English 1301. Fall 2023
Research Paper
Choose one Key Term for the topic of your paper from the list below. To get started, it’s perfectly fine to look it up in Wikipedia or elsewhere online, but only for general background. Do NOT base your discussion on these or use their words; use only your chosen secondary sources for your discussion.
Environmental racism
Managed retreat (coastal communities threatened by rising sea levels or other natural phenomenon)
Fake news
Sustainability
Equity
Food desert
ChatBot
Water scarcity
CONTEXT
A strong, effective short research paper finds a specific context for a discussion of the Key Term. For example, for “water scarcity” you might look at a state or even city like El Paso, Phoenix or Flint, Michigan. For a discussion of “sustainability” you might look at home construction (water recapture, better resilience to wildfire or hurricanes) or growing water-hungry crops in a dry environment, or overfishing a certain species. For “environmental racism” you might look at hazardous industries such as oil refineries that are located close to where minorities live.
A weaker paper may not get past a general discussion.
THE ETHICAL DIMENSION
Your discussion needs to involve questions about risks and benefits, do’s and don’t’s, moral consequences.
TONE
You are reporting on and analyzing the Key Term and your chosen context in a neutral manner, even if the Key Term is a controversial hot-button issue for some. Don’t refer to yourself (avoid “I believe, in my opinion,” etc.)
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Write an effective introduction that
a. defines a Key Term, using your own words,
b. gives a general description of what makes this term significant and argued over in politics, science, and public opinion,
c. briefly explains your chosen context for where and how this term is currently being debated,
d. and ends with your underlined thesis statement (not about your intentions but about your take-away (your main conclusion).
2. Structure your 2 – 4 body paragraphs by
a) starting each with an underlined topic sentence that tells the reader what to expect in the paragraph,
b) using (paraphrase or direct quotation) and citing your secondary sources as you integrate them into your own discussion of the topic,
c) and ending each paragraph with a transition sentence that leads the reader to the next paragraph (don’t underline it).
3. Write a full-paragraph conclusion that summarizes your own findings and offers insight into how the topic fits in with a broader context.
4. Cite each secondary source, MLA-style, four to six times in your paper. Two types of citation are direct word-for-word quotation and paraphrase. Keep each direct quotation brief – either part of a sentence or an entire sentence – and make sure that the quoted material is set up/introduced properly, not merely “dumped” into your paper. When you paraphrase, you must take care to find truly your own wording for the writer’s idea or information. If you stick too close to the original words, that’s plagiarism. Plagiarism will sink your paper, earning it a zero, and a D or F in the course.
Each time you cite your source, either by quote or by paraphrase, cite the source AT THE END OF YOUR SENTENCE, never in mid-sentence. Example: (Smith 45). If your source does not have an author’s name, use the publication and a page number if there is one. Example: (The Economist 78).
5. List your secondary sources in alphabetical order (author’s last name’s first letter) in the Works Cited section below your paper. List only secondary sources that you cited in your paper.
6. On the upper bar of your WORD document, click on “Review” and then “Word Count.” From the word count, subtract your title, your name, etc., the Works Cited, or any material in block quotation (see the Sample Student Research Paper and ACC Library’s online resources for using MLA-style citation).
Type the exact word count at the end of your paper or below the Works Cited. I will check.
EACH SECONDARY SOURCE must meet these requirements:
a) Be found through a database in the ACC Library, not using Google or other search engine.
b) Be at least FOUR FULL PAGES long, not counting images.
c) Be an article from a reputable newspaper, magazine, academic article, or a book.
d) Have a named author or multiple authors.
d) NOT be older than FIVE years since first publication.
e) NOT be from Wikipedia or other encyclopedia, social media post, blog, or podcast.
f) NOT be any of the sources listed for the B- Option Research Paper.
If it does not meet any one of the above criteria, don’t use it. If you encounter any problems locating good-quality sources, contact a reference librarian at any of the ACC campus libraries. If you still have trouble, back off and do the B- Option of the research paper on Artificial Intelligence instead.
GRADING CRITERIA
See the “Grading Criteria” on Blackboard for further information.
Cite each source three or more times. Aim for a mix of paraphrase and direct quotation, always citing your source using MLA style. Avoid direct quotations longer than single sentences. You may use one “block” quotation (more than 4 lines of text), but it will NOT count toward your minimum word count. A block quotation should be used if you really feel the original wording is very important – too important to be paraphrased – and helps your thesis. When paraphrasing, make sure that your writing uses your own words and does not look like your source’s wording; if it is too close to the original, it is plagiarism.
FORMATTING
For citing and formatting, use the MLA-style information available on the ACC Library’s website, or in Easy Writer (if required in your course).
The top of your research paper must look like this:
Your last name and page number
Your full name
Professor Moeller
English 1301
Full due date (or date turned in, if different)
Center your research paper's title (and make it sound interesting)
Don’t center the rest of your paper.
Points are deducted for each of the above formatting requirements if incorrect or missing.
SCHOLASTIC HONESTY AND PREVENTING PLAGIARISM
It is your responsibility to inform yourself on the ACC website about college-level academic standards for the fair and accurate use of other writers’ ideas, data, and words. Evidence of plagiarism beyond one minor (brief) instance will lead to a “zero” on the assignment. The student will then have five calendar days from the posting of the “zero” to write a new research paper on another topic (by arrangement with the instructor). Failure to turn in an acceptable research paper will lead to withdrawal from the course. A new research paper cannot be revised and therefore is the last opportunity to complete this essential course requirement. If it is acceptable and meets all listed requirements, the new research paper will earn a maximum grade of 70.
Note! A research paper which does not show evidence of plagiarism can be revised if the original was turned in by the due date.
Evidence of using AI-driven programs like ChatGPT to write your paper or having someone else help you on your research paper, will also lead to a failing grade. Avoid having anyone heavily edit and proofread your work for you before you turn it in for a grade.
ACC Learning Lab Tutors ARE allowed to give more detailed help when you are revising.
SUBMITTING
1. Upload your Paper with Works Cited as one WORD document. Other formats are not accepted. If I can't open your document, it will be considered late until you submit a version that I can open.
2. In one separate PDF file, upload all the complete secondary source articles you used. The instructor needs to be able to check whether those sources were used accurately and fairly. Without this file a paper will earn a D until the file is received.