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For the remainder of the semester, you will be developing and completing a research project on a topic that corresponds with the course theme. This project will have several components including the Source Analysis/presentation, Essay IV and presentation.
For this assignment, Source Analysis/presentation, I will assess your ability to choose, read, and evaluate appropriate sources on a narrowed topic. You will also improve your ability to use the internet and the library’s resources to locate non-academic secondary sources that are rich and credible.
You can think of this project as a documentation of the research process you will use in future courses (and for life!). It will also serve as a fund of material for the research and ideas you will incorporate into the final paper for this course, the Research Essay.
15% of final grade
Typed and double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, MLA format.
At least 3-4 pages
IMPORTANT: You must include (within your essay) links to your sources that actually work--please check them! If you used databases you'll need to find the permalink or stable URL. Alternatively, you can email me PDF or doc versions of the sources. The draft should be submitted as a link to your online Word or Google doc.
You will locate 5-10 sources on your topic during and after two library research days (one when you use the internet and one when you use library databases). The sources you locate should be examples of public writing, similar to the kinds of articles we have been reading in class. Try to choose a variety of sources for how they help you learn about your topic and the problems associated with it. These sources might include newspaper articles, magazine articles, government sponsored studies, or even an individual chapter in a book. You may choose a website or blog post from a credible source. Students have also found ted talks and Frontline episodes. You will be evaluated on whether these articles are substantial, credible, and on the same narrowed topic.
You will choose the three sources on which to focus in your Source Analysis. As you decide which sources to focus on, ask yourself the following questions:
Are they “meaty” or substantial in length and perspectives (such as a feature article in a newspaper or magazine)? In breadth or depth of research (such as a government report)? In depth of research (such as a newspaper expose)?
Do they meet the evaluative criteria discussed in class (published by a disinterested, relatively unbiased publisher, vetted in some way, recent)?
Are they on same narrowed topic as other two sources?
Read each of your 3 best sources through carefully, ideally multiple times. Knowing these sources well will prepare you for the research Essay.
Then for each source, you will write 1-2 good-sized paragraphs (bullet points are fine) that describe what kind of source it is and consider its rhetorical situation—audience, publication venue, author, type of evidence included. You should describe what kind of publication the source came from (a news magazine for general readers; a trade journal for practicing nurses; a website aimed at cancer patients) and answer the following questions: who is the author (and what qualifications does the author have); who published the source; what is the purpose of this publishing venue; what biases or slants might be connected to this purpose; and, most importantly, who is the audience of this publication venue (and hence the audience of the article). This discussion of rhetorical context should also consider the main types of evidence the source employs (research studies, first-hand accounts, etc.) and perhaps the ways the author accommodates or appeals to his/her audience.
Write about your research process. (1+ page double-spaced) In addition to the write-up for each source, you will also reflect on the process of finding these sources and how you will use the sources in the final essay. What search terms did you use? What worked and how did you change your plan based upon your initial searches? Did you need to narrow or broaden your topic? How do the sources connect with each other? How do you plan to use the sources in your final essay?
The source is “meaty” or substantial
It meets the evaluative criteria discussed in class (is published by a relatively disinterested, trusted publisher; is vetted in some way; is recent)
It is on same narrowed topic as other sources in annotated bibliography
The write-up of the source correctly describes the rhetorical context of the source (bullet points are fine) including
Includes well-written description (NOT bullet points) of your research process including some of the following:
Includes citations for 5 sources, including the two you chose not to focus on.
I will NOT be able to grade the project if I do not have working links to all five of your sources.
Think for a few minutes about how your research process helped you focus your topic. What do each of your 5 sources have to say about the topic? How do they relate to each other? Where do you think your specific topic is at this point?
Look back through your notes for this project--you should have 2 days worth of notes from our two topics brainstorming class periods. Have you already discussed some of the following?
If you discussed some of these issues in your earlier brainstorming work, highlight those ideas or copy and past them at the top of your document--this will be the start of your research reflection, which should be 1+ pages double spaced. If you haven't yet discussed these questions, do so now.
Now consider these questions. Draft your responses below the previous ideas.
Work on answering the following questions. Remember that bullet points are fine for the source discussions.
In the article, "Why College Students Are so Stressed Out," Mathis explains that college students are facing unprecedented mental health challenges (68).
The article "Why College Students Are so Stressed Out" explains how college students are facing an unprecedented mental health challenge (Mathis 68).
Mathis claims that "students are at a time in their lives when social interaction is a necessity, not a luxury" (68).
As the article explains, "students are at a time in their lives when social interaction is a necessity, not a luxury" (Mathis 68).
You'll need to include an MLA citation for all of your five original sources--with WORKING links to each-- in a "Works Cited" page at the end of your essay.