RESEARCH PROJECT/PAPER GUIDELINES
A final research paper or the equivalent, is required of all students. This assignment should reflect a proportionately greater expenditure of effort than was involved in the earlier assignment. The product should be a "crescendo" and incorporate perspectives attained in the course. (15 points)
Proposal: Each student should create a one - two page research plan/bibliography which will be due Nov. 15. The research plan/bibliography should include 1) a brief rationale for the project 2) a series of steps to complete the project 3) a projected time table 4) a preliminary bibliography listing at least 4 sources.(5 points)
Topic:
Research involves inquiry into the unknown. A research paper summarizes and documents that inquiry. Many topics, many issues have arisen in class readings and discussions. You have, doubtless, found some of these topics interesting, profound, important, offensive, or in some other way, intriguing. Pick a topic that engages your interest and curiosity. Use the assignment to learn something of genuine interest and intrigue. You may be curious about the life of one of the authors. You may want to know more about the social or historical background of a particular work. You may want to find detailed information about a topic that was lightly touched on in class discussion. There are many options. Do follow your own interests. Don't write a paper on a topic you think I will find fascinating. Write on a topic you find fascinating. Here are some topics that students in earlier seminars have addressed in their research: 1) Medicine during the Civil War 2) Music in War 3) "Generation Kill" 4) Nanotechnology in War 5) Biological Weapons 6) Nazi Propaganda 7) Swords as killing technology 8) Artificial Intelligence and War 9) Game Theory, Biological Evolution and War 10) Just War and the legitimacy/illegitimacy of war 11) War crimes, the Geneva accords, and the World Court 12) The Pueblo Revolt, 13) Manipulating Public Opinion to Support War, 13) Therapy and Recovery from PTSS. 14) Video Games and Desensitizing Soldiers. (Scroll down for paper titles and example papers)
Purpose:
There is some overlap between essays and research papers. Persuasive essays are designed to persuade, and often use research to bolster credibility. Persuasive essays emerge from the writer's values and opinions. Analytic essays are designed to explore a particular area of interest, showing how that entity functions and connects. Analytic essays emerge from the writers interests and areas of expertise. Research papers, while not value free, are more slanted towards the presentation of discovered information. Research essays emerge from the writers curiosity and ignorance. Choice of a topic is always based in one's values, but the primary purpose of research papers is to inform and classify.
Primary Research and Scholarly Research:
As I indicated above, research involves inquiry. Direct inquiry is primary research. In "hard" scientific fields primary research involves experimentation. In fields where experimentation is impossible or unethical (such as the social sciences) primary research involves methods such as observation, interview, questionaire, etc. Primary research involves implementation of a well thought through research design. Research procedure produce data that will by design answer the question the investigator wants answered. Indirect inquiry is the path most of you will take. Indirect inquiry is scholarly research, exploration of an issue by reading what's been written about it. To undertake scholarly research, you use the resources of a library or appropriate data base.
Essential Elements:
The paper you write will simply (1) Summarize what you have learned in your research. (2) Document either your direct methods (research design) or your scholarly sources. The paper should be about 5 pages (plus bibliography) using a 12 point font and 1” margins.
Structure:
In structure, the paper should first identify the topic and discuss its importance or interest. Second, the paper should present several major points or issues you've discovered in your inquiries. Third, the paper should conclude with an extended statement of the perspective(s) that are attained through the research you've completed. Finally, you need to document your methods or sources. This can be accomplished within the text in the form of footnotes, in a bibliography which lists the sources you've used, or in an appendix describing research methods.
Style and Style Manuals:
The research paper is the primary form of professional communication for scientists and scholars. For that reason, style and form are important and often rigidly specified. Professional journals reject papers that are not written according to very strict guidelines and these guidelines differ greatly. This provides job security for the writers of style manuals. For this paper, consistency is the chief requirement. If you know what your major field of study is going to be, use the standard style manual for professional writing in that field (APA,Chicago, MLA, ACS, etc.). Otherwise use the MLA (Modern Language Association) manual: Note the style manual you use on the title page of your paper.
Citations
1. You must create citations (parenthetical, endnote, or footnote) in these circumstances
a. When you quote two or more words verbatim, if used in a way that is unique to the source.
b. When you introduce facts that you have found in a source.
c. When you paraphrase or summarize ideas, interpretations, or conclusions that you find in a source.
d. When you introduce information that is not common knowledge or that may be considered common knowledge in your field, but the reader may not know it.
2. You must create a Bibliography of all works cited in your text plus uncited works you used in researching or thinking about your topic.
3. Citation Resources:
a. Info. vis a vis Citations:
https://guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/introduction
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html
b. good Citation generators:
https://library.unc.edu/citationbuilder/. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html
Every Page Perfect:
In terms of mechanics and grammar, every page should be perfect.
Alternative Format:
You can present your research as a fictitious autobiography. To complete this option, you’d do research on the circumstances faced by people contemporary to one of the authors assigned for this seminar. You would then imagine a character (either a historical character or a completely fictitious character) and write a memoir segment. You must thoroughly research your work.. You must document every detail of the memoir to demonstrate historical accuracy. The memoir segment, like the paper should be no more than five pages plus your bibliography. Document details via footnotes.
Example Research Papers from Past Semesters (these are good papers, not perfect by any means but awarded an A grade (above 14 of 15 possible points):
Past Research Paper Titles:
EVALUATION: RESEARCH PAPER
Student:
Paper title or subject
Dimensions of Evaluation -
0 = unacceptably flawed
1 = major and minor flaws limit success
2 = one major or numerous minor flaws
3 = perfection marred by minor flaws
4 = superb
Engagement, dynamism
Overall, in Sum (15 points possible)
Narrative response:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A final research paper or the equivalent, is required of all students. This assignment should reflect a proportionately greater expenditure of effort than was involved in the earlier assignment. The product should be a "crescendo" and incorporate perspectives attained in the course. (15 points)
Proposal: Each student should create a one - two page research plan/bibliography which will be due Nov. 15. The research plan/bibliography should include 1) a brief rationale for the project 2) a series of steps to complete the project 3) a projected time table 4) a preliminary bibliography listing at least 4 sources.(5 points)
Topic:
Research involves inquiry into the unknown. A research paper summarizes and documents that inquiry. Many topics, many issues have arisen in class readings and discussions. You have, doubtless, found some of these topics interesting, profound, important, offensive, or in some other way, intriguing. Pick a topic that engages your interest and curiosity. Use the assignment to learn something of genuine interest and intrigue. You may be curious about the life of one of the authors. You may want to know more about the social or historical background of a particular work. You may want to find detailed information about a topic that was lightly touched on in class discussion. There are many options. Do follow your own interests. Don't write a paper on a topic you think I will find fascinating. Write on a topic you find fascinating. Here are some topics that students in earlier seminars have addressed in their research: 1) Medicine during the Civil War 2) Music in War 3) "Generation Kill" 4) Nanotechnology in War 5) Biological Weapons 6) Nazi Propaganda 7) Swords as killing technology 8) Artificial Intelligence and War 9) Game Theory, Biological Evolution and War 10) Just War and the legitimacy/illegitimacy of war 11) War crimes, the Geneva accords, and the World Court 12) The Pueblo Revolt, 13) Manipulating Public Opinion to Support War, 13) Therapy and Recovery from PTSS. 14) Video Games and Desensitizing Soldiers. (Scroll down for paper titles and example papers)
Purpose:
There is some overlap between essays and research papers. Persuasive essays are designed to persuade, and often use research to bolster credibility. Persuasive essays emerge from the writer's values and opinions. Analytic essays are designed to explore a particular area of interest, showing how that entity functions and connects. Analytic essays emerge from the writers interests and areas of expertise. Research papers, while not value free, are more slanted towards the presentation of discovered information. Research essays emerge from the writers curiosity and ignorance. Choice of a topic is always based in one's values, but the primary purpose of research papers is to inform and classify.
Primary Research and Scholarly Research:
As I indicated above, research involves inquiry. Direct inquiry is primary research. In "hard" scientific fields primary research involves experimentation. In fields where experimentation is impossible or unethical (such as the social sciences) primary research involves methods such as observation, interview, questionaire, etc. Primary research involves implementation of a well thought through research design. Research procedure produce data that will by design answer the question the investigator wants answered. Indirect inquiry is the path most of you will take. Indirect inquiry is scholarly research, exploration of an issue by reading what's been written about it. To undertake scholarly research, you use the resources of a library or appropriate data base.
Essential Elements:
The paper you write will simply (1) Summarize what you have learned in your research. (2) Document either your direct methods (research design) or your scholarly sources. The paper should be about 5 pages (plus bibliography) using a 12 point font and 1” margins.
Structure:
In structure, the paper should first identify the topic and discuss its importance or interest. Second, the paper should present several major points or issues you've discovered in your inquiries. Third, the paper should conclude with an extended statement of the perspective(s) that are attained through the research you've completed. Finally, you need to document your methods or sources. This can be accomplished within the text in the form of footnotes, in a bibliography which lists the sources you've used, or in an appendix describing research methods.
Style and Style Manuals:
The research paper is the primary form of professional communication for scientists and scholars. For that reason, style and form are important and often rigidly specified. Professional journals reject papers that are not written according to very strict guidelines and these guidelines differ greatly. This provides job security for the writers of style manuals. For this paper, consistency is the chief requirement. If you know what your major field of study is going to be, use the standard style manual for professional writing in that field (APA,Chicago, MLA, ACS, etc.). Otherwise use the MLA (Modern Language Association) manual: Note the style manual you use on the title page of your paper.
Citations
1. You must create citations (parenthetical, endnote, or footnote) in these circumstances
a. When you quote two or more words verbatim, if used in a way that is unique to the source.
b. When you introduce facts that you have found in a source.
c. When you paraphrase or summarize ideas, interpretations, or conclusions that you find in a source.
d. When you introduce information that is not common knowledge or that may be considered common knowledge in your field, but the reader may not know it.
2. You must create a Bibliography of all works cited in your text plus uncited works you used in researching or thinking about your topic.
3. Citation Resources:
a. Info. vis a vis Citations:
https://guides.lib.unc.edu/citing-information/introduction
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html
b. good Citation generators:
https://library.unc.edu/citationbuilder/. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html
Every Page Perfect:
In terms of mechanics and grammar, every page should be perfect.
Alternative Format:
You can present your research as a fictitious autobiography. To complete this option, you’d do research on the circumstances faced by people contemporary to one of the authors assigned for this seminar. You would then imagine a character (either a historical character or a completely fictitious character) and write a memoir segment. You must thoroughly research your work.. You must document every detail of the memoir to demonstrate historical accuracy. The memoir segment, like the paper should be no more than five pages plus your bibliography. Document details via footnotes.
Example Research Papers from Past Semesters (these are good papers, not perfect by any means but awarded an A grade (above 14 of 15 possible points):
Past Research Paper Titles:
- Outlets for Violence and Aggression
- New Mexico's Minority Soldiers in WWII
- Geronimo and Apache Warfare
- Drugs in War
- Catch-22 and the Actual Experiences of WWII Veterans
- More Destructive Power Equals Fewer Wars?
- War as Reflected in Surrealist Films
- Hitler Youth and the Boy Scouts of America
- War in Comic Books
- National Identity in Time of War in Pluralistic Societies
- Biology or Ideology
- Kit Carson, The Navajo Wars, and Bosque Redondo
- American Jihad
- Graffiti Art in War
- Remember the Alamo
- Life After War
- Female Nurses at the Front
- Great Britain's Brutal Military Colonialism in India
- Abu Ghraib, Just Another Day at Work
- A Chemical and Historical Look at Mustard Gas
- Recruiting the Demoralised American Youth
- Suicide - A Time Release Weapon of War
- War and Sports
- Lee and Grant After the Civil War
- For the Glory of Rome
- Anatomy of Failure - The Bay of Pigs
- Irish-American Support of Terrorism (the IRA) in the Thatcher Years
- Battlefield Memorial Plaques
EVALUATION: RESEARCH PAPER
Student:
Paper title or subject
Dimensions of Evaluation -
0 = unacceptably flawed
1 = major and minor flaws limit success
2 = one major or numerous minor flaws
3 = perfection marred by minor flaws
4 = superb
Engagement, dynamism
- Research source (quality, utilization)
- Research contextualization (relevance to larger issues, class topics)
- Structure (sentence structure, paragraph structure, overall architecture, continuity)
- Documentation, citation
- Presentation, (cosmetics, mechanics, titling, word choice)
Overall, in Sum (15 points possible)
Narrative response:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________