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History 145 - World Religions Spring 2012 Dr. Florence M. Baker Short Research Paper Assignment
Your research paper is due in class on Wednesday, May 16 / Thursday, May 17
Directions:
1) By Wednesday, April 4 (MW section) or Thursday, April 5 (TTH section) - Choose a question concerning any of the religions we are studying in class (the more specific the question, the better) - Begin searching for sources related to your question to make sure materials needed for your research are available (check ECC Library catalog and databases as well as Internet sources) - Submit to me the question that you will be researching and the title of the sources that you have found for approval. Once approved, you will be unable to change your question. (At this point you need only have located a few sources and will be adding additional ones as your research progresses.)
2) Research - You must use a minimum of 5 sources as follows: > only one source can be from an encyclopedia > only two sources can be from the Internet > your text book and class lectures cannot count as one of your sources Note: Wikipedia and about.com are not valid sources. Unacknowledged use of Wikipedia or any other source is plagiarism and will result in an F and suspension from class. The validity of any web source you use must be established in your bibliography using the Guidelines attached.
3) Writing the paper - Your paper should be about 7 pages in length (typed, double-spaced) and include: > a short introductory paragraph that introduces the question you researched and includes a thesis statement (the answer to your question) > a well-developed body supporting your thesis statement > a short conclusion - Your paper should also include another 3 pages (in addition to the above > a Title page > an Endnote page > a Bibliography page - Use the University of Chicago format for your endnotes and bibliography > for format instructions, go to http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c10_s1.html
4) When to cite your sources - You will not be using direct quotes, but you will need to cite your sources for: > any factual information that you use > any examples that you present > any ideas you obtained from the work of others
Remember: - Cheating and plagiarism (using the words or ideas of others as if they were your own) will not be tolerated. - You are responsible to keep a copy of all work submitted to the instructor.
Help! - be sure to see me if you need help in selecting or narrowing down your research question, if you would like to discuss your research, or if you need help in organizing your paper - the librarians can help you with your research - the Writing Center (Humanities 122) can help you with the writing of your paper
Grading Criteria: Assignment Requirements > Have the assignment instructions been followed and all assignment requirements met? Are your endnotes and bibliography properly formatted using the University of Chicago style? Evidence > Are your statements supported with evidence and your sources cited using endnotes? Are your sources appropriate for your research question and of good quality? Are your research materials well used in writing your paper? Analysis > To what extent does your paper demonstrate your use of critical thinking? Is there depth to your analysis? Is your argument presented logically and convincingly? Does it show your ability to synthesize diverse material and concepts? Expression > Is your paper coherent, well-organized and written with clarity? Is your use of grammar and spelling correct?
Grades are based on the letter system and indicate the following: A - Excellent > assignment requirements have been met and a mastery of assignment objectives B - Good > assignment requirements have been met and an above average proficiency of assignment objectives C - Satisfactory > assignment requirements have been met and an average proficiency of assignment objectives D - Less than satisfactory > indicates that not all assignment requirements have been met and only a partial proficiency of assignment objectives F - Fail > indicates that few assignment requirements have been met and little or no proficiency of assignment objectives.
The following symbols are used in evaluating your paper: ? placed in the margin - indicates an incorrect or questionable statement or answer ? placed over a word - incorrect choice of word Circled word - incorrect spelling Double lines placed under two or more words - indicates incorrect noun/pronoun agreement or noun/verb agreement
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Evaluating Web Sites There are five basic criteria that we can use to evaluate Internet sites: accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, & coverage. They are very similar to the criteria used for evaluating other resources.
1. ACCURACY Almost anyone can publish a web site, and there are currently no standards governing content. Here are some questions to ask when checking for the accuracy of a site. Does the author cite sources used to develop the site? Is it possible to verify the legitimacy of these sources? Does the background of the author point to knowledge of the subject matter? If the site is research-based, does the author clearly identify the method of research and the data gathered?
2. AUTHORITY Because publishing on the Web is so easy, determining the author’s expertise is essential. Ask yourself the following questions to determine the author’s credibility. Do you recognize the author's name? If you don't recognize the name, what type of information is given about the author? Position? Organizational affiliation? E-mail address? Biographical information? Was the site referenced in a document that you trust?
3. OBJECTIVITY Any published source, print or non-print, is rarely 100% objective. Determining the author’s point of view or bias is very important when evaluating a web site. Remember, the Internet has become a highly popular arena for all types of publishing. What is the aim of the author or organization publishing the site? What is the purpose of the web site: Is it an advertisement for a product or service? Is it making a political statement? Is it trying to sway public opinion on a social or religious issue? Do you trust the author or organization providing the information?
4. CURRENCY The currency of the information posted on a web site is extremely important to its overall value. With certain topics, the subject matter may affect the need for highly current information. Ask the following: Is a date clearly displayed? Can you determine what the date refers to? When the page was first written? When the page was first posted on the Internet? When the page was last revised or updated? The copyright date? Are the resources used by the author current? Does the content demand routine or continual updating or revision? Do the links on the page point to the correct Internet site addresses?
5. COVERAGE The last criteria to consider is coverage. This may be difficult to determine, because the nature of a site's coverage may differ from that of a print resource. However, you should examine these points. Are the topics covered on the site explored in depth? Are the links on the site comprehensive or used as examples? On the site, are the links relevant and appropriate? How valuable is the information provided? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © Sojourner Truth Library, SUNY New Paltz 300 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561-2493 |