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Writing Project #2: The Research Proposal
Page Requirement: 1-2, double spaced Times New Roman 12 pt font
Citation style: MLA
Due Dates:
2/20-2/24 Individual Conference
2/26 Final publish due for grade via Blackboard
Resources:
Writing for Inquiry and Research: The Topic Proposal
All readings from this syllabus and any articles discovered in your independent research using the UIC Library and the Internet.
Task:
An effective proposal gives a preview of what you will be researching for the remainder of this course. Unlike persuasive writing you may have done in the past, your thesis will be a question you would like to answer, or something you would like to know more about that is related to language and identity. Use the readings we have discussed so far, and think about how you can use them to foster your own thinking in a research inquiry of your own. The goal is not to prove that you are right about something; in fact, most of the time we discover something quite different in our research than what we originally set out to find.
The first paragraph or two should outline your research focus: what are your keywords and subject terms? What types of sources are you looking at and why? Then explain why you are researching your topic and what your thinking on the subject is so far. Consider the following questions: Why is your inquiry an interesting question? What are the different perspectives on the topic, and what fields do they emerge from? What are some of the consequences or effects of ideas surrounding your topic, meaning, how does your topic affect people? Why is this topic important?
Evaluation Criteria:
You will be evaluated on how successfully you utilize the skills and strategies discussed in the resources listed above. PROJECT MUST INCLUDE AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY CORRECTLY UTILIZING MLA STYLE. An effective proposal ensures that:
Keywords and terms properly define the scope of your topic
The significance of your topic and your thoughts on exploring it further are conveyed
An annotated bibliography correctly formatted in MLA style is included
Sentences are free from any grammatical errors that hinder the message of the text.
Learning Outcomes:
Conduct academic research drawing from multiple sources in multiple media.
Read texts in a variety of disciplines and genres, using critical reading strategies.
Demonstrate knowledge of writing as a process, including consideration of peer and instructor feedback, from initial publish to final revision.
Demonstrate sentence-level correctness.