Intermediate Composition

Description This research project is designed to teach the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic and the nature of research and discovery. As opposed to the standard research paper in which the writer usually assumes a detached and objective stance, the research project allows the writer to take an active role in the search, to hunt for facts and truths first hand, and to provide a step - by - step record of the discovery process. Project Format and timeline ● ● ● ● Section One: Paper Proposal Annotated Bibliography Section Two: Report of Findings Section Three: Discussion of Findings Section One AKA What I Know, Assume, or Imagine: Before conducting any formal research, write a section that explains to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what you imagine about your topic. You have just completed the "zero draft" for this section when you completed the timed-writing. The article you chose for the myth timed essay is the beginning of the research process. Full development of each question raised in the timed writing prompt should lead to a clear proposal for the research itself. When you are all done with the full project process, you may have to go back and revise your original proposal a bit, for clarification. However, section one is generally complete before you begin the next section. Section Two: The Research Test your knowledge, assumptions, or conjectures by researching your topic thoroughly. For this research project, we will focus only on internet sources. Please do not use complete text books or subscriber sources from the library such as Gale Group. The purpose for using only internet sources is twofold: first to sharpen research skills using only the internet, second to fully critique internet resources using only credible sources. The Annotated Bibliography: Once you have a working research question, the next step is to research the internet and complete an annotated bibliography (five sources). As you uncover new information, take note of your experience. Be sure to apply what you have discovered to the question itself, adjusting as necessary. You must be willing to readjust your question and be open to changing your mind. The annotated bibliography should be completed before you move to the next part of the paper: the report of findings. Section Two : Findings After completing the annotated bibliography, report your findings in this middle section. Using three of your sources, your report should include an exploration of your topic using a specific research question as a framework. This section should help a reader more clearly understand not just the material you discovered, but your process of discovery as well. You will need to process the information you have on your annotated bibliography in order to know how to report the information in this part of your paper. Cite outside sources carefully in the body of your paper using clear signal phrases and any necessary background information and / or context for each source. Section Three: Discussion of Findings AKA What I Discovered Compare what you thought you knew, assumed, or imagined with what you actually discovered; offer some personal commentary and draw some conclusions. Question commonly perceived notions about the myth you have been examining. You may argue a position, but this is not an "argument" paper. You may want to propose a solution if you have been researching a problematic myth. You might be showing how a myth has changed over time. Your conclusions here should flow organically from your research. This section should be a fairly thorough reflection upon your actual learning experience. Therefore, do pay close attention to how your answer to the initial question may or may not have changed. You do not have to overtly couch your discussion as "what I learned" but a reader should be able to see what you learned and how you now put all this information together. Think of this section as a recommendation you could make given your topic. After all, your research should have allowed you to now have an informed opinion based on data or theory. Works Cited and Annotated Bibliography At the close of this paper, you will provide a Works Cited page, documenting the sources you used in your paper. Since you have been asked to compile an annotated bibliography of online resources for your topic, and since we are working online, the URLs should be fully functioning links. The Annotated Bibliography is placed last, after the Works Cited. Remember, the ABib is a free standing piece of writing as well as the basis for your paper. As such it is worth five points in addition to the final paper grade.