research paper – Writing the Research Paper

November 13, 2017November 15, 2017

Second Draft of Your Research Paper

Draft #2 is a full draft of your research paper (of approximately 1800 words), and is due this Monday, November 20, in class.

With Draft #2, you want to make sure that you have written a draft of your paper from start to finish that includes the following:

A working title for your paper
An introduction and a clear statement of your thesis
The effective use of at least two scholarly sources (as defined in class, and in the slideshow on “Engaging Sources” in Google Drive)
Parenthetical citations in the MLA format to cite your sources
A complete Works Cited list on the last page

Remember: This is a draft. Do as much as you can, and bring whatever you have.

In class, you will review and respond to two other students’ drafts in class using the questions that guided our last peer review. We will also work on a “reverse outline” of your paper to guide the revision process.

Here’s why you should bring any stage of your draft, even if you feel like it’s not “ready” to submit:

If you bring a draft to class, you’ll receive feedback from your peers the same day
You’ll be able to complete the “reverse outline” and get a jumpstart on revising your draft
You will receive feedback from me within one week of the assignment’s due date, or by Monday, November 27, and will have enough time to address that feedback

As you work on your draft:

Review your past assignments: Your Paper Sketch / Storyboard, Annotated Bibliography, your first draft, and the feedback you’ve received from me and your peers
If you’re stuck, trying using one of the They Say / I Say templates to get started, or the Quote Sandwich templates.
You can also turn to this week’s readings on “Drafting Your Report” and “Revising Your Organization and Argument” (linked) to help you get started
Remember to add a parenthetical citation every time you use a source, and an entry in your Works Cited list. For a guide to formatting your citations, check out the MLA Formatting and Style Guide.

Basic info on formatting your assignment:

Your assignment (in Google Docs, and when printed) should include your name, our course number (ENG 103.0905) your professor’s name (Professor Kitana Ananda), and the date submitted. (You do not need to include this information in your blog post.) Use 1” margins, double-spacing, and an 11 or 12 point font. I encourage you to print on both sides.

To submit your assignment:

Save your draft as a Google Doc in your writing portfolio (your Drive folder)
Print and bring two copies of your paper for class
Come prepared to read and do a peer review for two other students

November 13, 2017November 15, 2017

Questions to Guide Your Peer Review

Exchange drafts with another student. Read the paper from start to finish. Jot down any initial impressions or ideas.

Now answer a couple of questions. In providing feedback, we want to start our comments with notes on what worked about the paper. Make positive comments first, then make constructive comments to help the writer develop their ideas and organization to improve their paper.

What did you appreciate about this paper? Note where the writer grabbed your interest, any interesting phrases or insights, strong introductions, etc
Is there anything you did not understand while reading this paper? Use lines or arrows to indicate which section, and note what you found confusing

Read the paper again to answer the following questions—and write down your responses on a separate sheet of paper. You will hand this back to your partner, so be generous in your reading, and thorough.

What is the main argument of this paper?
Does the paper make any other claims?
What evidence does the paper use to support its claims?
Did you find the evidence used convincing? Why or why not?
What did you learn or take away from reading this paper?

November 8, 2017November 12, 2017

Protected: Draft 1 – Medical Marijuana

October 30, 2017November 15, 2017

First Draft of Your Research Paper

Draft #1 of your research paper (900-1200 words) is due this Monday, November 6, in class! Please read carefully, and if you have questions after doing so, add your questions to this document by Sunday, November 5, at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Remember: This is a draft. Do as much as you can, and bring whatever you have. You will review and respond to two other students’ drafts in class. You will receive questions in class to guide your peer review.

Here’s why you should bring any stage of your draft, even if you feel like it’s not “ready” to submit:

If you bring a draft to class, you’ll receive feedback from your peers
You will have an opportunity to reflect on your draft and plan for writing and editing that we will do during our lab time.
You will receive timely feedback from me (within one week of the assignment’s due date, or by Monday, November 13.)

As you work on your draft:

Review your past assignments, and especially your Paper Sketch / Storyboard or any feedback you’ve received as you draft.
If you’re stuck, trying using one of the They Say / I Say templates to get started, or the Quote Sandwich templates.
Remember to add a parenthetical citation every time you use a source, and an entry in your Works Cited list. For a guide to formatting your citations, check out the MLA Formatting and Style Guide.

And as always, here’s some basic info on formatting your assignment:

Your assignment (in Google Docs, printed) should include your name, our course number (ENG 103.0905) your professor’s name (Professor Kitana Ananda), and the date submitted. (You do not need to include this information in your blog post.) Use 1” margins, double-spacing, and an 11 or 12 point font. I encourage you to print on both sides.

To submit your assignment:

Save your draft as a Google Doc in your writing portfolio (your Drive folder)
Post your draft to our course blog
Print and bring two copies of your paper for class
Come prepared to read and do a peer review for two other students