this paper has two parts. It must have an outline that is due Friday, but I have been granted an extension until Sunday November 5th. It is a research paper that needs to be 6-8 pages with a research question and a thesis. I have all of the works that need to be used for the assignment. The assignment as a whole needs to be completed by November 19th.
Untitled 7 5. FINAL PAPER Your Final Papers will be presented in the format of a mini-conference. You have to bring a hardcopy to the session during which you will be presenting, and your presentation should be 10 minutes long. It consists of reading your paper, and I will stop you after 10 minutes to ensure that everyone is allowed the same amount of time. Most likely, you will have to skip over some parts of your written paper in order to stay within the time limit, so you need to practice your reading and time yourself at home. You will be sitting in a panel with two or three other students; the audience (class) is expected to be attentive, take notes, and ask pertinent questions after all panelists have presented their papers. We will have 10-15 minutes for discussions after each panel. Here are the requirements, guidelines and rating scale for your final paper and presentation. Please also refer to the Purdue website for help regarding structure, content and format of your paper: http://owl.english.purdue.edu 5.1. Topic/Contents Please remember that this is a research paper within the broader field of literary studies and the context of the topics we have discussed. You are analyzing texts and/or films with a direct link to our course materials; I encourage you to focus on a topic which is particularly interesting to you and to use texts or films outside of those we have discussed in class, as long as you establish the connections. You also have to consult academically acceptable secondary sources for background information and critical approaches (no blogs, Wikipedia, general websites, encyclopedia etc., see “Works Cited” below). The reference librarians at Gleeson provide great support for finding adequate and pertinent sources. All papers must have a title and a thesis. This is not an informational paper—it should be persuasive. You are telling us how important your research topic is, and you are making an argument. 5.2. Length. Your paper should be 6 – 8 pages long (Times New Roman #12, double spaced). It needs to have a solid argument (thesis statement), discussion of your research, and conclusion, which reflect your research, analysis and critical thinking. A paper short of six pages or one that includes lengthy summaries and personal “top of your head” excursion is most likely not fulfilling the requirements. 5.3. Structure. Your paper should be structured in the following way (the headings are for the guidelines and should not be written into your paper): • Title: make it catchy! • Introduction: What is your topic all about? General background information leading to your argument. Say something enticing; generate interest in your paper! • Argument (stated at end of Introduction): What will you demonstrate in your paper? What is its focus? Be clear, assertive and specific. Use a phrase like “In the following, I will argue that …” or “I will demonstrate how …”. • Development/Substantiation: More specific background information, critical discussion of sources, i.e. comparisons, contrasts, arguments and counter arguments demonstrating your own synthesizing thoughts; proper citations and clear references to sources. • Conclusion: What is the significance of your findings? What further implications might they have? http://owl.english.purdue.edu • Works Cited: Use one style of referencing consistently for all your sources (MLA style suggested). You should have at least four secondary sources besides your primary materials (i.e. films and/or literature you are focusing on), but as always: quality trumps quantity. Do not list encyclopedias and non-referenced sources like Wikipedia or other Wikis and Blogs, and only cite the articles/books you are actually referring to in your paper. A reliable search engine for referenced articles (i.e. they show author and publisher) is “Fusion” which you can access through the Gleeson Library website – it lists online sources as well as actual books you can find in the library. 5.4. Formatting and Style. Follow the MLA formatting guidelines (or another style as long as it is consistent and you let me know which one). Use endnotes instead of footnotes. Proofread carefully, avoid spelling errors and make sure that the sentences are complete, clear, and well connected. 5.5. Assessment There are two components to the grading of your Final Paper: the proposal outline, and your written paper (incl. the presentation) 5.5.1. Proposal and Outline (30 pts, due date November 3rd) You need to submit a detailed proposal in form of an outline for the Term Paper. Please use the “Owl at Purdue” website for information on developing and formatting an outline. Your outline needs to state a preliminary title, some background information leading to your topic in the Introduction, a preliminary thesis or argument. The main part needs to demonstrate how you will be substantiating your argument by listing the secondary and primary sources you will be using and your preliminary findings; the conclusion should summarize what you expect to have demonstrated with the paper when it is done; your list of works cited should include all primary sources as well as secondary sources that take into consideration current research. General Criteria: • submitted on time (- 3 points per day for late submissions) • submitted in the correct format (outline) • demonstrates close knowledge of texts/films and own reflections on it • demonstrates research on topic, texts, and background information • lists relevant secondary sources (based on library database search)