Essays and the term paper
SSI2 167 B
Spring 2014
Your evaluation for this course will consist of four essays, one shorter
research paper, and a major term paper.
- Essays will be assigned at various points in the semester, mostly in the
first half (there may be one assigned in the second half). These
cumulatively will amount to 20% of your grade.
- A shorter research paper. This paper is intended as a "warm up"
exercise before the major paper of the semester. For this exercise, I
will give you a selection of topics and let you select one on which to
write. Students will be asked to choose a topic, state a thesis,
collect material in support of that thesis, and write a research paper of
about five pages in length (using 1.5 spacing). This shorter paper will be worth 25% of your
class grade. This paper, and the four essays are intended to prepare
students for the major research paper of the term.
- A major term paper, accounting for 50% of your grade. The term
paper is intended to be a substantial scholarly work. Although web
references can be useful, the term paper will require you to use, in
addition to the textbooks used in the course, books and published papers.
You may, of course, use books and (refereed) papers that are published on
the web, but the intention is that you use written materials or materials
intended to be published in scholarly books or refereed journals.
- Although the
assessment of all writing projects will be significantly based on the content of the paper,
because of the intent of the SSI2 courses, a significant portion of your grade will depend on
the technical issues of writing, particularly organization,
clarity of expression, and quality of writing.
- My expectation is that the
primary lecture material will be finished in (roughly) the first half of the
semester. Course meetings following (roughly) mid-term will be taken
up by student presentations, occasional instructor presentations, and
student status reports.
Schedule for extended essays:
First research paper milestones:
- Thursday,
February 6: Discussion of paper
- Thursday, February 13: Topic and thesis statement due
- Thursday, February 27: Annotated reading list for first paper.
We will discuss the details of this as we come to it, but what will be
required is not simply a list of sources, but a short paragraph on each one
saying why that source is important and what you hope to learn from it.
- Thursday, March 6: Paper outline. Please be guided by the
discussion on formal outlines on pages 14 - 16 of the Writer's Reference.
- Thursday, March 13: Draft. This (and the draft for the
term paper) are intended to be substantial drafts for comment. This is
intended to be a substantial (i.e., nearly completed) draft. Drafts with
sections labeled "to be added" or words to that effect do not get very many
points. I am looking for a draft that I can comment on and make
suggestions for the final draft.
- Thursday, April 3 (Please note change in date): Paper due. I will call for a series of
short presentations to the class which will account for 10% of the paper
grade..
Papers should be at least 5 pages in length and supported by a substantial
bibliography (5 or more items).
A reminder on sources (for both papers): Although web sources
are very useful, and many of them are very reliable, the bulk of your
bibliography (at least the majority of your sources) should be books and papers
in refereed journals. Books and refereed papers that have been imported to
the web are, of course, still considered as paper sources.
Please include the latest draft of your thesis statement in all
subsequent submissions for that paper (annotated bibliography, outline, draft)
Term paper milestones:
- Tuesday, March 4: Discussion of paper
- Thursday, March 13: Topic and thesis statements due. (C1-c in the
Writer's Reference)
- Thursday, April 10: Annotated paper bibliography due. As
above, a short paragraph
for each source. (R3-a in the Writer's Reference) (note change in
due-date 3/13))
- Thursday, April 10. Paper outline due. Please be guided by the
discussion on formal outlines on pages 14 - 16 of the Writer's Reference.(note
change in due-date 3/13))
- Tuesday, April 29: Substantial draft due. (note change in
due-date 4/17)
- Tuesday, April 29 - Tuesday, May 6: Student presentations.
These will account for 10% of your grade for this paper.
- (SSI2 163 B) Tuesday, May 13: All materials due by 2:00 PM
Papers should be 8 - 12 pages in length and supported by a
substantial bibliography (perhaps 10 items).
All materials should be turned in at the start of class on the dates
indicated. Printed (word processing) materials only will be accepted.
Handwritten or email submissions will not be accepted.
Students should be prepared to share their work at all stages with their
colleagues in the classroom. In some cases, this will involve reading a
thesis statement, or a reading of a portion of your work, or a formal
presentation of your work.
Please note that substantial penalties will be assessed for
missed deadlines for papers. Milestones will be assessed as
follows:
- Proposal and thesis statement: 5 pts.
- Annotated Bibliography: 5 pts.
- Outline: 5 pts.
- First Draft: 25 pts.
- Presentation to class: 10 pts.
- Final paper submission: 50 points.