1102 Journal and Research Assignments

J. W. Morgan

Composition 2

Journal Topics & Research Assignments

Double space your entries. For each submission, type your name, class, and the journal/research assignment # in the upper left corner of your paper. Each entry must be a paragraph with a minimum of 10 typed lines, using a 10 or 11 point font. The graded entries become part of your portfolio. Some of these topics are personal reflection topics, and others are directly related to your research paper. All the assignments listed below must be submitted in order for me to grade the final draft.

In this class, students are to write an original research paper of 7-10 pages minimum by consulting no fewer than 10 sources. A paper on a work of fiction must incorporate no fewer than 10 secondary sources. The Works Cited must include various types of sources, i.e. books, articles, non-print materials, etc. A student may not, however, use encyclopedias (including the electronic encyclopedia), Masterplots, or other encyclopedia like sources. If you are unsure about a source, ask me.

Journal #1: Introduce yourself to me.

Included in your entry, tell me how long it has been since you have taken an English course, what experience you have in writing a research paper, what you do for a living, what you hope/expect from this class, and any other information you think I might find interesting.

Research Assignment #1: NARROWED TOPIC & Library Assignment

Identify a specific, narrowed topic that can you wish to cover in depth in a 7 - 10 page research paper. To narrow your topic, do some background reading by consulting general reference books (i.e. encyclopedias and textbooks). You must indicate in your entry at least 2 background sources that you consulted (use appropriate bibliographic format as outlined on pages 594-610 of the Bedford Handbook for Writers). Based on your background reading, provide some indication of a focus for your paper as well as your reason for choosing this topic.

From the SJRCC website (www.sjrcc.edu) access the Information Literacy Comp 2 worksheet available under the link to the library. Cut and paste the worksheet into a Word document, fill it out, and turn it in with your narrowed topic.

3. Journal #2: Long Range Goal

Oftentimes our success in a given endeavor depends on our having a concrete goal that we are trying to achieve. Specifically, what is your concrete, long-range goal (3-5+ years from now) for attending college? Why is this particular goal important to you? What sacrifices might you have to make to achieve your long-range goal? What habits might you have to change if you are going to be successful?

Research Assignment #2: HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT

A hypothesis is an educated guess on the results you expect your research to

support. As you have yet to read any of your sources, you do not have a

thesis, which is a statement indicating what your research proved.

Should your hypothesis be proven by your research, it will become the thesis

for your final draft.

This assignment requires that you submit your hypothesis to me. The hypothesis should be a clear, concise statement (1-3 sentences) reflecting your topic and your purpose in writing the paper (your attitude--i.e. what you plan to prove). The statement must be worded using formal language. (i.e. Because of the problems inherent in the system, Social Security should be turned over to the private sector to ensure workers’ retirement.) Statements such as "In this paper I will..." or "This paper attempts to..." are unacceptable and will receive a grade of F. This entry does not have to be 10 lines long.

At this point in the term, if you have any questions concerning the research paper thus far, I would like you to address them to me in a separate paragraph in this entry.

Research Assignment # 3: TWO SOURCES

List two sources you plan to use in your paper. Follow the appropriate format for the type of source you have (i.e. book, article, Internet web page) by consulting the “Documenting your Sources” section in Writing Research Papers.

This assignment may be hand written. It must be on notecards.

6. Journal #3: Short-term Goals

Long-range goals are more easily achieved if we break down the process with some realistic shorter-range goals. What is your specific goal for this class? Include a statement indicating what grade you plan to earn in this class. Is the grade you hope to earn realistic (hint—think about the grades you have made in this subject in the past). How is this class important to your long-range goal indicated in Journal #2? What sacrifices might you have to make to achieve your goal in this class? Are you willing to make them?

7. Journal #4: Evaluate your progress in this course thus far.

What problem(s), if any, have you faced during the research process? How much time have you been willing to devote to this course? Has your commitment to the course over the past 4 weeks been sufficient? Why/why not?

Research Assignment #4: THESIS, OUTLINE, AND WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY

Submit a typed thesis, outline, and working bibliography. The thesis (at this point your hypothesis should be changed into a sentence indicating what your research found) should appear at the top of the page, followed by a sentence outline of the body of the paper. The Works Cited (working bibliography) should appear on a separate sheet and should be in proper format (see Research). You are expected to gather 5 times the number of required sources for the working bibliography (that means your Working Bibliography will have 50 sources on it).

Research Assignment #5: ROUGH DRAFT

Turn in a rough draft of your paper for citation check (I will not read the rough draft; however, you will be graded on your proper use of MLA citation format). Your rough draft must have a works cited page, and all citations must be highlighted with a marker. Your rough draft must be typed.

Research Assignment #6: FINAL DRAFT

Papers are due on the due date. Late papers will not be accepted. The final draft must be typed, double spaced, on one side of the paper (follow guidelines in Research). The final draft must contain the following:

sentence outline with proper formatting in left corner (see Bedford pgs 632-635 & 637), research paper, works cited. If your paper is missing a works cited, I will not grade it. I will return the paper. If you then attach a works cited, I will grade the paper, but the maximum grade it can receive is a C.

You must turn in an original of your paper, paper clipped (not stapled) in the upper left corner and a complete copy (title page through works cited page) of your paper (the copy may be stapled). I will return the graded original and will keep the copy. Additionally, in a brown envelope you must give me Xerox pages of the sources you have cited, with the cited material highlighted and the notecard(s) you made from that source stapled to the Xeroxed page(s). I will not accept a paper without an original, a complete copy, and an envelope of all sources and notecards.

11. Journal #5: Evaluate your work on the research paper.

What was the greatest challenge you had to overcome? Were you successful in overcoming it? What was the most enjoyable part of the process? What grade do you believe your final paper will earn? Why?

12. Journal #6: Create a plan for success for the remainder of the semester.

Based on your response to Journal 3, create an action plan that will carry you through to the end of the semester. Decide on at least 2 concrete, observable actions that you will employ.