Final Paper Due: Week 11, Fri., March 22: no late papers accepted

Length: 1,200 Words plus a Works Cited page

The Topic: Choose a facet of contemporary family life in America that you are interested in and want to learn more about by doing library and Internet research. Naturally, a paper about family life should emphasize people and their relationships. You may even interview a member of your family, if you wish, for one of your sources. The options: 1) an informative paper, or 2) an argument. An informative paper should present information in a new light; for example, the paper might serve to dispel common misperceptions. In a position paper one might argue a particular viewpoint about a cultural issue. In either case the author should present the topic in a fresh light--synthesize--rather than simply summarize the research. No biographies or histories of American families, please.

Getting Started: Brainstorm possible angles and check on the availability of library and Internet sources first. Use the Reader's Guide (in the library) to locate magazine articles classified by subject. Check with me first for topic approval.

Format: MLA style. Follow the sample student papers (669 & 733) in our Handbook. The text should begin with the very first page of the report (no separate title page).

Required Sources: At least 6, to be included on Works Cited page

• 1 book in print form (chapter, preface, introduction)
• 3 bylined magazine or journal articles in print (full-text online version is OK)

(use Reader's Guide to focus topics and locate bylined magazine articles)

• Electronic: Web sites; online articles; CD-ROM
• Personal Interview
• Encyclopedia

Rhetorical Strategy: You will include your own ideas in this paper, while using outside sources to support those ideas. A research paper should synthesize by offering a fresh approach and not simply summarizing.

Definition

Comparison & Contrast

Illustration

Process Analysis

Cause-and-Effect Analysis

Parenting

Blended Families

Birth Order

Adoption

Sibling Rivalry

Literacy in the Home

Cultural Differences Among Families

Caring for Elderly Family Members

With this paper you also have a chance to research the genealogy of your own family, and use at least some of that information in the paper. For example, interview a grandparent or other relative and document that interview in your paper. However, you still need to cite books and magazine articles. Students who are uncomfortable talking about their own family backgrounds are free to rely on outside sources only.

Approaches Off-limits: Biographies (of famous families, for example) and historical accounts are off-limits. Take a fresh approach.

Sample Papers: Sample term papers for ENC1101 and ENC1102 are available. Ask at the TLCC test desk to check them out from my files (they have to remain in the LR building, but you can make a photocopy).

Research Strategies: Narrow your topic before you start writing. For example, the subject of gender and the family is too broad in itself. However, the question of how to achieve better pay for single mothers is a topic worth investigating. To locate helpful books, do topic searches beginning with the LINCC computer database in the PCC library. For magazine articles, use Readers’ Guide, accessible in print and electronic forms. Use search engines (Alta Vista, Yahoo, Excite) for the Internet, and ask the librarians for help with CD-ROM resources and online news services.

Facts vs. Thesis: Avoid beginning the term paper with a statement of fact.

Families in America are increasingly turning to fast-food restaurants.

Instead, use a thesis statement that allows you to develop your own opinions.

As young families in America increasingly rely on fast-food restaurants, parents should be more concerned than ever about menu choices that contribute to obesity among school-age children.

Research Paper Proposal: You will write a 150-word paper proposing your topic. Points to address in your proposal: 1) Explanation of topic; 2) why you chose the topic; 3) availability of sources; 4) personal interest in and/or knowledge of the topic; 5) how you intend to develop the topic; and 6) the intended thrust of the paper. You may write the proposal in paragraph form or as an outline.

• Proposal Due Week 7: Fri., Feb. 22 (homework score)

Summary of one print source: You will write a one-page summary of one bylined magazine article or journal article in print (full-text online version OK) used in the term paper. Staple a copy of the article to the summary. See pages 473-4 in Progressions for summary format. The print article should be at least 3 or more pages in print, because it will be condensed to a page.

• Summary Due Week 9: Fri., March 8 (letter grade)

Working Drafts of Research Paper: Before the research paper is due, we will review drafts of the paper in class (required homework). If a computer classroom is available, students may volunteer to bring a draft on floppy disc for critique on overhead.

• 1st Draft for Body of Paper Due Week 10: Wed., March 13
• 1st Draft for Works Cited Page Due Week 10: Fri., March 15
• 2nd Draft for Body of Paper Due Week 12: Mon., March 18
• 2nd Draft for Works Cited Page Due Week 12: Wed., March 20

TLCC Tutor Requirement: You will visit a tutor in the TLCC at least once and have a tutor read and respond to a "clean" draft of your paper. The paper should already be typed and double-spaced, and free of editing marks, before you visit the tutor. Ask the tutor to sign (not initial) and date the draft. Place the signed rough draft in your folder.

You may visit the tutor before or after we review drafts in class; however, if you visit the tutor after peer review in class, take a clean draft for the tutoring session. If you procrastinate, you may not be able to get an appointment with the tutor, so consider visiting the tutor before we peer review drafts in class. The purpose of reading drafts in class is to ask questions and put the finishing touches on your work. Papers that do not conform to MLA style will be marked incomplete and returned without a score.

The final draft should include any necessary changes. Do not staple the final draft--leave the pages loose (but numbered and identified with your last name).

Save research materials: The research paper and the research materials will be submitted together in a file folder. Save photocopies of all articles and other materials, and place them in the research paper folder. Research papers submitted without these materials will be returned unscored.

Plagiarism: Papers that plagiarize will earn a failing grade. The tutor will not check papers for plagiarism--that is your responsibility. To help avoid plagiarism, note the following. Plagiarism includes:

• Using direct speech without quotation marks, even if source is cited

• Using direct speech with quotation marks but not citing the source

• Paraphrasing sentences or entire paragraphs without citing the source

There are other ways to plagiarize as well, so make sure you are familiar with the plagiarism section of our handbook.

Sign and date form and place in folder: Sign and date this form (below) certifying that you have read and understand these guidelines, then place this document in your folder along with the research paper and other materials. Research papers submitted without this signed document will be returned unscored.

_______________________________ _____________________

Signature Date