Description
- Prompt Assignment #3 – Final Research Paper
Research Question: What can the pre-modern world teach us about how to be better humans in a modern, globalized world?
Submit a 1500-2000 word Research Paper that advances a scholarly argument which answers the question above with your primary and scholarly source(s), but is still open to interpretation and different views. You have two options:
Option #1: Single focus essay – Identify one pre-modern source, concept, philosophy, or person that you have studied in the course and make an argument, grounded in scholarly research, in answer to the question above.
Option #2: Comparative essay – Identify two different pre-modern sources, concepts, philosophies, or people studied in the course. Write a comparative essay that makes an argument, grounded in scholarship, in answer to the question above.
The Research Process
From Interests to Topic:
Select a philosopher, philosophy, wisdom text or concept from your assigned in-class readings that modern scholars have identified as making a contribution to living as better humans in our modern world. You will integrate at least one in-class reading (a primary source) into your paper.
From Topic to Problem to Research Question (with Scholarship)
Once you’ve settled on a topic, learn more about it: READ, READ, READ. First make sure that you understand the figure, philosophy, text, or concept you have chosenand the context that your professor has provided in lecture, readings or in your textbook. Then conduct outside research on your topic in peer-reviewed, scholarly sources only.
You might identify a problem of modern living that this pre-modern philosopher, philosophy, wisdom text or concept can positively address. See what modern scholars have said about this. There is no other way to develop a research project than to read as much as you can in scholarly sources about your topic. As you read, pay attention to:
• what you find really interesting,
• what is important to you,
• what you would like to understand better,
• what you think others will find important
• what they should know or understand better.
In particular, observe and note gaps, inconsistencies, contradictions, complexities, curiosities, and surprises: it is often the things that don’t seem to make sense that lead to the best research. Writers call these conceptual problems or “mental itches” that you will scratch with more research.
There are many resources you can consult to narrow your topic or search for related, peer-reviewed scholarly sources. See the Resources for Your CRA and Research Project section of the Omnibus Tome for a list of these resources with links (p. 7-8).
Integrating Research Into Your Writing
Below is a list of the criteria your research paper should meet. Most important are the substantive aspects, such as the quality of your position and the appropriateness and strength of your evidence, but the mechanical concerns—spelling, grammar, and so forth—also matter. You must also be very careful to give credit to all of your sources, whenever you quote, paraphrase a source or use data or information from it. Make sure that you check your final draft against the Guidelines for MMW Papers above.
Organization
Your introductory paragraph(s) should include:
An indication of your topic and how it addresses the research question
Your thesis statement
An indication of the significance of your topic and question (the “so what?”)
Your thesis should be:
An answer to the question posed
Arguable with scholarship
Amply supported with evidence (that should come from assigned class reading and scholarship)
Your concluding paragraph(s) should:
Summarize your argument
Reiterate and elaborate on your “so what?”
Explain the significance of your thesis
When presenting your evidence you should:
Present information and make claims that are factually correct and from relevant sources
Explain which of your claims each piece of evidence supports
Explain how the evidence proves your claims and support your thesis?
• Evidence that proves causation or correlation (strong evidence)
• Evidence that demonstrates, illustrates or elucidates a claim (medium evidence)
• Evidence that regurgitates, quotes or paraphrases a claim that you made (weak evidence)
Acknowledge your sources whether you quote or paraphrase an author’s words or merely draw upon an author’s ideas
Use direct quotations sparingly and only when necessary
When addressing counterarguments or alternative interpretations you should:
Acknowledge the scholars whose positions differ from yours and the credibility of your sources
Explain how each counterargument differs from your own claims
Present the evidence that supports each counterargument
Rebut each counterargument (i.e., explain why your claims are stronger)
Overall, your paper will succeed if you:
Carefully select sources indicating substance, currency, authority, relevance, accuracy, and lack of bias.
Present a persuasively argued point that is amply supported with relevant, direct, convincing evidence from primary and secondary scholarly sources (peer-reviewed)
Present evidence that is strong and convincing
Acknowledge equally valid points of view other than your own or a point of view you are supporting
Discuss the significance of your claims
Engage in university-level research and writing, using the resources provided
Advance a clear and convincing claim (thesis)
Organize your paper well and write with your readers’ needs in mind (e.g., by providing transitions and topic sentences to help readers to follow your train of reasoning, defining unfamiliar terms, providing vivid, concrete examples, and so forth)
Check the Guidelines for MMW Papers for all formatting issues
Works Cited
Your paper must have a list of Works Cited that includes complete MLA-style citations for all of the works you cite in your paper. You do not have to include entries for works you do not cite, but bear in mind that “citation” means not only direct quotations and paraphrases but also all information and statements of observation and opinion that are in your own words but that are indebted to other authors for their content. In other words: when in doubt, give credit to your sources.
Grading Rubric Paper 3 (Research Paper)
MMW 121, Fall 2019
Submit your 1500+ word research paper, sources and Works Cited on the due date and time during Week 10. Your TA will not grade your paper until all required documents are submitted; late penalties will apply.
Your Final Paper will demonstrate university level research, argumentation, and writing if it achieves the following:
- Paper has an engaging and descriptive title.
- Research paper answers a research question.
- Research paper answers the research question with a clear argument (thesis/claim).
- In-class, assigned primary source(s) is/are integrated extensively and effectively into the project.
- Significant and sufficient outside research (scholarly secondary sources) is integrated effectively into the argument.
- Analysis considers and evaluates strength, relevance, authority, and credibility of alternative approaches.
- Paper addresses the significance of argument (worthiness of the project) to our understanding of how premodern wisdom helps us to be better humans in a modern globalized world.
- In-text citations are used correctly for paraphrases and quotations and adhere to MLA format.
- Research paper is clearly organized, correctly formatted, and complete.
- Writing is comprehensible, proofread and free of major or frequent errors in grammar and mechanics.
A-range: Advanced. Meets all of the above criteria at an exceptionally high level, demonstrating university-level and upper-division-level work.
B-range: Proficient. Meets most of the above criteria at a high level with issues (minor to more serious) that interfere with full realization of goals. The work meets expectations for a college-level research paper, but does not demonstrate proficiency in most areas due to significant errors, lack of effort or attention to the prompt, or lack of use of resources provided.
C-range: Competent. Meets most of the above criteria at a minimal level, enough to demonstrate competency. The work meets minimal expectations for a college-level research paper, but may not demonstrate proficiency in most areas due to significant errors, lack of effort or attention to the prompt, or neglect of resources provided to insure proficiency.
D-range: Novice. Overall, the work demonstrates lack of competency or familiarity with college level research and writing skills. Writer can move into competency or proficiency in the future by using university resources to practice skills or by visiting TA/professor in office hours for help.
F Insufficient. Significant criteria are missing or work do not demonstrate effort in many areas. TA may have difficulty understanding the basic plan the research project and, therefore, may be unable to provide helpful feedback. Please see your TA immediately for assistance and resources.
MMW Showcase:
Every year, in what we call the MMW Writing Showcase, the MMW Program honors the best papers written for the course during the preceding academic year. TAs who teach MMW12 through MMW 15 and MMW121 and MMW122 nominate students who they think have written papers demonstrating excellent scholarship on important and intriguing topics and who present clear and engaging writing. It is quite an accomplishment to be a Showcase honoree: of the more than four thousand papers written every year for MMW, fewer than one hundred are selected to be Showcase winners. That’s higher than the top 5% in any given MMW class. The authors of these outstanding papers—the Showcase honorees—each receive a certificate that expresses our admiration for their work and attests to their achievement. Winning a writing award is an excellent thing to be able to put on a graduate school application or resume. We look forward to reading your excellent work.
Sample Solution
