Write a 7 pages essay APA format about I Search Essay

Unit 3 Essay: I Search Essay Introduction

An I Search Essay is not a traditional “research” paper, nor is it merely a “report” on an issue or topic. Instead, an Inquiry Essay is your earnest exploration of a question or topic. First, you will pick a topic (a narrow and specific topic) or question. To explore your topic/question, you will examine what a variety of sources have to say about your topic/question. You will evaluate and compare the various answers and ideas offered by these sources, and then attempt to come to some conclusions about the topic/question at hand.

In approaching the I Search Essay, you should be careful to choose a topic and/or question you really want to know more about, a topic you want to research fairly extensively. You might ask yourself: What have I seen or experienced that raised questions that research can help answer? The most effective research topic/question is one that you have some individual interest in that you care about in some way, that you want to know the answers to, and that is meaningful and significant to you. Tap into your natural curiosity, relax, and follow your inquiry trail wherever it leads. You must choose a topic related to your chosen academic discipline and/or future career plans.

I want you researching and writing about a topic that will actually benefit your understanding of either your chosen academic discipline or your future career plans, and I want you to be able to write about how your research changed your thinking and understanding about both your topic and your chosen academic discipline or future career plans. Here are some examples:

Student A is majoring in Computer Science and wants to be a Cloud programmer after graduation, so Student A chooses to research net neutrality.
Student B is majoring in Health Sciences and wants to be a neonatal nurse after graduation, so Student B chooses to research midwifery.
Student C is majoring in Political Science and wants to work in politics after graduation, so student C chooses to research campaign finance reform.

Format and Length Requirements—

In the body of your paper, you will use APA style in-text citations; also included in your paper will be your title page and your reference page, which will list all of your resources.
Your paper should be in proper paper format (essentially 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, pages numbered, 1-inch margins with a title page). See Blackboard site for details/example.

7 pages in proper APA paper format, not including the reference page.

Research Requirements—

The focus of this assignment is learning how to find and utilize outside sources in your exploration of a topic you want to know more about or a question that you are trying to answer. You should use APA parenthetical in-text citation format correctly, using signal phrases to clarify shifts from your own view to someone else's and back again, and conclude your paper with an APA reference page.
You are required to use at least 6 outside sources in your essay. Your I-Search essay will be based on a variety of sources retrieved primarily from the library (books, articles, videos). Any electronic sources used must be accessed through library databases and cited accordingly. Sources retrieved directly from the Internet will not permitted. Additional sources such as personal interviews may be used, depending on availability.

While you will have a significant amount of cited information in your essay, you want to make sure that you leave room for your own voice and perspective. You’ll also want to quote carefully – no more than 20% of your paper should be quoted as a general rule.

FORMAT OF THE I-SEARCH PAPER---

Your paper should have three distinct sections, as noted below. The three parts of this paper can be organized explicitly (for example, set off with subheadings) or implicitly (as a seamless essay).

PART I: WHAT I KNOW, ASSUME, OR IMAGINE This section is to be written before conducting formal research. Write a section in which you explain to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what you imagine about your topic. You also must include specific research questions that you want answered. Make sure you explain how your topic relates to your major or your career goals. In other words, make sure to explain what prompted you to conduct research on this topic. Approximate length: 1 page typed.

PART II: THE SEARCH In this section you will both write about your search in a narrative form (chronologically with specific details) to record the steps of the discovery process and summarize and analysis the research you found. Do not feel obligated to tell everything, but highlight the happenings and facts you uncovered that were crucial to your hunt and contributed to your understanding of the topic. When quoting directly from sources, you must document sources of information using citations when appropriate and necessary. For each source, write two paragraphs. One paragraph explains how you found the source and summarizes the main ideas/content/research of the source. This objective summary paragraph should be 6-8 sentences in length and should be written in the third person. The second paragraph explains what you learned from the source and why you found the source to be useful in answering the questions you had about your topic. This response paragraph should be 5-7 sentences in length and may be written in the first person. Approximate length: 5-6 pages, typed.

PART III: WHAT I DISCOVERED After concluding your search, compare what you thought you knew, assumed, or imagined with what you actually discovered, and offer some personal commentary and/or draw some conclusions. For instance, after completing your search on teenage alcoholism, you might learn that the problem is far more severe and often begins at an earlier age than you formerly believed. You may have assumed parental neglect was a key factor in the incidence of teenage alcoholism, but now you have found that peer pressure is the primary contributing factor. Consequently, you might want to propose that an alcoholism awareness and prevention program including peer counseling sessions be instituted in the public school system as early as the sixth grade. In addition, discuss difficulties you found in the research process and what research questions still need to be addressed. Explain in the significance of what you found to your topic as a whole and what you might do in the future to learn more about this topic or take action based on what you found in the future. Approximate length: 1 page, typed.

REFERENCES PAGE AND IN-TEXT CITATIONS All quoted, summarized, or paraphrased material must be cited parenthetically within the text, using the correct APA format for in-text citations, and all cited sources must also have a corresponding entry in a separate References page.

Things to remember:

You do not need a thesis for this essay.
You are not writing an argument; you are exploring a topic of your choice. Your curiosity is at the heart of your topic. You shape and are shaped by the information you find through outside sources, and your paper should reflect this.

Do not just report information. Even though “argument” is not a requirement of the paper, the expression of your thoughts and ideas, as well as your ability to synthesize and analyze information from outside sources, is.
You do not have to conceal the open-ended, even messy, process of inquiry. Your thought processes are a part of your essay.
Your essay is still researched and documented as any other formal paper.
Your paper will be interesting if you are interested in your subject matter.

Your paper may turn out to be an extension of an ongoing conversation about a particular topic.
As you’re taking notes and reading, respond to your sources as if you’re having a conversation. Read with a pen in your hand!

RUBRIC: Unit 3 Essay, I Search

	Exceptional / A	Very Good / B	Good / C	Fair / Poor
Part I: What I Know ______/5	Introduction engages the reader’s interest, provides necessary background information, and interestingly introduces the topic chosen Introduction clearly explains the student’s interest in the topic and why the student wanted to learn more. Introduction establishes a personal yet academically appropriate tone and style that indicates an open and inquisitive approach to the topic.	Introduction somewhat engages the reader’s interest, provides some background information although the information may be incomplete, and effectively introduces the topic Introduction explains the student’s interest in the topic in some detail and somewhat explains why the student wanted to learn more. Introduction somewhat establishes a personal yet academically appropriate tone and style that indicates a mostly open and inquisitive approach to the topic.	Introduction fails to engage the reader’s interest, provides very little background information, and simply introduces the topic. Introduction offers little explanation of the student’s interest in the topic and little explanation of why the student wanted to learn more. Introduction does establish a personal yet academically appropriate tone and style but seems to indicate a biased or closed approach to the topic.	Essay’s purpose is unclear in the introduction, fails to provide background information, and poorly introduces the topic Fails to offer an explanation of the student’s interest in the topic or why the student wanted to learn more. Introduction is difficult to follow and offers a very biased approach to the topic.
Part I: What I Want to Know ______/5	Section clearly explains what the student knew before the research process in great detail Section clearly poses several interesting and complex research questions, explaining clearly what the student hoped to find out during the research process Section is written in such a way that the reader would want to journey with the student through the research process.	Section explains what the student knew before the research process in some detail Section poses some interesting and complex research questions, somewhat explains what the student hoped to find out during the research process Section is written in such a way that the reader might want to journey with the student through the research process.	Section explains what the student knew before the research process but that explanation is vague or not particularly well thought it. Section poses few research questions and presents a vague explanation of what the student hoped to find out during the research process. Section is poorly written and leaves the reader with little desire to journey with the student through the research process.	Section explains very little or none of the student’s prior knowledge about the research topic. Section poses only one or two research question and offers very little or no explanation of what the student hoped to discover. Section is very poorly written and leaves the reader confused or entirely disengaged.
Part II: The Search (Summary) ______/25	Essay fairly and accurately summarizes at least six sources Every summary includes a clear identification of the main point and supporting details of all six sources. The summary of every source identifies the original author and source at the beginning and recurrently throughout the summary. The signal phrases are appropriate and diverse.	Essay attempts to summarize every source fairly and objectively but may not present a complete summary of at least six sources. Summary attempts to identify the main point and supporting details of all six summaries. The summary identifies the original author at the beginning of the sources and only somewhat recurrently throughout the summary. More signal phrases were needed.	Essay summarizes at least six sources though the summaries are often incomplete or biased. Summaries fail to identify the main point of several sources or incorrectly identify the main point of three or more sources. Summaries miss many supporting details. Summaries mentions original author and source only in the beginning. There are few signal phrases.	Essay only briefly summarizes most sources or the author has failed to summarize at least six sources. Summaries fail to identify the main point of most sources or incorrectly identifies the main point of most sources. The summary of every source is poorly written and difficult to follow.
Part II: The Search (Response) ______/25	Author has a clear & insightful grasp of source material that suggests a level of understanding beyond summary. Response demonstrates excellent critical thinking of source, including analyzing points of agreement or disagreement and points of learning new or surprising information Response demonstrates clear awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.	Author has clearly read source material & possesses knowledge enough about the texts to support their points. All responses demonstrate good critical thinking and most responses include analyzing points of agreement or disagreement and points of learning new or surprising information Response demonstrates some awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.	Author’s use of source material lacks detail and understanding, although they are able to recall basic elements. Some responses demonstrate good critical thinking but often the writer has failed to analyze points of agreement or disagreement and points of learning new or surprising information. Response demonstrates little awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.	Author seems to either not have read the source material or does not understand the research. Most responses are underdeveloped and offer little critical thinking about the source. Response demonstrates no awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.
Part III: What I Discovered ______/10	Essay clearly chronicles the research process through an engaging narrative Essay explains in great detail where the student had difficulties in the research process and how those difficulties were managed Essay concludes with a focused discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic	Essay mostly chronicles the research process although the narrative could have been more engaging. Essay explains in some detail where the student had difficulties in the research process and how those difficulties were managed Essay concludes with some discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic.	Essay only vaguely chronicles the research process or is missing parts of the narrative. Essay explains vaguely explain where the student had difficulties in the research process and how those difficulties were managed Essay concludes with little discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic.	Essay fails to chronicle the research process and offers very little or no narrative about the process. Essay fails to explain where the student had difficulties in the research process. Essay concludes abruptly with very little discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic.
Conventions ______/20	Writing is smooth, skillful, and coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive with varied structure. Consistent and appropriate tone and word choice is used throughout the paragraph. The essay is free from grammatical or mechanical errors	Writing is clear and sentences have varied structure. There is consistent tone and word choice is appropriate. Grammatical or mechanical errors exist, but not enough to distract from reading. Essay wording and ideas are for the most part clearly expressed. If they are unclear, the meaning can still be inferred	Writing is clear, but sentences may lack variety. The tone is inconsistent and word choice, while adequate, could be better. Grammatical or mechanical errors distract somewhat from reading Essay wording and ideas are frequently unclear. Meaning often cannot be inferred.	Writing is confusing & hard to follow. Contains fragments and/or run-on sentences. The tone & purpose is inconsistent & difficult to determine. Grammatical and mechanical errors significantly distract from the reading Clarity is a significant distraction.
APA ______/10	Always conforms to APA rules for citing sources through parenthetical notes and the reference page. Always conforms to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.	Mostly conforms to APA rules for citing sources both through parenthetical notes and the reference page. Mostly conforms to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.	Inconsistently conforms to APA rules for citing sources both through parenthetical notes and the reference page. Inconsistently conforms to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.	Fails to conform to APA rules for citing sources both through parenthetical notes and the reference page. Fails to conform to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.

Exceptional / A

Very Good / B

Good / C

Fair / Poor

Part I: What I Know

______/5

Introduction engages the reader’s interest, provides necessary background information, and interestingly introduces the topic chosen

Introduction clearly explains the student’s interest in the topic and why the student wanted to learn more.

Introduction establishes a personal yet academically appropriate tone and style that indicates an open and inquisitive approach to the topic.

Introduction somewhat engages the reader’s interest, provides some background information although the information may be incomplete, and effectively introduces the topic

Introduction explains the student’s interest in the topic in some detail and somewhat explains why the student wanted to learn more.

Introduction somewhat establishes a personal yet academically appropriate tone and style that indicates a mostly open and inquisitive approach to the topic.

Introduction fails to engage the reader’s interest, provides very little background information, and simply introduces the topic.

Introduction offers little explanation of the student’s interest in the topic and little explanation of why the student wanted to learn more.

Introduction does establish a personal yet academically appropriate tone and style but seems to indicate a biased or closed approach to the topic.

Essay’s purpose is unclear in the introduction, fails to provide background information, and poorly introduces the topic

Fails to offer an explanation of the student’s interest in the topic or why the student wanted to learn more.

Introduction is difficult to follow and offers a very biased approach to the topic.

Part I: What I Want to Know

______/5

Section clearly explains what the student knew before the research process in great detail

Section clearly poses several interesting and complex research questions, explaining clearly what the student hoped to find out during the research process

Section is written in such a way that the reader would want to journey with the student through the research process.

Section explains what the student knew before the research process in some detail

Section poses some interesting and complex research questions, somewhat explains what the student hoped to find out during the research process

Section is written in such a way that the reader might want to journey with the student through the research process.

Section explains what the student knew before the research process but that explanation is vague or not particularly well thought it.

Section poses few research questions and presents a vague explanation of what the student hoped to find out during the research process.

Section is poorly written and leaves the reader with little desire to journey with the student through the research process.

Section explains very little or none of the student’s prior knowledge about the research topic.

Section poses only one or two research question and offers very little or no explanation of what the student hoped to discover.

Section is very poorly written and leaves the reader confused or entirely disengaged.

Part II: The Search (Summary)

______/25

Essay fairly and accurately summarizes at least six sources

Every summary includes a clear identification of the main point and supporting details of all six sources.

The summary of every source identifies the original author and source at the beginning and recurrently throughout the summary. The signal phrases are appropriate and diverse.

Essay attempts to summarize every source fairly and objectively but may not present a complete summary of at least six sources.

Summary attempts to identify the main point and supporting details of all six summaries.

The summary identifies the original author at the beginning of the sources and only somewhat recurrently throughout the summary. More signal phrases were needed.

Essay summarizes at least six sources though the summaries are often incomplete or biased.

Summaries fail to identify the main point of several sources or incorrectly identify the main point of three or more sources.

Summaries miss many supporting details.

Summaries mentions original author and source only in the beginning. There are few signal phrases.

Essay only briefly summarizes most sources or the author has failed to summarize at least six sources.

Summaries fail to identify the main point of most sources or incorrectly identifies the main point of most sources.

The summary of every source is poorly written and difficult to follow.

Part II: The Search (Response)

______/25

Author has a clear & insightful grasp of source material that suggests a level of understanding beyond summary.

Response demonstrates excellent critical thinking of source, including analyzing points of agreement or disagreement and points of learning new or surprising information

Response demonstrates clear awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.

Author has clearly read source material & possesses knowledge enough about the texts to support their points.

All responses demonstrate good critical thinking and most responses include analyzing points of agreement or disagreement and points of learning new or surprising information

Response demonstrates some awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.

Author’s use of source material lacks detail and understanding, although they are able to recall basic elements.

Some responses demonstrate good critical thinking but often the writer has failed to analyze points of agreement or disagreement and points of learning new or surprising information.

Response demonstrates little awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.

Author seems to either not have read the source material or does not understand the research.

Most responses are underdeveloped and offer little critical thinking about the source.

Response demonstrates no awareness of how the sources affected the research and learning process.

Part III: What I Discovered

______/10

Essay clearly chronicles the research process through an engaging narrative

Essay explains in great detail where the student had difficulties in the research process and how those difficulties were managed

Essay concludes with a focused discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic

Essay mostly chronicles the research process although the narrative could have been more engaging.

Essay explains in some detail where the student had difficulties in the research process and how those difficulties were managed

Essay concludes with some discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic.

Essay only vaguely chronicles the research process or is missing parts of the narrative.

Essay explains vaguely explain where the student had difficulties in the research process and how those difficulties were managed

Essay concludes with little discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic.

Essay fails to chronicle the research process and offers very little or no narrative about the process.

Essay fails to explain where the student had difficulties in the research process.

Essay concludes abruptly with very little discussion of how the writer will continue to explore and write about the topic.

Conventions

______/20

Writing is smooth, skillful, and coherent.

Sentences are strong and expressive with varied structure.

Consistent and appropriate tone and word choice is used throughout the paragraph.

The essay is free from grammatical or mechanical errors

Writing is clear and sentences have varied structure.

There is consistent tone and word choice is appropriate.

Grammatical or mechanical errors exist, but not enough to distract from reading.

Essay wording and ideas are for the most part clearly expressed. If they are unclear, the meaning can still be inferred

Writing is clear, but sentences may lack variety.

The tone is inconsistent and word choice, while adequate, could be better.

Grammatical or mechanical errors distract somewhat from reading

Essay wording and ideas are frequently unclear. Meaning often cannot be inferred.

Writing is confusing & hard to follow.

Contains fragments and/or run-on sentences.

The tone & purpose is inconsistent & difficult to determine.

Grammatical and mechanical errors significantly distract from the reading

Clarity is a significant distraction.

APA

______/10

Always conforms to APA rules for citing sources through parenthetical notes and the reference page.

Always conforms to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.

Mostly conforms to APA rules for citing sources both through parenthetical notes and the reference page.

Mostly conforms to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.

Inconsistently conforms to APA rules for citing sources both through parenthetical notes and the reference page.

Inconsistently conforms to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.

Fails to conform to APA rules for citing sources both through parenthetical notes and the reference page.

Fails to conform to APA rules for formatting of the paper including the title page, the font type and size, correct spacing, and correct pagination.