English 1102 Research Paper
The truth is out there ...
In an essay of about 1500 words, produce a documented research paper testing the validity of a conspiracy theory. You will need to do research to find at least eight sources, including a minimum of one book or scholarly essay from a peer-reviewed journal. In addition to the essay, please submit the works cited page in the form of an annotated bibliography. Be sure to use M.L.A. style citation. Click here for a sample outline.
Choose a general topic from the list below if you like before focusing on a narrow, specific research question:
1) The Kennedy assassination
2) UFOs and Roswell
3) CIA drug trafficking
4) Fake moon landings
5) September 11
6) MLK's assassination
7) Vince Foster's death
8) Princess Diana's death
9) TWA Flight 800
10) Marilyn Monroe's death
11) The Pearl Harbor attack was allowed to happen
12) Is Paul McCartney dead?
If none of these general topics interests you, please ask me to write about one that does. Please note that a mystery (i.e., the existence of bigfoot or Atlantis) is not the same as a conspiracy.
Specifications
1) At least 1500 of your own words (not including any quoted material or citations)
2) At least eight sources
3) Proper MLA documentation throughout
4) Language use appropriate for an academic and professional audience
5) Double-spaced 12 point Times New Roman font
6) Grading standards sheet completed by student is included in the posted file.
Keys to success:
1) Because the paper is so short, be sure to focus it very narrowly.
2) Be sure to use correct M.L.A. style citation.
3) Choose an interesting title that reflects the content of the paper.
4) Write the paper using academic language conventions in accordance with the minimum standards sheet attached to the syllabus.
5) Be certain that the paper fully meets the requirements of the assignment.
6) Do not stop looking for information to answer the question just because the paper has the minimum eight sources--the purpose is to answer the question, and that process might take ten or twelve or even more sources.
Steps in the process:
1) Define a research question.
2) Research the topic.
3) Read your research with a pencil, noting possible answers to your research question.
4) Create an annotated bibliography.
5) Sort your research into possible answers to the research question.
6) Write a formal outline.
7) Write each section separately--the possible answers to your research question. Make sure that each section contains an explanation, an analysis, and an evaluation of the possible research question answer.
8) Write the conclusion.
9) Write the introduction.
10) Synthesize the elements of the paper and revise for clarity.
In addition, there are lots of peer-reviewed essays available in full text via Academic Search Premier at EBSCO host. I have also put the following book on reserve at the Hightower Library:
Knight, Peter. Conspiracy Culture: from the Kennedy Assassination to the X-Files. London; New York: Routledge, 2000.
Purpose
The purpose of a research paper is to answer a question about which you are curious, and the skills you develop in this paper will be broadly transferable to other work you do in your academic and professional life. You will also practice academic writing, analytical reasoning, proper documentation, close reading, summarizing complex written works, and especially, evaluative subtlety.
Nota Bene: The minimum number of sources for this assignment is eight, but since the purpose of a research paper is to find an answer to the research question, it does not make sense to stop looking for information because one has found eight sources; the goal is to find an answer to the question, not to do the minimum work required for the assignment. Papers need to have as many sources as necessary to evaluate all the possible answers to the research question.
Audience
The audience for a research paper is the person asking the research question, but many others might be interested as well. Assume the audience for this paper is a group of well-educated people curious to consider answers your question.