Paper Assignment: Emerge: Research Project
So far this semester, you have explored only very limited areas of the much larger questions surrounding food production and consumption. These areas may be starting points for your own lines of inquiry that somehow extend the issue. Similarly, you may consider investigating an aspect of one of the readings that was not taken up in previous papers. Or, you may choose a subject of your own.
For this research project, you will draft a specific question of interest to you and then locate four academic sources with specific ideas and theories that help you answer your research question.
Prompt: Write a paper usingat least two of your outside sources and one of the other authors you've read in this semester's assignment sequence to make an argument that responds to your own research question about food production or consumption.
Proposal
Your proposal will provide a 1-2 page summary of your idea. Although you can change your idea for your paper at any time, the proposal is intended to help you build toward the final paper.
Your proposal will go through a draft and a revision. Each version of your proposal will go through peer review.
In your proposal you should:
1. Identify the topic of food production or consumption that you will focus on.
2. Create 3-4 research questions for your topic, and describe how your research questions will help you respond to your topic. Think about what the driving questions are that you have about this issue, what the main arguments are around it, and what you need to find out about it in order to take an informed position.
3. Specifically describe what kinds of primary sources you will look for - what kinds of primary materials do you want to see? What kinds of materials could you have access to?
4. Specifically address what kind of secondary sources you will look for - what kinds of sources do you need to help support your analysis? What kinds of critical or informational sources will you look for?
Revised Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
This will be a more focused, revised proposal for your paper accompanied by an annotated bibliography of your sources. Your proposal should identify your topic and the position you are taking, state the primary claims/points of discussion you will offer in your essay, and state at least one counterargument you are considering.
Your complete Annotated Bibliography and Revised Proposal each count for 5% of your final grade in this course. In order to receive full credit, your assignment must include all of the components stated below and be correctly formatted according to MLA standards and these stated guidelines.
• Proposal: Your proposal should consist of 2 paragraphs - it is not a draft of your paper. In your first paragraph: Fully describe your main argument in this essay: what your topic is and what position you are taking.
In your second paragraph: Summarize the points and reasons you will use to explain and support your position, as well as any counterarguments you will need to address in your essay.
• Annotated Bibliography: Your annotated bibliography should include a total of four outside sources, plus an annotation for one of the essays of your choice that we have read in the Emerging book this term (so five total annotations). You must have a mix of primary and secondary sources (at least one primary source and at least two secondary sources). (See next page for more info.)
o Citations: Organize your citations alphabetically, just as you would on a Works Cited page. Make sure to use the MLA section of A Pocket Style Manual to format citations based on the specific type of source that you have identified.
o Annotations: Annotations are basically further information you are providing about your sources, and so should be organized in paragraphs under each citation.
Provide 2 paragraphs for each source:
In the first paragraph summarize the source.
In the second paragraph explain the following three items:
1. why you believe the source is credible
2. why you believe it is helpful for your paper
3. what specific parts of it interest you (note: this step is different from the source summary because the summary is about the source as a whole and may not address specific points that are important to you).
See the following materials for more support:
Emerging: p. 21-24 "About Research"
Elements: p. 125-131 "Introduction to Research" and p. 132-133 "Annotated Bibliography and Source Analysis" activity
A Pocket Style Manual: sections 25-28 on p. 91-105 "Research"
25: Posing a research question; 26: Finding appropriate sources; 27: Evaluating sources;
28: Managing information & Avoiding plagiarism
Criteria for Evaluation:
• Argument: Argument directly and fully answers the prompt; is clearly stated early in the paper; is original, compelling and logical, avoiding absolute claims. Paper must have a clearly identifiable thesis statement that takes a position and offers a justification of that position (states how or why the position is valid; gives a "because" or answers "so what?").
• Evidence: Appropriate amount of relevant, accurate, and justifiably interpreted quotation. Quotations and paraphrases are thoroughly introduced, explained, analyzed, and connected to argument. Possible counter-arguments are considered. When using multiple texts, paper must make connections on both a local (paragraph) level and a global (paper/overall argument) level.
• Organization: Paragraphs maintain argumentative focus, exclude extraneous information, appear in a logical order, and transition smoothly. The introduction sets forth argument and goals of essay while the conclusion opens up avenues for future research. Paper must include a clearly identifiable organizational statement in the introduction paragraph. The organizational statement is separate from the thesis that not only forecasts what points will be discussed in paper, but reveals the rationale behind their sequencing or tells how the points connect to or build on each other.
• Audience: Prose maintains a consistent, academic tone and offers an appropriate amount of contextual information, anticipating audience questions. Paper addresses significant issues and makes them important to audience. Avoid slang and informal language. Uses appropriate terms effectively.
• Grammar and Format: Errors in grammar, spelling, and usage limited or non-existent. Correct MLA format, including proper quotation citation. Paper must use appropriate formats for page layout, Works Cited page, and in-text parenthetical citations.
Further information and explanation of the grading criteria can be found in the Elements workbook or on the English Department's website.
First Drafts
• You will receive peer comments on your draft's progress thus far. If you want individual feedback from me on your paper draft, arrange to see me during office hours. Consultants at the University Center for Excellence in Writing can also support you in the drafting and revision process.
• Peer Review: Peer review is a requirement of the course. The peer review workshop for Paper 4 will be on the last day of our class meetings.
• Expectations:First drafts must be 3 pages long with a clear thesis, body paragraph main points, and include cited evidence from the texts. Aim to write as best and full a draft as possible; it should show completeness of thought. That is, there should be a clear beginning, middle, and end to your draft and your draft should include cited supporting evidence. Do not start your draft and end in the middle when you have reached three pages. Do not write your draft with the intention to "add in the evidence" later.
Revised Drafts
Because of time constraints at the end of the semester, revised paper 4 will not have marginal comments returned.
• Expectations: Revised Drafts must be 5 full pages long with a developed introduction including strong thesis, fully developed body paragraphs focusing on a main point supported by multiple pieces of evidence, and a developed conclusion. Papers that are not a FULL 5 pages (the Works Cited page and Error Log do not count toward page length) will not be eligible for a passing grade.
• Format: All papers must conform to proper MLA format with in-text citation and a Works Cited page. Failure to meet the citation and format requirements may result in a non-passing paper depending on severity of error. Failure to include a Works Cited page is an automatic reduction in grade or a non-passing submission.
• Sources:
Required: One article from our reading sequence this term: Allen, Manning, Pollan, the Dalai Lama, or Wallace. At least two of the sources described in your annotated bibliography.
• Error Logs: Revised Drafts will include an Error Log after the Works Cited page. Error Log assignments will demonstrate documentation that your draft is proofread for your specific patterns of error in your assignments. Error log 4 is the final error log of the semester and will include entries from: draft & graded papers 1, 2, 3, proposals, and draft paper 4.
Attachment:- Annotated-Bibliography.rar