In W4 Assignment 3, you posted your topic choice in the Submissions Area for your instructor to see. You were also instructed to check the Submissions Area to read his or her comments about your research topic and thesis statement.  

Up to this point in the course, you have completed assignments that may have left little time or need for individual exploration of topics that interest you. With your research project, you have the chance to follow up on a topic, explore it with research, and present it as an essay. Select any topic relevant to the timeframe of this course that is of interest to you to research and write about. It can be anything within the scope of the course that you wish there had been more time or need to explore. 

By the due date , submit your Research Paper Final Draft as an attachment in Microsoft Word format to the Submissions Area on the next page. 

Research Paper Final Draft Requirements

  • Length: 1200–1500 words
  • MLA Format (See a sample MLA formatted essay here)
  • Citations: Your paper must include a separate Works Cited page in MLA format with complete citations for each source you used. These sources must also be cited in the body of your paper in parenthetical references (in-text citations).
  • Essay Structure: Your essay should have an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement as the last sentence in the paragraph, several well-organized supporting paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph that sums of the main points of your paper and demonstrates to your reader that the thesis has been proven.
  • Quotations: Be sure that any and all text you have copied directly from a source is in quotation marks and is followed by an in-text citation. When you have paraphrased from a source, you must also use an in-text citation. Please limit your quoted material to 15% of the total word count of the paper. This means that the other 85% of your paper needs to be paraphrased from your sources or your own critical analysis. 

Steps to Success                           

  1. Complete all of the textbook readings for Week 6.
  2. Review the feedback you received on your thesis statement in Week 4. 
  3. Create an outline of the main points you will make in your paper to support your thesis. Add supporting evidence and examples to your outline as you continue your research.
  4. Using your outline, write your research paper. Include your thesis statement as the last sentence in the introductory paragraph and be sure that the paper ends with a concluding paragraph that sums up the main points of the paper and reiterates the central argument, showing the reader that the thesis has been proven.
  5. Proofread your research paper. Ensure that it meets the requirements listed above regarding length, MLA formatting, citations, structure, and quotations.
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