Final Research Essay for Dr. Smith Harvey

Due Date: Week 14 – submitted electronically via Blackboard

Prerequisites: a submitted Proposal, and a completed Academic Honesty tutorial/quiz

Purpose of Assignment:

Craft a research paper on the topic of a socially significant phenomenon, problem or issue. Your topic should include some sort of Canadian element. You should analyze the subject thoroughly & critically. Anchoring your paper to a specific position, claim or argument (thesis statement), describe the topic & provide context (e.g. mention those involved & their motivations/concerns; consider causes and the long- & short-term consequences; discuss benefits/disadvantages, power struggles & inequalities; make comparisons; track changes over time). The paper & its central argument should be based on and supported by facts, statistics & other research-based data, not on unsupported ‘opinion’ or anecdotes.

Requirements:

1. 1-SENTENCE THESIS STATEMENT

   • A grammatically correct statement of argument/claim (related to the topic) must be included within the introductory paragraph (about ¾ of the way through). It must be analytical/critical (have a clear position). The thesis statement must mention the body paragraphs’ three (3) supporting themes (e.g. costs/benefits/causes/effects).

→The THESIS STATEMENT MUST BE UNDERLINED←

(2)

(a) format: 5 sections (no sub-headings) – Introduction/Body 1/Body 2/ Body 3/Conclusion.

(b) length: 5 - 6 pages, double-spaced (minimum → the end of the 5th page)

(c) margins: 1 inch (top, bottom, sides) → no large gaps between paragraphs

(d) 11 or 12 point font, Times New Roman (or similar), word processed

(e) numbered pages (begin with ‘2’ on 2nd pg of the paper)

(f) proper spelling & a clear, grammatically correct writing style; be sure to spell-check + proofread

(3) IN-TEXT CITATIONS

• There should be MANY citations throughout the body of the essay (a minimum of approx. 2-3 per paragraph; the introduction and conclusion may each require a few citations as well)

Cite sources when quoting OR paraphrasing/summarizing another’s idea, theory or fact. When in doubt, CITE!

(4) APA BIBLIOGRAPHY

• proper format; alphabetized by author surname (or organization name); no numbering/bullet-points

(5) # of SOURCES: a minimum of 6 sources (one of these MUST be a book – an e-book is acceptable)

(6) Acceptable sources: books, Library database material, academic/trade journals, newspapers, magazines; web sites created by universities, newspapers, government & social agencies, hospitals & other recognized research institutions.

***Make sure all research notes are available should the instructor request them***

(They do not need to be submitted with the essay itself)

Papers showing evidence of academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will receive a mark of ZERO,

and additional action will be taken in consultation with the relevant program coordinator