ENG1100 UQ Migrant And Immigrant Worker Organizing In Canada
Humanities
English 1100 Research position paper
What is a research position paper? It is a mini research paper, in which you consider two different sources and attempt to present a) an argument of your own that b) puts the sources into closer conversation with one another. Ultimately, you present a scholarly discussion about a topic that contains three voices: yours, article 1, and article 2.
There are two preliminary steps: writing a research question and creating an annotated bibliography. These steps are often done in conjunction. My suggestion for getting started:
– consider an article in class that you have found to be particularly compelling or interesting and that you have an opinion on
– search and find for another article that you also find interesting and that addresses the same theme
– write the two following steps
Step 1: Research question / one-paragraph-maximum project proposal (1%)
The first step is to formulate a research question (up to 200 words) around one of the following topics: colonialism, language, gender and/or sexuality, immigration, youth, identity, or some other topic of your choice. If you choose your own topic, please come to speak with me about it. The topic must be addressed in one of the readings that we have read thus far in class.
Here are the questions I will be asking when I look at (and grade) your question and proposal:
a) How feasible is the scope of research question?
b) How clear and focused is the one-paragraph proposal?
c) Is it printed out, handed in on time, and properly formatted?
Step 2: Two short summaries (annotated bibliography) (4%)
Write two (2) 250-word summaries of the articles you’ve selected (that speak to one another around the central theme that you are considering). These two summaries must be comprised of
a) one article we have read in class
b) one article from the Moodle database on your topic OR one professional article that you have found on your own. For this step, please print out the two summaries (annotated bibliography) and submit them, along with a marked up copy of the article you’ve chosen. We will speak about what constitutes a “professional” article in class, though if there are questions please come and speak with me. The article that you have chosen should be a minimum of 500 words in length.
Here are the questions I will be asking when I look at (and grade) your two short summaries (also called an “annotated bibliography):
a) Is there a complete, correct bibliographic (MLA) entry for both articles?
b) Is the article that you have selected appropriate for your topic?
c) Is the article that you have selected appropriate for a university-level paper (either peer-reviewed or professional)?
d) Does the 250-word summary of each article clearly relay the central ideas?
e) Is it printed out, hand in on time, and properly formatted?
f) Does it include a printed out copy of the article that you’ve chosen?
Step 3: Write the research position paper (15%)
Write a 750-1000 word paper that articulates a) your own argument about a topic and b) puts this argument into conversation with others who have written on this topic. For your position paper, you might focus on one aspect of your topic and then consider how others’ work might further comment upon that particular topic. This is an individual assignment that should be formatted to MLA specification.
What does a research position paper look like?
It begins with an introduction that introduces the larger research question and the writer’s argument; it then provides a paragraph or two on what’s others have written and how the arguments of others might advance/counter the writer’s claims; it then provides one paragraph that outlines a new idea to be considered in support of the writer’s argument; it closes with a brief mention of future avenues of inquiry. So, all told, the position paper comprises of four-five paragraphs as follows:
1) Introduction, 2-3) What others are saying, 3) A new idea, 4) Conclusion that gestures at future avenues of inquiry.
Here is how this third step will be graded:
a) Strength of your own argument:
-does your paper make its own intervention into the conversation that it has set up between the three writers (yourself, article 1, article 2)?
-is the thesis clear, unique, and arguable? (Does the thesis answer the “so what?” question?)
b) Organization of the paper:
-Does the paper contain a clear and logical organizational structure? (introduction, paragraphs, conclusion)
-Does each paragraph fully address one main idea?
-Are the two other articles given similar weight and attention to one another?
-Does the paragraph on the “new idea” present both evidence and analysis?
-Does the conclusion gesture as reasonable ways of expanding the paper?
c) Style and formatting:
-Is the paper formatted according to MLA style?
-Are the articles cited? Is there a bibliography/works cited that is properly formatted?
-Is the grammar and syntax correct (especially those topics we have covered in class)?
-Is the writing style appropriate for a university-level audience?
TOTAL (20% of final grade): research position paper (15%); two short summaries (annotated bibliography) (4%); Research question (1%)English 1100 Research position paper
What is a research position paper? It is a mini research paper, in which you consider two different sources and attempt to present a) an argument of your own that b) puts the sources into closer conversation with one another. Ultimately, you present a scholarly discussion about a topic that contains three voices: yours, article 1, and article 2.
There are two preliminary steps: writing a research question and creating an annotated bibliography. These steps are often done in conjunction. My suggestion for getting started:
– consider an article in class that you have found to be particularly compelling or interesting and that you have an opinion on
– search and find for another article that you also find interesting and that addresses the same theme
– write the two following steps
Step 1: Research question / one-paragraph-maximum project proposal (1%)
The first step is to formulate a research question (up to 200 words) around one of the following topics: colonialism, language, gender and/or sexuality, immigration, youth, identity, or some other topic of your choice. If you choose your own topic, please come to speak with me about it. The topic must be addressed in one of the readings that we have read thus far in class.
Here are the questions I will be asking when I look at (and grade) your question and proposal:
a) How feasible is the scope of research question?
b) How clear and focused is the one-paragraph proposal?
c) Is it printed out, handed in on time, and properly formatted?
Step 2: Two short summaries (annotated bibliography) (4%)
Write two (2) 250-word summaries of the articles you’ve selected (that speak to one another around the central theme that you are considering). These two summaries must be comprised of
a) one article we have read in class
b) one article from the Moodle database on your topic OR one professional article that you have found on your own. For this step, please print out the two summaries (annotated bibliography) and submit them, along with a marked up copy of the article you’ve chosen. We will speak about what constitutes a “professional” article in class, though if there are questions please come and speak with me. The article that you have chosen should be a minimum of 500 words in length.
Here are the questions I will be asking when I look at (and grade) your two short summaries (also called an “annotated bibliography):
a) Is there a complete, correct bibliographic (MLA) entry for both articles?
b) Is the article that you have selected appropriate for your topic?
c) Is the article that you have selected appropriate for a university-level paper (either peer-reviewed or professional)?
d) Does the 250-word summary of each article clearly relay the central ideas?
e) Is it printed out, hand in on time, and properly formatted?
f) Does it include a printed out copy of the article that you’ve chosen?
Step 3: Write the research position paper (15%)
Write a 750-1000 word paper that articulates a) your own argument about a topic and b) puts this argument into conversation with others who have written on this topic. For your position paper, you might focus on one aspect of your topic and then consider how others’ work might further comment upon that particular topic. This is an individual assignment that should be formatted to MLA specification.
What does a research position paper look like?
It begins with an introduction that introduces the larger research question and the writer’s argument; it then provides a paragraph or two on what’s others have written and how the arguments of others might advance/counter the writer’s claims; it then provides one paragraph that outlines a new idea to be considered in support of the writer’s argument; it closes with a brief mention of future avenues of inquiry. So, all told, the position paper comprises of four-five paragraphs as follows:
1) Introduction, 2-3) What others are saying, 3) A new idea, 4) Conclusion that gestures at future avenues of inquiry.
Here is how this third step will be graded:
a) Strength of your own argument:
-does your paper make its own intervention into the conversation that it has set up between the three writers (yourself, article 1, article 2)?
-is the thesis clear, unique, and arguable? (Does the thesis answer the “so what?” question?)
b) Organization of the paper:
-Does the paper contain a clear and logical organizational structure? (introduction, paragraphs, conclusion)
-Does each paragraph fully address one main idea?
-Are the two other articles given similar weight and attention to one another?
-Does the paragraph on the “new idea” present both evidence and analysis?
-Does the conclusion gesture as reasonable ways of expanding the paper?
c) Style and formatting:
-Is the paper formatted according to MLA style?
-Are the articles cited? Is there a bibliography/works cited that is properly formatted?
-Is the grammar and syntax correct (especially those topics we have covered in class)?
-Is the writing style appropriate for a university-level audience?
TOTAL (20% of final grade): research position paper (15%); two short summaries (annotated bibliography) (4%); Research question (1%)
I have attached the class articles
