research paper (MLA)Topic: One of the most important inventions of the last two centuries.
Thesis Statement: Internet is one of the most important inventions of the last two centuries. The internet would go on to change how people communicate, how businesses operate and nearly everything else about our world.
guidelines is attached
Final Research Paper Guidelines and Notes on the Research Paper Writing Process The final essay for this course will be an MLA style research paper. The research paper must be written on one of the 5 topics listed on the “list of topics” provided here. In short, you cannot create your own topic for this assignment. The research paper must be an original composition formatted in MLA style. See more specific guidelines on length, Secondary Sources, format, and due date below. 1. Length Guidelines: the final research paper will be at least 4 - 6 full pages of text (body) and will include the use of at least 4 - 6 secondary sources (which includes paraphrased sources) listed on a Works Cited page at the end of the document. Per MLA guidelines, the Works Cited page is the final page of the paper. It is paginated (meaning it will have the running header with your last name and a page number), but it does not count in the page limit requirements. To clarify: This means that a paper that meets the bare minimum page length of 4 full pages of text, evenly double spaced, will have a WC page on page 5 of the paper. Likewise, A paper that meets the maximum page length of 6 full pages of text will have a WC page on page 7 of the paper. BE ADVISED: PAPERS THAT DO NOT MEET OR EXCEED THE MINIMUM PAGE LENGTH OF AT LEAST 4 FULL PAGES OF TEXT (BODY), EVENLY DOUBLE SPACED IN MLA FORMAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 2. Secondary Sources: A research paper requires the use of secondary sources to support and illustrate the claims being made by the author of the essay inside the body of the paper. This means that secondary sources (articles) must be directly quoted from and / or paraphrased and cited (parenthetically) inside the body of the paper where borrowed information is used. Each secondary source being directly quoted from or paraphrased in the paper must also be listed on a Works Cited page that is the last page of the research paper. The paper must use, at bare minimum, at least 4 direct quotes, and no more than 2 instances of paraphrased information from secondary sources inside the body of the paper. For this assignment, you must use at least 4 – 6 Secondary Sources. The types of secondary sources can include bound references, articles in periodicals, and Internet articles (yes, you can use any combination of sources or all internet articles if you choose). This means the Works Cited page will have listed at least 4 secondary sources minimum OR 6 listed secondary sources at maximum. DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SECONDARY SOURCES FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. All Final Research papers must include at least 4 Direct Quotes / and no more than 2 instances of paraphrased information in MLA style. Every article listed on the Works Cited page must be directly quoted from at least ONCE inside the body of the paper. In short, every source (article) listed on the WC page must be directly quoted from or paraphrased at least once inside the body of the paper or the source cannot be listed there. This means that the bare minimum number of direct quotes that must appear in the body of the paper is 4. There is no maximum number of times a quote must be quoted from, but you do not want to over quote a source. It is unnecessary. Only quote the information from an article that is most illustrative of the point you are attempting to make in the paragraph. For more on this, see handouts “Building the List of Works Cited” and “How to Incorporate Quotes into a Paper Using MLA Style” in the Research Paper Resources Folder. For more information on how to paraphrase a secondary source see the handout “How to Paraphrase a Secondary Source in a Research Paper” handout in the Research Paper Resources folder under the FILES tab. 3. Format: The paper must be an original composition formatted in MLA style. All final papers need to look EXACTLY LIKE THE SAMPLE PAPER. THE EASIEST WAY TO COMPLY WITH MLA FORMAT IS TO USE AN MLA STYLE RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE TO WRITE THIS PAPER. 4. Due Date and Time: All final research papers are due Sunday, MAY 10th, 2020 by midnight. All final papers must be submitted to the appropriate drop box as an ATTACHMENT SAVED IN MS WORD FORMAT (.doc or .docx). NO OTHER FORMATS WILL BE ACCEPTED. ABSOLUTELY NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. List of Topics: 1. Write a research paper that discusses someone you believe to be “one of the most influential people” in the world today. What industries has this person affected? What philanthropic endeavors have they undertaken? What do they “bring to the table” as far as advancing society? Humanity? If living, what effect will their contributions have on the future of America? The world? 2. Write a research paper that illustrates your choice for “one of the most important inventions of the last two centuries”. Why was the invention necessary? In what ways has the invention enhanced American / global daily life? Is its popularity likely to fade in the future? Will it create new industries in the future? 3. Who is the greatest American music artist (or band) of all time? What qualifies this artist / band as the “greatest of all time”? What specific qualities make this artist / band continue to have a lasting effect on the American music scene? What is their highest rated song or album that best represents his/her or their abilities? What is this artist’s / band’s legacy in music? 4. Write a research paper that traces the history and purpose of a social justice movement. How did this movement get started? What kind of people gravitate towards this movement? What is the movements purpose? How do they seek to improve American or global society? Do you recommend that others join? Research Paper Strategy How to Begin the Final Research Paper: 1. Choose a topic. Choose wisely, meaning choose a topic about which you clearly have something to say. 2. Brainstorm your topic and create a detailed outline for your research paper. The outline should clearly introduce, define, and describe your topic’s significance / relevance. 3. Consult the sample outline provided below to ensure your paper is effectively organized and developed. You will create your own outline for the paper, but the sample outline can be helpful as a guideline for creating your own outline. Add any information to the outline that is necessary for your specific topic. 4. Begin researching the subjects of your body paragraphs from your outline that require secondary sources for content. Maintain a working source list of research sources while doing your research (i.e. bookmark all sites that contain articles with information (stats, figures, specific claims or opinions) that you are considering using in your paper. On a blank word page, save a list of hyperlinks to all articles that you want to use in the paper for support.) 5. Begin writing the rough draft of your paper. It is a good idea to begin with the intro and conclusion as a starting point. This will help to keep the body of the paper focused on its goal (illustrating the thesis of the paper). 6. Write body paragraphs. Do not insert quotes until all body paragraphs have been written. Use an asterisk (*) to mark the places in the paragraph where a direct quote from a secondary source will be inserted for illustration and support. 7. Insert direct quotes from secondary sources. See handout “Body Paragraph Development” handout under the Files tab for instructions on how to properly incorporate a quote into a paragraph. 8. Read the thesis of the paper. It should answer the topic question in 1-2 clear and direct sentences in the introduction of the paper. 9. Read the topic sentences of every body paragraph in order. This is to ensure that all topic sentences clearly introduce the subject of the paragraph and to ensure that the paper is logically organized, developed and focused on illustrating and explaining the thesis (main idea) of the paper. 10. Read the entire paper aloud. Make sure that all sentences are clear and direct. The introduction should introduce the thesis of the paper. The body illustrates and explains the thesis. The conclusion should wrap up the thesis in a few words. 11. Run a preliminary spell check / grammar check. Correct any and all errors. This goes a long way towards improving the final paper score. 12. Check MLA format to ensure that all guidelines are followed for formatting the paper and that all direct quotes have been properly incorporated into the body of the paper. Plagiarized papers, blatant or otherwise, will be graded with a “0”. The Final Research paper is due Sunday, MAY 10, 2020 by midnight. No Late Papers Will Be Accepted.