Instructions for Preparing the
Research Paper for English 1302

(Return to the Unit 4 Table of Contents)

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Please note the deadlines identified for each stage of the Research Paper Project for the 16-week course , the 7-week course, and the 4-week course schedule.

Purpose of the Research Paper Project
Exercise 17: Selecting a Topic
Exercise 18: The Orientation Stage and Preparation for the 25 Bibliography Cards
Exercise 19: Drafting the Thesis
Exercise 20: Analyzing Your Argument
Exercise 21: The Sample Annotated Bibliography
Exercise 22: Drafting the Body of the Research Paper
Use of Sources in the Final Copy
Elements of and Length of the Final Research Paper
Exercise 23: An Analysis of the Research Paper Draft
Exercise 24: First Submission of the Final Copy
Exercise 25: Second Submission of the Final Copy
Exercise 26: Third Submission of the Final Copy (the Final Exam)
Grading
Assistance

Purpose of the Research Paper Project
The purpose of the research paper is to give you the experience of writing a paper of synthesis and evaluation that clearly and deliberately develops ideas abstracted from academic sources--journals, magazines, professional bulletins, reference works, and others.

This assignment, in its various stages, is designed to give you a guided experience through the full development of secondary research, beginning with the orientation to a topic and extending through the preparation of a formal typed expository manuscript.

Important: Because of the necessity to complete three final submissions of this project, you are required to complete your work on a computer and save your drafts on a disk in either WordPerfect 8.0 (or a lower version) or Microsoft Word. No typed copies will be accepted.

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Exercise 17: Selecting a Topic
The subject for your research topics is a "public issue" of your choice. Examples include such topics as AIDS, criminal justice, public safety, child abuse, the American economy, human rights abuses, education, etc. Notice the broad generality of these topics. While you may ultimately write about citizen-police problems in Dallas, your topic would probably be ‘public safety."
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Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
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This page was last modified on November 22, 2001,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.

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Exercise 18: The Orientation and Preparation of the 25 Bibliography Cards
The purpose of the orientation stage of research is to acquaint you with information about the full range of content regarding the broad public issue that you have identified. During this exploratory phase of research, it is your task, at least at a very cursory level, to become familiar with the various concepts, areas of discussion, major voices in the field, and the kinds of references and sources that are available for your use.

To aid you in this exploration, I am asking you to complete a preliminary annotated bibliography of twenty-five sources. Among these twenty-five sources, you are to include no fewer than five book- length studies, five scholarly articles, five internet sources, and five magazine articles. Each source should be recorded on a separate note card; I don't care particularly about the size of card. Each card should include the following information:

1) the correct bibliographic entry appropriate to the type of source or reference. Follow the formats for the MLA Style Sheet found online and in Writing From Sources.

2) an annotation for each source that identifies key concepts or subjects addressed in the work.

3) an evaluation of each source on a scale of "1"-"3" indicating the potential value of the work ("3" being a most important source) in comparison with the other twenty-four sources.
.

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
(Return to the Top)

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
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This page was last modified on October 8, 2004,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.

Exercise19: Drafting the Thesis
Within a week after receiving the annotated bibliographic cards, be prepared to submit a draft of a thesis statement. The thesis will be either judgmental or persuasive, anticipating, in either case, the explanation of "why?" Click here to see examples of argumentative thesis sentences.

I must approve your thesis statement before you should continue. My failure to approve the thesis statement may result in a lower grade or your failure of the assignment.
.

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
(Return to the Top)

This page was last modified on October 8, 2004,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.

Exercise 20: Analyzing Your Argument
Write a one-sentence description of the argument you have developed for your position. Then, in standard form and numerical analysis, analyze the argument and write a paragraph explaining your evaluation.
.

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
(Return to the Top)

This page was last modified on October 8, 2004,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.

Exercise 21: The Sample Annotated Bibliography

Go to the instructions

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Exercise 22: Drafting the Body of the Research Paper
I will have only limited time to review rough draft copies of your research paper. I will be happy, however, to review such drafts providing that you can get them to me as quickly as possible. I will not edit the papers for you.

Go to the instructions

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Use of Sources in the Final Copy
Your paper should make use of no fewer that five sources from your original twenty-five identified in the orientation stage of the project. Of course, you may wish to use other sources (in addition to these five) that come from either the original twenty-five or from other sources discovered following the orientation's review of works.

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The Elements and Length of the Final Research Paper
Your research paper must include the following elements:

1) Formal cover sheet (see the model in your textbook).
2) Body
3) A "Notes" page (Click here for instructions and a sample "Notes" page.)
4) A "Works Cited" page (Click here for instructions and a sample "Works Cited" page)

The final draft of the text (not including a bibliography, the "Notes" or "Works Cited" page) should be no fewer than 6 pages long for a "C", 9 pages long for a "B", and 11 pages long for an "A. " (Click here for a sample student essay that illustrates the "Notes" and "Works Cited" pages.)

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Exercise 23: An Analysis of the Research Paper Draft

Go to the instructions

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Exercise 24: First Submission of the Final Copy
The completed essay is to be an evaluative paper of no less that six (6) double-spaced typed pages of discussion (not including notes and works cited). Papers shorter than six pages will not be read or evaluated. Such an undeveloped first submission will receive an automatic numerical grade of 50. The first round submission of your final copy of the essay will be due by the end of the 14th week.

In this submission, complete the following analysis of the major elements of your paper:
1) Underline the thesis and label it each time you have introduced it in the body of the essay.
2) Label the beginning of each section in the body of the essay (2a, 2b, 2c, 2s, and 2e).

All late papers will be elevaluated for "C" credit ONLY.

For conventions regarding a formal typed research paper, consult your textbook, Writing From Sources. It should prove helpful to you to read the student examples in the textbook and those which I have placed online at the end of Unit 4.
,

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
(Return to the Top)

This page was last modified on October 8, 2004,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.

Exercise 25: Second Submission of the Final Copy
You may accept the grade awarded for the first copy as a second grade that will be averaged in with the other grades for the Research Paper Project. If you prefer, however, you may revise the first submission based upon suggestions that I have given you and resubmit it for the second grading.
.

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
(Return to the Top)

This page was last modified on July 6, 2002,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.

Exercise 26: Third Submission of the Final Copy (the Final Exam)

Go to the instructions

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Grading
I will award grades for the research paper project ranging from "A" to "F." Grades will be recorded on the papers which be returned to you within a week after I receive them.

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Assistance
For help, do not hesitate to contact me at my cell phone (972) 740-3125 or at Mountain View College at (214) 860- 8747 (for leaving a message). You may e-mail me at gagrimes@dcccd.edu.

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This page was last modified on October 8, 2004,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.