3 pages essay

Introduction

Research projects are an integral part of the college experience, as they require students to employ critical thinking skills and encourage students to apply learned ideas. For your final NAU 130 project, you will conduct research and synthesize learned content from the course to write one of the following:

• Option A: Craft a mini-research essay arguing how a well-known person(s) that experienced adversity exemplifies resilience.

• Option B: Craft a mini-research essay arguing how you are an individual who demonstrated or has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity.

Through this project, you will illustrate clear understanding of the concept of resilience by examining how an individual (perhaps you) demonstrate(s) factors of resilience and how those factors strengthened their/your ability to bounce back from difficult circumstances.

Basic Project Guidelines

• Conduct research outside of class. See Annotated Bibliography & Source Guidelines on the next page for details about sources.

• Your essay must include a thesis that clearly argues either:

  • If OPTION A is selected: How your subject demonstrates resilience and which specific resilience component(s)—self-efficacy, mindfulness, etc.—your subject exemplifies.

  • If OPTION B is selected: How you demonstrate resilience and which specific resilience component(s) you demonstrate.

• Use in-text citation for material that is not your own—adhere to the conventions of MLA format.

• Essay should be between 2-3 pages (not including your Annotated Bibliography). Again, conform to the conventions of MLA format.

Research Subject Guidelines

• The subject(s) of your paper is well-known (information about them is ample and accessible) OR the subject is you.

• The subject(s) has experienced considerable adversity and demonstrates resilience. Types of adversity to consider may include, but a are not limited to:

  • Loss of someone close

  • Family conflict/violence/divorce

  • Poverty

  • Mental and/or physical health issues

  • Addiction

  • Poor achievement and/or school failure

  • Criminal involvement

Source Guidelines

• Use at least two different sources.

  • At least one source must come from class materials (homework, readings, etc.).

  • At least one source must come from credible sources not used in class (newspapers, academic journals, government document collections, etc.).

Format Guidelines

• Do not include a title page—see https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ for details on formatting.

• Include page numbers.

• Use 12-point font.

• Use Times New Roman font.

• Double-space text.

• Use one-inch margins—do not adjust the margins to manipulate length!