RESEARCH PAPERS

Special Projects and Research Papers

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Proposals
(Proposals due by 5 p.m., Friday, April 1)

Note: Proposals must be typed. Minimum length is one page. Proposals should address the following questions:

2. What interests you about this question? Why do you think it is an important question to explore?

3. How do you propose to explore it? What secondary sources will you be drawing upon? (Attach tentative list of sources.)

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Project Guidelines
(Projects due by 5 p.m., Friday, April 29)

If you are writing a research paper as your special project (as is usually the case), it needs to be 7-10 full typed pages in length. These papers may be longer than the suggested length, but should not fall short of the minimum. If a commentary you wrote for class (or even your previous essay for class) lends itself to research and sustains your interest, you may build upon, revise, and substantially expand it into your research paper. In this case, the research paper should be several pages longer than the work you are building upon. (For example, if you are building upon a revised version of your previous paper, and that paper was 5 pages long, the research paper should run 10-15 pages. Of course, you can't just tack on the new pages to the previous ones; the final result needs to be a well-integrated, well-supported essay.)

You must also integrate material drawn from secondary sources (from not only the Web but also the Library's collection of BOOKS). You are expected to disagree with the critics and scholars, to take issue with their interpretations and arguments, as well as to use them, when appropriate, to support your views.
References should be documented properly, using the MLA style of documentation (in-text citation + "Works Cited" page). Integrate all quoted or cited material with clear signal phrases. See list of links below for useful writing guides, including a guide to the MLA style.

Please bear in mind that plagiarism, even when unintentional, is a serious offense and a violation of the honor policy. Any student found guilty of plagiarism will likely fail the course, in addition to whatever penalties are imposed by the student judicial system. If you are not sure what plagiarism is, ask me. Also, please note that you may not resubmit for credit in this course work you have done or are doing for another course, here or elsewhere.

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Writing Guides

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