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Course Culminating #1- Research Essay. Refer to paper copies; posted on ClassNet as well. Learning Goals :. Write a FORMAL research paper, using proper format, on a current social justice issue impacting our world today that you feel strongly about
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Course Culminating #1- Research Essay Refer to paper copies; posted on ClassNet as well.
Learning Goals: • Write a FORMAL research paper, using proper format, on a current social justice issue impacting our world today that you feel strongly about • Provide the current statistics related to the issue, the cultural impact of the issue, and the main factors involved with this issue • Relate this issue to course content, specifically Catholic Social Teaching and the Interdependent Systems • Address the Catholic Church’s teaching on the issue you have chosen through the use of biblical passages and/or the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Your research essay must include the following: • A clear and relevant thesis. The thesis statement (as well as your outline) MUST BE approved by the teacher. Failure to get these approved may lead to serious complications with your final product. • An introductory paragraph that will include a general overview of the issue and the thesis. It will express the intent of the essay in an interesting manner and will also outline the order of the subtopics to be discussed. • The (sub-topic) body paragraphs (minimum of three) must each have topic sentences, be relevant, specifically supported with proof and directly connected to the thesis. The subtopics should be developed in a logical order with effective transition sentences. Be sure to include current statistics (including Canadian stats), cultural impact, as well as the impact on individuals within each sub-topic.
References to the interdependent systems and Catholic Social Teachingshould be made where applicable in and throughout your essay and not in a separate section (at least two systems and two themes must be discussed). • Paraphrasing, quotes and works cited must be sufficient and accurately documented. Be sure all quotes, statistics and paraphrased ideas from other sources are documented correctly and attributed to the proper sources. “You will be using parenthetical referencing” (Oliveira, 1). Follow the most recent Style Guide from our library to document your sources throughout and create an accurate work cited. Be sure to consult the plagiarism policy in the student handbook if you are unclear. • You must use a minimum of two printed sources (i.e. Books) for your research. You should only be using reliable and reputable internet sources. (i.e. statscan not wikipedia). Remember: research essays need research!
Your conclusion should summarize the essay and connect to the thesis and introduction. In your conclusion, make reference to the Catholic Church and its position with this particular issue (reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the New Revised Standard Version Bible available in class or online). • Edit your essay on your own and have your essay edited by someone else (multiple times), to ensure ideas are expressed correctly and in an interesting manner. One peer-editing session will take place in class. Choose words carefully and correctly for meaning and effectiveness and be sure to vary sentence structure. Be sure that spelling, grammar and punctuation is accurate. • Your essay must be typed and double spaced as well as 5-7 pages in length. • The final copy of your essay is due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date otherwise you will receive a 0 out of 10%.
Due Dates-Get your phones out! • Thesis Proposal: Wednesday, May 1st/13 • Essay Outline: Wednesday, May 8th/13 • Optional Teacher edit date: Wednesday, May 15th/13 • Rough Draft for peer-editing: Tuesday, May 21st/13 • Final Essay at the beginning of class: Friday, May 24th/13
What is a Thesis Statement? • A thesis statement in an essay is a statement that explicitly reveals an opinion that will be argued in the body of the essay. Key Points: • It is NOT a question! It is a complete sentence. • It is an assertion (expressed opinion) not a statement of fact or an observation (does not just state the obvious). • A thesis is not simply a statement of fact, it is always debatable. • It is specific. • You can not respond “so what?” to a thesis statement.
What’s wrong with this thesis? Monsignor Doyle’s school motto is `Walking the path of Learning, Faith and Respect Together’.
Why is this thesis so much better? Students who attend high schools with a student population of under 1200 feel a greater sense of belonging than do students who attend high schools with a greater student population.
HELPFUL HINTS to devising a GOOD Thesis Statement • Keep it concise (that means “short and sweet”!) • Avoid ambiguity (ie. do not use words like “lots” or “some” that are open to interpretation) . Ex. Lots of teens credit homework for being their main cause of stress. - What do you mean by “lots”; do you mean the majority? BE SPECIFIC: Homework is the primary cause of stress for students. • If you use a word like “effecting,” be sure to state whether the effect is positive or negative. • Be definitive and specific. Ex. Teens who watch more than 15 hours of T.V. a week seem to be less motivated to do school work than are teens who watch less than 15 hours of T.V. a week. THIS SHOULD BE MORE DEFINITIVE: Ex. Teens who watch more than 15 hours of T.V. a week are less motivated to do school work than are teens who watch less than 15 hours of T.V. a week. • A thesis statement is NOT an announcement: Ex. In this paper I will discuss Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death” and explain how it is feminine. BETTER: In her poem, "Because I could not stop for Death," Emily Dickinson presents clearly femininetone, images, and language .
Writing a Thesis Statement Topic: Poverty in developing nations (too broad to write an essay about—must be more focused or narrowed down) Possible research questions (you determine this based on your opinion and the reading that you have done about your topic). • What causes poverty in developing nations ? • How does poverty affect education in developing countries? • Possibly consider one or two specific countries
Sample Thesis Statements: • The elite in developed nations prevent youth in developing nations to become educated, causing them to remain in the cycle of poverty. • Due to the greed of the leisured class of developed nations, millions of youth suffer from lack of education in developing nations; thus contributing to the cycle of poverty.
Practice! In your groups pick one of the topics below (your essays are not limited to these topics) and complete the following chart. • The Death Penalty • The Sex Trade/Prostitution • Gender Inequality/Sexism • Health Care • The Drug Trade/Drug Trafficking • Access to Clean Water • Abortion • Euthanasia • Racism • Ageism
Thesis Proposal • Topic: • Opinion: • Thesis Statement: • To get an idea of where you are in your research, please list a few of the sources you have found to help support your thesis. In addition to the bibliographical information please explain the value of the source, as well as some key pieces of information, in connection to your thesis. • Source One: • Source Two: • Source Three: Please see your paper copy of this proposal. As a reminder, this is due, completed, Wednesday, May 1st/13.
Introduction and Body Paragraphs • An introductory paragraph should be catchy and informative. Hook your readers in the first few sentences, share your thesis statement and then explain how you will prove it (summarize your topic sentences). • A body paragraph has a similar format as your introduction. Each body paragraph has a topic sentence (what will you be proving in this paragraph? How does it directly connect to your thesis?). Then you will include proof to back your topic sentence up (and ultimately, back your thesis up). Proof could include stats, quotes, personal accounts, case studies, etc.
Practice! • Using a polished thesis your group came up with before, create a minimum of three topic sentences, and proofs, you could use to support them (this is obviously difficult without research, use your imagination!) An easy way to do this in rough is to take a piece of paper, fold it so you have four squares and set it up like this (use the back for additional topic sentences)
What is the success criteria?The rubric includes the following: Knowledge and Understanding The thesis: • Is clearly expressed • Is focused • In the introduction • Proves a point (takes one side) • Is not in the form of a question • Does not use 1st or 2nd person (formal writing only) • Is not a fact Body Paragraphs/Sub-topics are factual and sufficiently explained and proven through research • Minimum of three sub-topics • Each body paragraph includes a Topic Sentence • Transition sentences are used (link from one paragraph to another) Knowledge of interdependent systems and Catholic Social teachings • Present throughout the essay • At least two systems and two themes discussed • Are not used as subtopics
Thinking and inquiry • Gather relevant information and formulate conclusions • Thesis proposal, essay outline and rough copy are handed in ON TIME • Canadian sources where applicable • Correct parenthetical referencing throughout the essay • Correct work cited with a minimum of 2 printed sources and 5 sources minimum Communication • Accurate use of spelling and grammar • Correct sentence structure and effective use of paragraphs (indents, no extra spaces between paragraphs) • Interesting introduction complete with thesis statement and outline of supporting body paragraphs • Smooth flow throughout the paper (transitions used) • Conclusion is a summary and restates the thesis Application • Make connection between research and course elements • Interdependent systems and themes are well supported • Catholic church’s teachings are applied and addressed within the conclusion of the essay • Peer editing
Essay Outline See your Essay Outline sheet. As a reminder, this is due, completed, Wednesday, May 8th/13. • Introduction, including thesis statement • Body Paragraphs/Sub-topics (minimum of three) • Relevant Interdependent Systems (List brief explanations) • Relevant Catholic Social Teaching Themes • Catholic Church Teaching (Use the Catechism of the Catholic Church and/or a Bible) • Conclusion
How Can I Write A Better Essay?From: The Fifty Fatal Flaws of EssayWriting by Glen R. Downey The It’s Its Error • The Problem: The worst thing about this CD is it’s lack of originality. • The Solution: The worst thing about this CD is its lack of originality. • The way to correct it’s/its errors is to use the following trick: every time you encounter either it’s or its in your writing, ask yourself the following question: • Am I really trying to say it is? • If you are trying to say it is then you should be using it’s. This is easy to remember if you think about the apostrophe in it’s as the dot of the missing “I”.
Incorrect (Parenthetical) References • The Problem: As Annie Dillard suggests, “People take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience – even silence – by choice.” (Dillard, p. 52) • The Solution: As Annie Dillard suggests, “People take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience – even silence – by choice” (52). • Every time something in your essay is documented incorrectly it catches the teacher’s eye and is a distraction from the content of your essay. MLA documentation is simple, you just need to follow the format. Each time you make an error the teacher will wonder how many notes they will have to make about documentation – which will distract from the content of the essay. Each time the teacher has to stop and make notations in your essay they are distracted from what you are writing and in some cases will forget your topic. Do you really want to submit a “forgettable” essay?
SpelingMistaks • The Problem: It is important to make a concerted effort not to mispell words in an essay. • The Solution: It is important to make a concerted effort not to misspell words in an essay. • There are three things to do to check your spelling: use a dictionary, use spell check on your computer, and read through your work before you submit it for evaluation. The Dreaded Opening Phrase: “In today’s society” • The Problem: In today’s society, body piercing and tattooing have become common cultural practices. • The Solution: Recently, body piercing and tattooing have become common cultural practices in many parts of Canada and the United States. • Avoid ambiguous statements. Be specific about who you are talking about.
The Succession of Short Sentences • The Problem: Restaurants should be smoke-free environments. Second-hand smoke is very dangerous. Non-smoking patrons breathe it in and get sick. It’s just not fair. • The Solution: Restaurants should be smoke-free environments, because patrons should not be forced to breathe in toxins. • Use transitional words and phrases. The Single-Source Research Paper • Follow research guidelines given by the teacher. Use a variety of sources to ensure a broad spectrum of information and sources.
When a Contraction’s Inappropriate • The Problem: If it’s inappropriate to use contractions in a formal essay, why weren’t we told? • The Solution: If it is inappropriate to use contractions in a formal essay, why were we not told? • Using contractions are short cuts and are only appropriate in conversations and informal writing assignments. Gender Specific Wording • The Problem: Our mission is to seek out new worlds and new civilizations – to boldly go where no man has gone before. • The Solution: Our mission is to seek out new worlds and new civilizations – to boldly go where no one has gone before. • In your writing you want to keep you wording gender neutral.
Clearly, Certainly, and Obviously (or, Making the Reader Feel Stupid) • The Problem: Certainly, it is obvious that the depletion of ozone in our atmosphere is a serious concern. • The Solution: The depletion of ozone in our atmosphere is a serious concern. • If you have a solid, well organized, and well written essay, your argument will take care of clarity and obvious ideas for you. Tense Switching • The Problem: Raiders of the Lost Arkbegan with Harrison Ford’s character, Indiana Jones, trying to retrieve a golden statue from hidden ruins. Alfred Molina plays one of his guides and gave a decent, albeit brief, performance. Molina’s character is impaled on spikes after trying to steal the statue, but when Indy got it, it is taken away from him by his arch rival. • The Solution: Raiders of the Lost Arkbegins with Harrison Ford’s character, Indiana Jones, trying to retrieve a gold statue from hidden ruins. Alfred Molina plays one of his guides and gives a decent, albeit brief, performance. Molina’s character is impaled on spikes after trying to steal the statue, but when Indy gets it, it is taken away from him by his arch rival.
The Brutal Bibliography • Use a Works Cited page. See notes on the Research Report for information on MLA format. It is vital that MLA format is used and followed. Using “I believe that,” “I think that,” and “It is my opinion” • The Problem: It is my opinion that drinking and driving is dangerous. • The Solution: Drinking and driving is dangerous. • In formal writing you should always avoid making personal opinion statements. In fact, they produce a kind of negative emphasis and diminish the force of the particular statement that they modify. Misused Single Quotation Marks – double, and not single, quotation marks are used to indicate that you are undercutting the traditional meaning of a particular word or phrase.
Redundancy Redundancy • The Problem: It would have been both naïve and innocent of the FBI not to recognize that the smugglers had the means, motive, opportunity, and wherewithal to carry out the day-to-day operations of their nefarious criminal enterprise. • The Solution: It would have been naïve of the FBI not to recognize that the smugglers had the means, motive, and opportunity to carry out their criminal enterprise. The Passionate Appeal Gone Horribly Awry • The Problem: A country condones capital punishment is a country of vicious, cold-blooded savages who are no better than the criminals they condemn. • The Solution: A country that condones capital punishment is a country that demonstrates a fundamental inability to find solutions to violence except through violence.
The Fused or Run-On Sentence • The Problem: Video games are not as addictive as everyone says they are educational and teach kids important skills. • The Solution: Video games are not as addictive as everyone says they are. In fact, these games are educational and teach kids important skills. The Mis;placed Semi-Colon • The Problem: Research has shown that about 50% of marriages end in divorce; but this figure is arguably inflated, however, it still shows that we have some work to do to improve domestic relationships. • The Solution: Research has shown that about 50% of marriages end in divorce, but this figure is arguably inflated; however, it still shows that we have some work to do to improve domestic relationships.
The Two Sentence Conclusion – There is nothing more disappointing for a reader than to get to the conclusion of an essay and find that it is only a sentence or two in length. Although the conclusion should not introduce any new material, it should be a place where you restate your thesis in different terms, discuss the importance of your findings, and perhaps show how your essay opens the way for further research in the subject you have been exploring. Poor Organization – Do not try to fit too much information into one paragraph. Plan your essay using an outline. The Wrong Preposition • The Problem: In the end of the novel, Helen Huntingdon and Gilbert Markham are married. • The Solution: At the end of the novel, Helen Huntingdon and Gilbert Markham are married. • Improving your skill with choosing correct prepositions is one of those things with which reading a bit every day will help enormously.
The “It is because…” Construction • The Problem: It is because of its lightning-quick ability to spring upon its prey that the California Trapdoor Spider is a successful predator. • The Solution: The California Trapdoor Spider is a successful predator because of its lightning-quick ability to spring upon its prey. • When you are proofreading the final draft of your paper, do a word search of the phrases “is because” and “was because” to see if you have any of these constructions in your essay. The Run-Away Thesaurus • The Problem: The President demonstrated a profound lack of abstemiousness by surreptitiously engaging in an illicit relationship with a gregarious White House intern. • The Solution: The President showed a lack of judgment by having an affair with a White House intern. • As we can see, abusing the thesaurus can work hand in hand with a desire to add padding to our essay, as we replace our simply-worded complex ideas with complex ideas with complexly worded simple ideas.
The Uninspired Topic Sentence – A topic sentence is a sentence at the beginning of a body paragraph which refers back to a specific part of the thesis and clearly tells the reader what you will be discussing in this section of the essay. Just as the first sentence in the conclusion should restate the thesis in different terms, the first sentence of a body paragraph should restate a portion of the thesis in different terms. Undermining the Thesis • The Problem: Although the Internet should be more vigorously monitored for criminal activities, opponents of this idea raise some good points. They suggest that our personal freedoms would be sacrificed, and that protecting a small minority of users while denying others their right to acquire certain types of information would be unconstitutional. I kind of agree with this idea… • The Solution: Although the Internet should be more vigorously monitored for criminal activities, opponents of this idea raise a number of objections. They suggest that our personal freedoms would be sacrificed, and that protecting a small minority of users while denying others their right to acquire certain types of information would be unconstitutional. However, it is precisely this kind of self-serving rhetoric that puts our children in danger. Opponents of Internet monitoring are trying to hide behind an archaic constitution that was written before we had the technological capacity to design something as complicated as the Internet, and furthermore…
Sentence Fra g ment s • The Problem: To be able to leap out of a plane at 10 000 feet and plummet toward the earth, feeling the air rush past you at incredible speeds. • The Solution: It must be amazing to be able to leap out of a plane at 10 000 feet and plummet toward the earth, feeling the air rush past you at incredible speeds. Plagiarism – Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty in which a student takes either the words or ideas of another writer without acknowledging where these words or ideas come from. Of the fifty fatal flaws of essay writing, this one is the most fatal. Plagiarism will get you a mark of zero – in high school and university.
