Due Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Submission Instructions: Bring printed copy to class and submit digitally (on Box)
Assignment Description:
| Item | Percentage of Semester Grade | Due Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Assignment Initial Question and Annotated Bibliography | 5 | Monday, October 08, 2018 | Click for More Details |
| Research Assignment Introduction and Outline | 10 | Wednesday, October 31, 2018 | See below |
| Research Assignment First Draft | 15 | Monday, November 19, 2018 | Click for More Details |
| Research Assignment Final Draft | 20 | Tuesday, December 11, 2018 | Click for More Details |
For this assignment, you will write a traditional introduction for your research paper and, in the same Microsoft Word document (or other acceptable format), you will provide an outline for the rest of your paper.
The introduction you write for this assignment should be one or two paragraphs long. It should begin with a lead-in or a hook and clearly establish your topic and research question (although you probably won't want to phrase it in the form of a question). A brief overview of how others in the field have approached your question (or what they've focused on instead) is typical for a research paper's introduction. At the end of the first paragraph, an unmistakable and well conceived thesis statement should be articulated. This thesis statement may change and develop as you continue to research your topic, but you should still write down a tentative argument or initial hypothesis.
A strong outline details each topic and subtopic in your paper, organizing these points so that they build your argument toward an evidence-based conclusion. Think of your outline as a plan for each body paragraph in your paper, as well as the conclusion. Include entries for topic sentences, transitions, how you will introduce sources, the evidence you will use to support the paragraph, and points for analysis and interpretation to follow quoted or paraphrased evidence.
The outline component of this assignment is meant to help you determine if your ideas connect to each other, what order of ideas works best, where gaps in your thinking may exist, or whether you have sufficient evidence to support each of your points. It will also provide an opportunity to think about the time you will need to complete each part of your paper before you begin writing.