CMP-125 (Costantino, Spring 2025)

RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

Assignment:

Write a research essay of approximately 3-4 pages, ( MLA Works Cited Page not included). Support your points with documented sources and include a works cited page listing at least TWO scholarly sources.

 

Writing Guidelines: (read these before you start writing - refer back to them as needed)

Your essay should consist of an introductory paragraph that includes a clear thesis statement, five to ten body paragraphs (depending on the length of each paragraph), and a concluding paragraph.

You must use your Research Proposal and create an outline to write the essay. You will, like all writers, end up doing more than one draft. Here are some suggestions for structuring the content of your essay by using an outline:

 

Introductory Paragraph

• Attention Getter: Point out why your topic is significant. Provide some background or context for your topic.
• Thesis statement: This should be a statement (not a question!) that shows a clear position that your research will support.

Section 1

• Each section may contain one or more paragraphs and should develop one main idea about your topic.

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4 (if needed)

Concluding Paragraph

• Summarize your findings
• End with a memorable statement

 

Documenting Your Research Paper

The strength of your argument in your research paper depends largely on the quality of the resources you use to back up your points. These sources have to be clearly integrated into your paper and any sources that you refer to have to be listed on your Works Cited page (see below). The selections below from your text explain how to use outside sources in your own writing. Remember to cite all sources that contain new or original ideas. You don’t have to cite material that is common knowledge such as the population of a country or a statement like, "Canadians spend a lot of money each year on gambling," because everyone knows this is true. However, if you were using a precise figure you would cite the reference. e.g. According to the Coalition Against Gambling, "Canadians spend $???? a year on gambling of various types" (Coalition).

Clear documentation helps you avoid plagiarism (presenting the ideas of others as your own). Plagiarism is a very serious offence, and those who do it in college classes automatically fail the assignment and usually, the course.

Watch this slide show on How to Avoid Plagiarism. http://www.mountida.edu/filelibrary/plagiarism.ppt

If you look under ‘Browse’ on the menu bar, you should be able to select full screen. You can then view the slideshow by clicking through with your mouse button. To end at any time, right click.

In addition to parenthetical citations, you research essays must have an MLA format Works Cited Page. Please use your handbooks and https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ (Links to an external site.) for format instructions. Remember not to rely solely on tools like Easybib!

Sample

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20091250615234_747.pdf (Links to an external site.)

 

Topics (Choose 1):

1. Examine the most significant ways that higher education has been impacted by the pandemic. Use your research to analyze some of the causes/effects of these changes. Also, examine whether or not these changes have been positive or negative, and whether or not they are likely to be permanent.