Step One: Develop your research question due for class on Thursday


1. Ask research questions that will help you highlight the most important aspects (or angles) of your topic.

2. Tonight, do some preliminary research to help get you off the ground. This should center on potential answers to the question.

3. Based on your PRELIMINARY research, you should be able to begin refining a clear, arguable statement that will become your thesis. I will take questions on this process during Thursday's class. The more you do on your own, the more I will be able to help you. Vice-versea. Use today's handout for help.

This is a good resource on citing resources if Hacker ain't cutting it:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/664/01/


THE PAPER:

Step Four: The following outline has been provided to help you conceptualize how to put the paper together:

DUE TUESDAY (largest grade of the year! yes, more than the final)

Intro: Include a personal introduction (1 t- 2 paragraphs) It should be devisive and that explain your connection with the topic in any way you see fit. Should also hook, reader, preview tone & ...

Establish the thesis! (Your answer to the research question).

Background / Exposition: Before going into the key aspects to establish cultural understanding of the refugee's background, you should provide the necessary information to understand your points (1 - 2 paragraphs). This is the who, what, when and where of your topic. Should be attributed and cited.

Support: Each aspect that will promote cultural understanding should be supported with a combination of fact and valid opinion from credible sources and your own experiences (3 - 6 paragraphs). Must contain well attributed and cited sources. Must provide specific and concrete evidence to back your argument. Must contain at least two solid DQs.

Conclusion: As outlined in handouts, should be brief. It is done best when it brings up some type of lingering question or idea (1 paragraph)

Paper should be approx 3 - 6 pages.

• All information taken from sources needs to be cited (not just quotations)
• Use APA style for all formatting (see Hacker or Google for help)
• Use quotations sparingly. Better to summarize information in your own sentences and phrasing. Introduce all quotations with signal phrases
 Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and show unity.
• Each paragraph (except intros and conclusions) will contain at least one citation identifying where you got your information.
• This is your chance to SHINE on the fact that our multiple revisions have not been a total waste.
• Include a formal Works Cited page, following the models I showed in class and the APA style sample in Hacker.

Paraphrasing Help

A paraphrase is...


• your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
• one legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source.
• a more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea.

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...

• it is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage.
• it helps you control the temptation to quote too much.
• the mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.

2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.

3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.

4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.

5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.

6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper

Balance of the Course

Monday: Introductions & Begin Research Tips/Tactics (HW: Read Research Section of Hacker Book p. 317. Journal #4: see handout)

Wednesday: Research lecture and activity

Thursday: Finish any lectures, Paper Q&A,
Monday: Last Day of Class - Journals Due - Research Paper 1st drafts due

Papers will due electronically by midnight on Wednesday, August 18th!

Note to ACCC Students

Due to a glitch on the blog and the ACCC computer system, the discussed homework assignments for this weekend will be postponed. Just come in ready to work on Monday.

Having An Argument