Research Paper Instructions English 20/20M In your Narrative Essay, you told a story in order to elicit an audience reaction or hoping the story would make a point in the telling. In your Persuasive...

Research Paper Instructions English 20/20M In your Narrative Essay, you told a story in order to elicit an audience reaction or hoping the story would make a point in the telling. In your Persuasive Argument Essay, you explicitly stated a claim or argument that you then supported in order to persuade your audience. This Research Paper is an opportunity to consider an important topic and to do research on it with the goal of answering one or more questions you have about the topic. This research paper assignment may be largely informational; results and conclusions are based on the research and not necessarily on the personal opinions of the researcher/writer. Of course, most scholars choose to do research writing about topics they care about. Otherwise, why bother? But a good researcher is open to results that may differ from her/his/their own prediction/thesis. Only “secondary research” is required for this paper (see below about extra credit for primary research). Secondary research is looking for peer reviewed scholarly journal articles as expert evidence to help you answer specific research questions that you have about a topic. For example, if your broad research topic is global warming, a possible more narrow research question might be “what effect does global warming have on polar bears in the Arctic?” Supporting sub-questions might be “how is their habitat affected?” “how is their food source affected? is the survival of polar bears jeopardized in some way(s) by global warming?” etc. Notice that topics for research papers are usually fairly narrow and specific. It would be difficult to write an effective research paper of 1500 words on “global warming” as it is a topic so broad as to require at least a book length text to even begin to touch upon the multitude of more narrow sub-topics there are under global warming. The first thing to do is to consider your topic and think about questions you have about the topic that are of academic significance (see the polar bear example above). Ideally, your question should be something you are strongly curious about or that you feel academic readers would find compelling. Once you settle upon a research question, you can make your own prediction of what you think the answer to the question will show after you complete your research. Together, your research question(s) and your prediction about its probable answer would constitute your paper’s thesis. Assignment Write a research paper of 1500 words on a topic of your choice. Formulate a research question on the topic and give your educated prediction of what the answer is likely to be after your research is completed. Find at least 3 peer reviewed scholarly journal articles to use as supporting sources of expert testimony on the topic. 3 scholarly sources is the minimum; you may use more if you feel it necessary. You may also use non-academic mainstream sources such as online news magazines, blogs, documentaries, Ted Talks etc., but these must be in addition to the 3 required peer reviewed scholarly sources. Your research paper must include MLA citation of sources including in-text parenthetical citations as well as a Works Cited list at the end of the paper. You may use APA citation if that is what you are used to, but be sure it is done correctly. See the Student Writing Handbook pp. 173-179. OPTIONAL 10 Point Extra Credit Opportunity for Primary Research If you would like to incorporate an interview or survey into your paper (primary research), you can earn 10 extra credit points. If you consider doing this, you should read the Driscoll article “Introduction to Primary Research.” To receive the extra credit, the interview questions or survey questionnaire, and answers, must be submitted as appendices to your research paper draft. Minimum Requirements --- The first draft of your paper must be a minimum of 1000 words, in order to be eligible for the 25 completion points. The required sources do not have to be in the first rough draft; they are required in the revised 2nd draft. --- The second draft and the final portfolio draft must be a minimum of 1500 words. --- Word count requirements are a minimum, and you may write more if you are inclined. However, if you do exceed 1500 words, please try to keep the maximum word count to fewer than 3000 words. --- You must use a minimum of 3 scholarly sources from peer reviewed academic journals. Other non-academic sources are welcome, but only in addition to the 3 required scholarly sources. --- All sources used must be cited using MLA citation style (or APA if you are used to it and do it consistently and correctly). Both in-text parenthetical citations as well as a Works Cited list at the end of the paper must be included. See pp. 176-179 in the Student Writing Handbook for instructions and examples of MLA citation. Evaluation 1 st and 2nd revised drafts are scored primarily on completion. If all assignment requirements are met, full points will be given. Some deductions may occur for salient omissions or errors. The 3rd and final portfolio draft will be graded more stringently on quality of writing taking into consideration a good faith effort to improve your draft using the intellectual standards and critical thinking concepts as well as the standards in the essay grading rubric. Accurate use and citation of sources will also be considered. Submission Submit all drafts on Canvas on the specified dates. You will exchange your 1st draft with a peer electronically and complete a peer response letter to assist your peer with ideas for revision of the 2nd draft.