The last few assignments you have been working on in this class has been leading up to this assignment. You started by finding a topic that you wanted to research. You then implemented that plan as you located sources for your Annotated Bibliographies. Now, in your Research Essay, it will all come together as you incorporate the information along with some type of graphics (chart, graph, or photograph).
Given the complexity of this assignment, it addresses multiple course outcomes, which state that by the end of the semester you will:
An ability to produce professional quality documents—specifically report structure and document design
An ability to access and organize information
An ability to evaluate and analyze collected information
An ability to communicate information, ideas, and results effectively via visual means
The points you earn on the rough draft and final essay will count toward the research essay portion of your overall grade. The rubrics for both assignments are attached to this packet.
Instructions
Compose a research-supported essay in which you investigate a topic where you report how to improve something, or how to solve something with supporting research.
Requirements:
Length: at least 8 to 10 Single-spaced pages or 16-18 Double-spaced pages, not counting the cover page, the table of contents, the abstract, images, fact sheet, nor the References page.
Document format: APA Style
Reference page
Required number of sources: at least 8
Images: at least 2 (this can be graphs, charts, pictures)
Table of contents (not due for the rough draft)
Abstract (not due for the rough draft)
Fact Sheet (not due for the rough draft)
Essay Checklist
Content:
Paper is at least Eight to Ten  single-spaced or Sixteen to Twenty double-spaced pages long;  Page count does not include cover page. Abstract, Table of Contents, Fact Sheet, nor the Reference page.
Thesis statement is included at the end of introduction.
There are at least two visual elements within the paper.
Information from outside sources comprises only around 20% of the overall essay
Document Format:
Cover page is formatted in APA style
Left, right, top, and bottom margins are 1 to 1.5”
Document is double-spaced with 0 points before or after paragraphs; first lines of paragraphs are indented with only one blank line between paragraphs (Check settings in Paragraph menu.)
Plain Times New Roman font is used, size 12 at largest. Top of the cover page includes Running Head: with abbreviated essay title in all caps at the left margin and the page number at the right margin
Top of all other pages includes the abbreviated title in all caps at the left margin and the page number at the right margin
Below the header on page 2, the full paper title appears in plain type with standard capitalization (not bolded, underlined or italicized or bigger font); the first paragraph of the paper begins on the following line
In-text Citations:
In-text citations are provided where source information is included – quoted or paraphrased – in the body of the paper (there should be a minimum of 8 to correspond with the 8 sources used for the paper).
Quotation marks are used for passages taken word-for-word from sources (block format for long quotes)
References Page:
References (page title) is centered at the top (not bolded, underlined, italicized or bigger font)
References page contains a minimum of 8 properly formatted APA entries are listed, one for each source cited
List of sources is alphabetized
Citations have hanging indentation; no extra space appears between entries
Notes and Tips
Remember, only 10-20% of your essay can consist of information from your sources; to avoid plagiarism, 80-90% of your essay must be your own original thought in your own writing. Use sources to support you, not speak for
Use the APA Template uploaded to our class in Canvas for easy document formatting.
If you quote or paraphrase from one of your sources, be sure to use an in-text citation or tag to give credit at the point where you use the information in your essay.
Follow the “quote sandwich” method to smoothly integrate your source information with your own writing.
The publication information for all sources you use must also be cited on the References page.
List only sources you actually use in your paper.
Every source you list on your references page must correspond to a matching in-text citation somewhere in the body of your essay.
Copy your citations from your Annotated Bibliographies.