FINAL PAPER due May 16 (upload on Brightspace)

20% of final grade

A research paper is a highly formulaic genre of writing. Your final paper is required to be 3-4 pages long. (Minimum 750 words). This means that you will write approximately six paragraphs of around 5-9 sentences per paragraph. The first paragraph is your introduction, which should clearly state the research question and your thesis (the argument). Paragraphs 2-5 compose the body of your paper; each paragraph presents a sub-argument that supports your main argument (the thesis). The sixth and final paragraph should conclude your research, and restate your thesis.

You are required to engage with at least one primary source, which should serve as a means of answering your research question. Additionally, engage with at least three secondary sources. Cite all sources properly following the Chicago Manual of Style (see examples in the syllabus), and list them at the end of your paper under “Cited Sources.” I should be able to check your sources easily, and fact-check your paper.

The length of the paper is extremely short for a reason. I expect your writing to be polished: every word should be carefully written with precision and concision. Please use whatever tools you need to make sure that there are no spelling and grammar errors (Microsoft Word spelling/grammar check, Grammarly, etc.). The paper should flow logically, and leave no room for guesses as to what you mean to say. This means that you will edit your paper a minimum of three times. The more you edit, the more polished your paper will be. Your paper will be graded on the style of writing and the strength of your argument.

Figures with captions are welcome, but not required: for example, images of your primary source can be included, if you think they enrich the paper. Make sure your word-count is still around 750 words.

This entry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.