GUIDELINES FOR CORRELATION
Correlation papers promote your development of concise and focused thought by encouraging accurate and extended
understanding of an author’s ideas. Start with their purpose and thesis in the course-text. Then confirm or deny one
interesting aspect of that course-text by researching that author’s thinking.
Correlation papers must include one of the following three options:
1. Read and connect one book, film, or peer-reviewed article from 2018 to your favorite idea from Shalit, Tocqueville,
or Zengotita. Some possibilities are found in 1) Academic Search Premier (online at Fitzgerald Library), and 2) Google
Scholar. If you prefer a book, film, or peer-reviewed article not from 2018, you must seek permission from the
professor by emailing him no later than 48 hours before due-time, including the title of source and your paper’s
tentative purpose and thesis. You should not correlate the course-text with a second source before 2018 unless you
have received emailed permission from the professor.
2. Develop a theme which you believe was unclear or incomplete in a course text by using two or three articles from
an encyclopedia, reference dictionary, or other reference work.
3. Connect a course text to one classic work or one work read in another LCT-class. You must obtain emailed approval
from this course’s professor by emailing him no later than 48 hours before the due-time, including the title of the
source, class, professor, semester, and your paper’s tentative purpose and thesis.
Correlation papers may not use these sources, which are often superficial or unreliable in academic analysis:
o news articles or newspaper;
o editorials or letters to the editor;
o wikis;
o blogs (indicated by a *.com extension and/or a timestamp and/or words “posted on†and/or length less than 500 words and/or
focus on author’s personality rather than research); and,
o reviews of books and movies.
Papers should range 3–4 word-processed, double-spaced pages, 10- or 12-point type, in MLA8 Style. Papers should be
submitted by relevant deadline to Blackboard|Assignments|Correlation: xxxx (where xxxx indicates course-author used in
paper). PDF format is preferred because it locks your paper in the formatting that you intend. Digital files should be entitled
this way (exclude quotation marks in actual file name): “yourlastname_courseauthorlastname_dateâ€; for example,
“Sobolewski_Shalit_23Sept2018â€. Do not send papers by email. Papers submitted within 24 hours past deadline are
penalized 10 points. Papers are not accepted after 24 hours past the deadline, except in a documented medical or personal
emergency. For your protection, a copy of the paper should be retained.
STRUCTURE AND EVALUATION
Header and Title — The title should be a creative description of the contents of the paper. Other information should also
conform to the MLA8 Style.
Introduction — Opening paragraphs should describe the context of your paper, here including both the purpose and thesis of
the course-book as well as your purpose and thesis. Your purpose will identify your paper’s topic as one interesting aspect of
the course-text, and your thesis will confirm or deny the course-book author’s claim based on additional research. Purpose
considers “why†an author writes, i.e., what motivates them. Thesis states one’s overall point in a single elegant sentence; it
highlights “what†an author’s essential thought is. Please underline your thesis statement. Finally, one often includes a
statement of the paper’s organization in the introduction.
Body of Paper — The body of your paper should illustrate the essential connections that you establish and clarify the various
aspects of your thesis. Remember, your point of departure is the book we read for class; your new material is to clarify and
confirm or deny this book’s thesis and/or claims. Show the logic, internal connections, and depth of your sources. Express
your understanding clearly, accurately, and without a slavish use of resources.
Connections — Relationships and connections of your ideas as well as your assessment of the continuing significance of the
matter should be evident. You should not merely say, for example, “I feel this is important†but you should explain why your
connection is important. The main emphasis of your paper is to present a thoughtful, clear, and memorable insight.
LCT475C Capstone, Fall 2018, Correlation Paper, page 2
Technical Aspects — A research paper should be properly documented in order to show exactly where you derived your
quote, fact, or opinion. Parenthetical notes and a Works Cited are required per MLA8 Style. See Purdue Online Writing Center
(OWL), which is hyperlinked through BlackBoard|Capstone. Your paper will be checked by SafeAssign in order to insure
academic honesty. Plagiarism is a form of robbery; it is the stealing of someone else’s words, ideas, or data without proper
documentation. Be aware that you do not need to cite common knowledge: material that you find again and again as you do
your research or your readings. Without documentation, this paper will be graded “F†and other penalties can occur. As
always, present your findings with sufficient attention to grammar and syntax, spelling and punctuation, and wordprocessing.
Tips for more effective writing can be gained from: William Strunk and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 3rd. ed. (New York:
Macmillan, 1979).
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
The professor is available for academic counseling during office hours or by appointment; do not hesitate to contact me
regarding any aspect of your research.
Consider a review of your paper by the Writing Center at HC17; their suggestions will result in a better paper. Call x. 1432 for
details. They can provide instruction and support for any stage of the writing process—generating ideas, organizing material,
revising the paper, and checking mechanics.
GRADING
Introduction (Possible Points: 20)
Course-writer’s Purpose clear 5 4 3 0 absent
Course-writer’s Thesis clear 5 4 3 0 absent
Your Purpose clear 5 4 3 0 absent
Your Thesis clear 5 4 3 0 absent
Body of the Paper (Possible Points: 40)
Organization of paper clear 10 8 6 4 confusing
Argument of thesis informed 10 8 6 4 uninformed
coherent 10 8 6 4 not coherent
clear 10 8 6 4 not clear
Connections (Possible Points: 20)
Analysis developed 10 8 6 0 ignored directions
Impact meaningful 10 8 6 0 ignored directions
Technical Aspects (Possible Points: 20)
Grammar and syntax no errors 5 4 3 0 many errors
Spelling and punctuation no errors 5 4 3 0 many errors
MLA8 Style no errors 10 8 6 0 many errors
Bad spellers of the world untie!
LCT475C Capstone, Fall 2018, Correlation Paper, page 3
DEVELOPMENT WORKSHEET FOR CORRELATION PAPERS
Prof. Greg Sobolewski
A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or
explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens
remaining where a person’s mind can get both provocation and privacy. — Edward P. Morgan
1. What is the author’s purpose in our course-book?
Purpose states “why†an author writes, i.e., their motivation.
See PT Cruiser Worksheet.
2. What is the author’s thesis in our course-book?
Thesis states “what†an author’s overall point is in a single elegant sentence, i.e. their most essential thought.
See PT Cruiser Worksheet.
3. What single topic in the course-book especially interests you?
4. What is one new and reliable source to deepen your interest in this topic?
You cannot use these types of sources (hardcopy or digital) because they are often superficial or unreliable for
analysis: newspapers, letters to the editor, wikis, blogs, reviews of books and movies.
5. What is your purpose in this paper?
Purpose states “why†you are writing this paper, i.e., your motivation (beyond a grade).
What connection do you see between course-book and reliable-source? Why does this correlation interest you?
6. What is your thesisin this paper?
Does your reliable-source confirm or deny the course-book? Why?
Or, what does a deeper understanding of the course-book’s topic demonstrate about hidden influences in our
culture?
7. Enumerate a very brief outline for this paper.