ENGL-101
Flint “Phoenix” PROJECT
WS: Research Paper & Presentation Guidelines
Learning Outcome:
Students will work in groups of four students based on a common “Death & Rebirth of Flint”
sub-topic of interest. Group members will select different aspects and issues (related to a local
social agency) to produce a more thorough investigation of the topic. Final products will be a
group-written researched essay and a PowerPoint presentation.
Objectives:
MCC General Education Objective: CRITICAL THINKING
1. Work as a team to produce a formal expository essay that demonstrates an understanding
of causal analysis (with a “recommendation” as an option for the conclusion). In other
words, the purpose of the essay is to inform readers about the need for a particular local
agency or current local project and the social issue related to that need (causes & effects
of hunger, lack of housing, urban blight, educational inequality, etc.)
2. Synthesize information from a variety of sources
Demonstrate MCC general education objective: CITIZENSHIP
1. By volunteering for 2 hours at a local agency
2. OR by conducting an interview with the agency director, a volunteer and/or a recipient of
the services. (See Service Learning Reflection Paper Guidelines, graded separately.)
3. Optional (extra-credit) opportunity if volunteer for an additional 4 hours (6 total)
MCC ENGLISH DEPT. OBJECTIVES FOR ENG 101
1. Demonstrate the writing process: brainstorm, research, organize/outline, draft, review,
revise/edit, final draft, reflection.
2. Demonstrate MLA documentation including citations and a Works Cited page
3. Demonstrate the proper use of summary, paraphrase and direct quotation
Individual Paper PROCESS:
1. Each student in the team will prepare an Annotated Bibliography to gather sources for
his/her section of the paper. Students may share articles if the same article works for
more than one aspect of the topic. (See Annotated Bib. Guidelines, graded separately)
2. Each team member will prepare one section of the project (for Paper & PowerPoint). See
details below. Each section should make sense on its own with an introduction, body, and
conclusion.
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Student 1: Definition and history of issue on LOCAL LEVEL
Example: Define how affordable housing differs from a homeless shelter.
Example: Describe LOCAL affordable housing situation 5-10 years ago vs. now
Could include data on how Flint compares to other cities of comparable size
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Student 2: Causal analysis of current situation in FLINT
What caused a need for a particular agency or project?
Has the need increased? Why? By how much? (provide data if possible)
Example: There is an increased need for affordable housing due to recent
foreclosures, increased job loss, etc.
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Sisto_ F2013
ENGL-101
Flint “Phoenix” PROJECT
WS: Research Paper & Presentation Guidelines
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Student 3: Description & causal analysis of agency or project that fills this need
Trace the history and explain the mission of a particular LOCAL agency/project
Explain if they are part of a national organization such as Habitat
Analyze the effects of services provided by the agency/project.
How many local people are served? Are there people whose needs are still not met?
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Student 4: Interviews with agency/project director, volunteers, recipients
How does the director view the role of the agency/project?
What does the director feel are the successes/effects of the agency/project? (provide
data if possible)
What are the needs for improvement?
What are the needs for funding and/or volunteers?
What are the effects this agency is having on volunteers?
What are the effects this agency/project is having on recipients?
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3. Prepare a Typed Draft for REQUIRED Peer Review of YOUR SECTION
4. Attend REQUIRED research paper conference with instructor (bring all drafts,
Annotated Bib, all articles used, and your portion of group’s Works Cited page)
5. Based on suggestions from peer review and draft conference with instructor, revise and
edit to prepare a Final Draft.
6. Team will then work together to provide smooth transitions from one section to the next
including dividing the duties of remaining elements of the paper:
o Formal Title Page & Table of Contents
o Introduction to entire project
o Conclusion for entire project
o Works Cited Page (everyone contributes, but 1 team member creates master list
in alphabetical order and proper MLA format
7. All aspects of group project will be submitted in a ring binder as one cohesive paper.
 Formal title page will list all authors.
 Table of Contents will list person responsible for each section and the pages for that
section.
8. Each team member will write a “Cover Letter” to Prof. Sisto that includes:
o What did you use or not use from your peer reviews (and why)?
o What suggestions did you use/not use from Prof. Sisto’s Annotated Bib. evaluation and
draft conference feedback?
o How did you revise your paper? (added citations, changed order, clarified thesis, etc.)
o What have you learned about your topic?
o What have you learned about writing a researched essay?
o What have you learned about working as a team member?
9. See Paper RUBRIC
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ENGL-101
Flint “Phoenix” PROJECT
WS: Research Paper & Presentation Guidelines
TEAM PRESENTATION:
 Your group’s PowerPoint presentation should make the main points of each person’s
section clear but should also be presented in a cohesive way to pull all aspects into one
smooth presentation about the agency and the related issues that make its existence
necessary.
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Presentation Etiquette:
 Dress professionally or could wear T-shirt of agency
 No gum
 Prepare note cards, so you are not “reading” your poster or slides
 TIME LIMIT: 5 minutes per person; everyone must speak
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Use only key words (not full sentences) on each slide
Use copyright-free images or gain permission
Give citations (source information) for data and images
Consider charts or graphs to explain data
See Presentation RUBRIC
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