The Research Paper Assignment!

Research Paper
Spring 2008

The assignment
The theme for the second semester is the INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY. For your research paper, you will investigate and then write about a situation in which an individual or group of individuals within society faces the challenge of fitting into, being accepted by, society as a whole OR is in protest against the whole society.

Sample topics:
• A group of immigrants moving into a neighborhood which had not been integrated before their arrival.
• Senior citizens, once retired, looking for acceptance in a society in which others feel they are irrelevant in the public arena
• Women in the military
• Women or people of color in top executive positions in the business world
• A person who has contributed outstanding service in a particular career or mission: e.g. Cesar Chaves in migrant workers’ rights; Albert Einstein in scientific research; Vincent Van Gogh in painting
• A major U.S. or world writer—what have her/his books contributed in literature in content and style?

Note: These are just examples that can be used. This is not an exhaustive list by any means. Please research something that you find interesting and will be able to sustain your interest for the period of time that this project will cover.


Requirements:
Length 4-6 pages
Typing Papers need to be typed. Make sure you have enough black ink. Use only one side of the paper. You should always make a copy of the paper for yourself.
Format Use 81/2 x 11-inch paper. Except for page numbers in the upper right hand corner of your paper, leave one-inch margins at the top and bottom and both sides of the text. Indent the first word of a paragraph five spaces from the left margin. The entire paper should be typed in 12-point font in either Times or Times New Roman.
Spacing The entire paper, including the heading, needs to be double-spaced. Additionally, there should be two spaces between end punctuation and the next sentence.
MLA Format All papers need to have use an MLA heading. Beginning one inch from the top of the page and flush with the left margin, type your name, the instructor's name, the course name, and the date. Double space and center the title. Do not underline the title or put it in quotation marks or type it in all capital letters.
Textual evidence/ sources Proper citations for every source need to be included whether it is direct quotations being used or paraphrased information. Paper must include citations from at least FIVE sources from books, periodicals, Encyclopedias/internet/software, media (TV, radio), or interviews. You CANNOT use more than 2 Internet sources.
Page Numbers Number all pages consecutively throughout the paper in the upper right-hand corner one half inch from the top. Do not add a period, hyphen, or any other mark or symbol to the number.
Works Cited Page Include a works cited with your paper. Please see separate handout for more information.




9 Quest
Ms. Peifer
2008

Research Paper Schedule

• Have notecards (at least 150) __________/10 points
Due: No later than Monday, March 10

• Chosen topic __________/10 points
Due: No later than Monday, March 10

• Bibliography source cards __________/25 points
Due: Monday, March 17

• Thesis statement __________/10 points
Due: Monday, March 24

• Notecards (at least 100) __________/50 points
Due: Friday, March 28

SPRING BREAK—WORK ON YOUR PAPERS! READ!

• Outline __________/25 points
Due: Tuesday, April 8

• Rough Draft __________/100 points
Due: Friday, April 11

• Peer Editing __________/40 points
(Peer edited two papers and had two people peer edit your paper)
Due: Friday, April 11

• Final Draft ¬¬¬ __________/150 points
Due: Wednesday, April 16


Total points: 420 points