Choose any topic you like from the given information. I need it by Sunday (February 16).
Research Writing Assignment
English 1302
Immersed in an academic writing situation, problem solvers begin from a point of view, rely on inductive
analysis, and communicate findings through descriptive writing skills to develop a viable and logical theory.
Objectives
• Utilize analytical writing form and MLA research style
• Ensure well-developed paragraphs and paper coherence
• Navigate the research writing process
Writing Process
1. Complete assigned lessons in eCampus
2. Complete a rough draft
3. Complete the Peer Review Assignment before the deadline (online students only)
4. Visit the Writing Center for revision and extra-credit
5. Submit your final composition to eCampus before the deadline
Required Skills
Demonstrate inductive analytical form, theory building, smooth flowing sentences and transitions, valid
documentation, and accurate source citations in MLA formatting.
Required Sources
You are required to cite at least five sources, one from each of the following categories:
One observation source: Observe the setting and people involved in your research project,
create notes of your observations, and quote these notes.
One interview source: Interview an expert related to your research project, transcribe your
questions and your interviewee’s answers into an interview transcript, and quote your
interviewee.
One book source: Find and cite one book from a library or bookstore.
One peer-reviewed article sources: Find and cite one peer-reviewed journal article from the
library’s database. Newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and websites are not
peer-reviewed.
One photo, artistic representation, graph, table, or similar visual source:
Embed and cite a visual image as a source. DO NOT COPY IMAGES FROM THE INTERNET. Create
your own photograph, illustration, table, or graph.
Source Verification Requirement
You are required to verify your sources by attaching your observation and interview transcripts and
photographs of your book pages and journal article pages. Please complete the following:
• Create your observation and interview transcripts in MS Word and attach them behind your
Works Cited page.
• Photograph the title page and all pages you are citing from your book source and journal article.
• Highlight the text you are citing from your book and journal article using your choice of software.
If I cannot locate and match your source text to your citations, then I will assume you are
plagiarizing.
• Paste your verification images to the end of your composition, behind your observation and
interview transcripts following your Works Cited page.
Format
Write a minimum of 1200 words and a maximum of 1500 words (4 to 5 double spaced pages) according
to MLA guidelines for research papers. Include a Works Cited page, but do not include a cover page.
Submission
1. Save your paper as a MS Word file with the following title: Last name-First name-Research (Smith-
John-Research).
2. Click the “Submit Compositions” button in eCampus, click the submission link, and upload your
digital file before the deadline published in our syllabus.
Penalties
Compositions will be penalized or rejected without grading in the following cases:
• Plagiarized paper
• Does not address the topic and/or objectives
• Late or missing submission to eCampus
• Incorrectly formatted (incorrect file format and/or rhetorical form)
• Missing documentation (missing sources, missing Works Cited page, missing in-text citations)
• Missing source verification (missing transcripts and/or missing photographed sources)
• Unverifiable sources (no highlighting to match sources and/or I cannot match sources)
• Missing one or more of the required sources
Extra-credit
Visit NLC’s Writing Center, work with a tutor, capture a photograph of the tutor’s stamp, and email me
your image.
Topics
See the next page
TRADITIONAL and SAGE Research Project Topic Choices
You are required to choose one of the following research options. If the following descriptions do not meet
your needs, please ask for clarification or propose an adjustment before proceeding with your project.
Research an Interesting Person
Research aspects of a person’s life experience either in the past or the present. This should be something
unique, extraordinary, or impressive. Focus on discovering and understanding how this person experienced or
is experiencing life. For example, you may ask the question, “How does Jenny experience cancer, and what
does survival mean for her?” Include a photo or artistic representation of Jenny living through her health
challenge. Do not tell Jenny’s life story; rather, focus on how and why her experience with cancer shapes her
life, creates an identity for her, and helps her know herself.
Other ideas include researching a person who volunteers at a prison, a food pantry, or an animal sanctuary. You
may research a person with an exceptionally dangerous job, a former inmate who now helps convicts assimilate
into society, a person who lobbies politicians, or a person who fights climate change. Maybe you would like to
research a person with a very interesting hobby such as skydiving (unless you are too chicken to try it). Capture
photos or create artistic interpretations of the experience.
SAGE students must choose a person doing something interesting for the environment or humanity.
Research an Interesting Space, Place, or Environment
Go to a park, a wildlife sanctuary, the Apple Store, a building, a bus depot, a homeless shelter, or any
interesting place. Observe the environment and begin to discover and understand this place. Observe your
relationship or another person’s relationship to this space and interview that person interacting and living in this
space. For example, you may ask, “How do North Lake College students experience the college’s landscape?”
Search your own perceptions and discover how other students see the landscape. Or, you may ask, “How does
the city council view the downtown park?” The park may be a potential source of income (the city can charge
visitors a fee), but a homeless person sees the park as shelter. You may see the park as a second home, a place
where you play basketball with your friends. What do these various perspectives mean? Research the meaning
of this space by creating and capturing images.
This topic is a SAGE qualified research topic and addresses environmental and social sustainability
Research an Interesting Event
Reflect on an interesting event you experienced in the past or you are currently experiencing now. This may
include a concert, a Quinceanera, an awkward wedding, a shocking funeral, immigration to America, a political
rally, a protest, a near death experience. Please do not research your summer vacation; rather, research how and
why an interesting event is shaping your life, provides meaning to you, and helps fashion your identity. You
may ask, “How do I experience Beyoncé concerts?” Consider who you go with, when and why you go with
particular people, and how you might think or feel both at the concert and after the concert. You may use old
photos or capture new ones as artifacts.
This topic is a SAGE qualified research topic and addresses self and social sustainability
Official NLC English Department Research Rubric
Criteria Unacceptable (0-7) Developing (8-13) Average (14-15) Good (16-17) Exemplary (18-20)
Topic/
Thesis/
Content
Lacks a debatable
thesis. Topic is
inappropriate for the
assignment
Represents a
seemingly random
collection of
information.
A debatable claim is
not evident.
Analysis is vague
or not evident
and/or the
paragraphs are not
well developed.
Reader is confused
or may be
misinformed. Topic
may be
inappropriate for
the assignment
Thesis is focused
on an appropriate
topic and is
adequately stated.
Essay’s purpose is
evident and
paragraphs are
well developed.
Information
supports an
argument but
sometimes may
drift off point.
Analysis is basic or
general. Reader
gains a few
insights.
Thesis is clearly,
logically, and effectively
stated and developed.
Essay achieves its
purpose. Information
provides reasonable
support for an argument
and displays evidence of
a basic analysis of a
significant topic. Reader
gains some meaningful
insights. Shows
imagination in its
approach to its topic.
Creatively, clearly, and
logically states and
develops its thesis and
achieves its purpose.
Presents clear, logical,
and thought-provoking
ideas. Balanced
presentation of relevant
and legitimate
information that clearly
the argument and shows a
reasoned in-depth
analysis of a significant
topic. Reader gains
important insights.
Organization Illogically organized.
The reader cannot
identify a line of
reasoning and loses
interest.
The writing is not
logically organized.
Frequently, ideas
fail to make sense
together. Lacks
transitions.
The writing is
arranged logically
and uses adequate
transitions,
although
occasionally ideas
may fail to make
sense together. The
reader is clear
about what the
writer intends.
Ideas are arranged
logically and clearly
linked to each other to
support the argument so
the reader can follow the
line of reasoning.
Consistently employs
appropriate transitions.
The ideas are arranged
logically to support the
argument. They flow
smoothly from one to
another and are clearly
linked to each other. The
reader can follow the line
of reasoning. Uses
surprising but appropriate
transitions.
Quality of
References
There are virtually no
sources that are
professionally
reliable. The reader
seriously doubts the
value of the material
and stops reading.
Many of the
sources are
questionable or are
incorrectly used.
The reader
questions the value
of the material.
Some of the
references are from
sources that are not
peer-reviewed and
have uncertain
reliability. The
reader doubts the
accuracy of some of
the material
presented.
Although most of the
references are
professionally legitimate,
a few are questionable
(e.g., trade books, popular
magazines, etc.). The
reader is uncertain of the
reliability of some of the
sources.
References are primarily
peer- reviewed
professional journals or
other approved. The
reader is confident that
the information and ideas
can be trusted.
Use of Sources/
MLA
Documentation
References are
missing or incorrectly
used. Information is
cited to the wrong
source or is
plagiarized. No
adherence to MLA
guidelines. No
Work Cited page.
References are
seldom cited to
support statements.
Attribution and
quotation marks
are missing where
required.
Inaccurate Work
Cited page. Lack
of adherence to
MLA guidelines
undermines
integrity of essay.
Attribution usually
given, but some
statements may be
undocumented
causing confusion
about the source of
some information
and ideas. Work/s
Cited may contain
inaccuracies which
do not compromise
the integrity of
essay.
Professionally legitimate
sources that support
claims are generally
present and attribution is,
for the most part, clear
and fairly represented.
Consistent adherence to
MLA guidelines; accurate
Works Cited page.
Compelling evidence
from professionally
legitimate sources
supports claims.
Attribution is clear.
Consistent adherence to
MLA guidelines; accurate
Work Cited page.
Grammar/
Mechanics
Contains errors in
spelling, punctuation,
and grammar that
interfere with
understanding.
Contains distracting
errors in spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar that
reduce
understanding.
Contains few
errors in spelling,
punctuation, and
grammar.
Contains infrequent
errors in spelling,
punctuation, and/or
grammar.
Writing is free from
distracting errors in
spelling, punctuation, and
grammar.
