Assignment 11: Major Research Paper using APA format.

EngC 1011 University Writing and Critical Reading

Kevin L. Callahan

EngC Writing Instructor

call0031@tc.umn.edu

(612) 623-7685

Educational Goals:

1. One of the goals of this course is to assist students to create at least one "perfect writing sample" that could be attached to future job resumes. There will be 2 peer review sessions scheduled on the major research paper to catch and correct any mechanical or stylistic problems.

2. Students should be able to compose a major research paper that "synthesizes" or thoughtfully combines a line or course of interdisciplinary study. Students should be able to fairly and adequately summarize, critically analyze assumptions and reasoning, and persuasively comment on ideas appearing in academic books and journal articles. Students should be able to clearly express an evaluative opinion and attempt to persuade an audience of their own imaginative proposition or thesis.

3. Students should be able to write using the component parts of an APA formatted paper including a Cover Sheet, Abstract, Body of the Text, References, and Appendix (e.g. Illustrations).

Instructions:

Research and write a 10 page major paper citing a minimum of 2 books and 2 academic journal articles that have not been part of the prior reading assignments in the class. Six pages of the 10 page paper should be reserved for the text of the paper. Four pages are for the Cover Page (1 page), Abstract (1 page), References (1 page), and Appendix (1 page). The Appendix and References can be longer than 1 page. Illustrations in the Appendix should have a caption and a citation. In most cases the paper should consistently use the past tense to describe any previously published studies and can include direct quotations (citing to pages).

The paper should refer to and incorporate in a "synthetic" way the ideas from at least two of the articles read earlier in the course i.e., Ronald Siegel's article on "Hallucinations" or "Sheila and the Swastikas," Michael Harner's article on hallucinogens and medieval witchcraft and lycanthropy, or David Lewis-Williams and Thomas Dowson's article on entoptics in Upper Paleolithic art (an example of synthetic or interdisciplinary thinking).

There will be 2 peer review sessions on this major research paper to catch and correct all mechanical and stylistic problems.

The Final Draft of the abstract, text, and references of the completed research paper should be posted on the class bulletin board. The cover sheet and appendix need not be posted.

Assigned: Tuesday, October 31.

Course points: 80 points

First Draft Due: Tuesday, November 14 with copies for the Editing Practice/Peer Review Workshop on that day.

Second Draft Due: Thursday, November 16 with copies for the Editing Practice/Peer Review Workshop on that day.

Final Draft Due: Tuesday, November 21. The Final Draft of the abstract, text, and references of the completed research paper must also be posted on the Class Bulletin Board on that day.