ENGL&102 (Jewell) – Research Paper Project
Project proposal due Tuesday November 13
Working annotated bibliography due at individual conferences (schedule TBA) November 19-21
First rough draft due Monday November 26 -- Second rough draft due Friday November 30
Final draft due Friday December 7 (last day of class – no late submissions accepted)
This quarter, we have read and discussed a number of texts that deal, in a variety of ways, with systems, both
technological and human, and the ways those systems impact our personal agency and sense of identity. Douglas
Rushkoff walked us through the biases inherent in the digital technology that plays such a large role in our lives,
Gray Shteyngart presented a near-future world in which the implications of our relationship with technology are
played out, Cory Doctorow explored the future of intellectual property rights and enforcement, and the short
essays have examined different aspects of marketing research and application.
Your final major essay of the quarter will be a research paper that picks up some issue related to our readings and
discussion. Possible subjects areas range from the effects of a specific technology to the impact of modern
consumer culture to the purpose and tactics of speculative fiction. The focus of your essay should be your own
ideas. (The point of this paper is not merely to report information.) Your essay will explore some
question/problem/issue that allows you to develop a complex claim and contribute information and ideas. The
research should guide you into the paper and give you substantial facts, concrete evidence to work with, and
different opinions and voices to respond to.
Undoubtedly, you will need to look into many sources to get a feel for what people are saying about the issue and
to make sure the sources you do quote are representative, especially significant, or for some other reason worthy
of inclusion in your paper. When you write, consider who your audience is, the context for your essay, and what
your purpose is in writing. For example: What does my audience want to know? Why? What can they gain?
Remember to ask yourself all sorts of questions while conducting your research and in the beginning stages of this
essay. A place to start is to have a list of questions you have about your topic. Conduct research and find sources
that will help answer your questions. You should make sure your topic is narrow enough to really explore in that
space. Remember, you are not reporting back on a conversation going on somewhere else, but asserting yourself
into that conversation.
The research paper process will include submission of a project proposal, development of a working annotated
bibliography of at least 10 potential sources, submission and review of two rough drafts, and a final paper of 6-8
pages that uses at least five of the sources from your bibliography. To prepare for our research, we will meet with
an NSCC Librarian for an orientation about library resources, and will spend at least one class session in the library
doing individual research. Each of you will also meet with me for a one-on-one conference to review your progress;
conferences will be scheduled for the three days before Thanksgiving (November 19-21) and class will not meet on
those days.
6-8 pages, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman, 1” margins. Please include your name, the date, and your class
section in the upper left hand corner of the first page. All essays should include a title and must use MLA citations
of referenced work. In addition to your works cited page, you will submit your final annotated biography with your
research paper (including all sources, whether cited in your final paper or not).
Grading Rubric
Focused research and annotated bibliography that considers credibility and relevance of sources
Interesting, non-obvious, and arguable thesis
Develops thoughtful synthesis of source materials
Well-organized and written, with logical transitions and proper grammar/spelling/punctuation
Incorporates quotations and paraphrases with proper use of MLA citation
10 pts
10 pts
20 pts
10 pts
10 pts
TOTAL
60 pts