarity:
The essays in Chapter 6 address the alleged pathologies resulting from social media. These pathologies include an empathy deficit, narcissism, shortened attention span, online shaming, and even altered brain development. In an argumentative essay, support, refute, or complicate the assertion that social media is harmful for our social, cultural and intellectual development. Be sure to address at least two essays from Chapter 6. One of the essays can be used as a source. You will need at least 4 other sources for a total of 5 sources.
The general prompt above has many variations in our text Acting Out Culture. Specific variations can be found on page 452, prompt 6; page 457, prompt 6; page 461, prompt 6; page 469, prompts 5 and 6; page 477, prompt 6; page 499, prompt 6; and page 503, prompt 6. You can formulate your thesis on one of these specific prompts or use the more general prompt above.
Your guidelines for your Final Research Paper are as follows:
This research paper should present a thesis that is specific, manageable, provable, and contestable—in other words, the thesis should offer a clear position, stand, or opinion that will be proven with research.
You should analyze and prove your thesis using examples and quotes from a variety of sources.
You need to research and cite from at least five sources. You must use at least 3 different types of sources.
At least one source must be from an ECC library database.
At least one source must be a book, anthology or textbook.
At least one source must be from a credible website, appropriate for academic use.
The paper should not over-rely on one main source for most of the information. Rather, it should use multiple sources and synthesize the information found in them.
This paper will be approximately 5-7 pages in length, not including the Works Cited page, which is also required. This means at least 5 full pages of text. The Works Cited page does NOT count towards length requirement.
You must use MLA format for the document, in-text citations, and Works Cited page.
You must integrate quotations and paraphrases using signal phrases and analysis or commentary.
You must sustain your argument, use transitions effectively, and use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Your paper must be logically organized and focused.
Reading and Writing Schedule
April 20 Chapter 6 444-452; discuss Alone Together Ted Talk
April 22 Chapter 6 453-461 (go over outline and annotated bibliography)
April 27 Chapter 6 464-483
April 29 Chapter 6 484-503; writing introduction, counterargument, and conclusion
May 4 Two-page tentative outline and two-page annotated bibliography due for 75 points consult for entire class.
May 6 Bring 2-3 typed pages for peer edit and/or for me to look at.
May 11 In-class Exam 4 for 75 points (open-book and bring blue book)
May 13 Final 6-Page (1,500 words) Typed Essay for 150 Points Is Due
Peer Edit for English 1A First Draft
First Page
- Do you have a salient, distinctive title that is relevant to your topic and thesis?
- Do you have your name, instructor’s name, the course, and date (in that order) at the top left?
Format
- Are you using 12-point font with Times New Roman?
- Are your lines double-spaced?
- Is your font color black?
- Do you make sure there are no extra spaces between paragraphs (some students erroneously use 4 spaces between paragraphs)
- Do you use 1-inch margins?
- Do you use block format for quotes of 4 or more lines in which you indent another inch from the left margin?
Introduction
- Does your introduction have a compelling hook using an anecdote, a troubling current event, a startling statistic, etc.?
- Do you avoid pat phrases or clichés? For example, “In today’s society . . .” or “In today’s modern world . . .” or “Since the Dawn of Man . . .”
Thesis
- Do you have a thesis that articulates your main purpose in clear, specific language?
- Is your thesis sophisticated in that it makes an assertion that goes beyond the obvious and self-evident?
- Is your thesis debatable?
- Do you address your opponents with a concession clause? (While opponents of my proposal to raise the minimum wage to $22 an hour make some compelling points, their argument collapses when we consider _____________, _______________, __________________, and ________________. )
- Does your thesis have explicit or implicit mapping components that outline the body paragraphs of your essay?
General Questions from Your Reader
One. What’s most compelling about the essay so far?
Two. What is most needed for improvement so far?
Three. Something I would like the writer to explain more is . . .
Four. One last comment would be . . .
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