English 3201 – Research Paper



J.D. Salinger’s most famous character, Holden Caulfield, is a young man who struggles to deal with the pressures of life during an era when the sources of such pressures were either ignored or misunderstood. Presently, there is a much greater awareness of mental health and related issues, especially among youth; the identification and treatment have become much more pronounced in contemporary society. The research paper topic is designed to explore issues surrounding mental health. Potential topics could include:The exploration of a chosen form of mental illness – the prevalence of it as well as the best treatment options.Pharmaceuticals and mental illness – to what extent are they over (or under) prescribed?The dangers of self-medicating as a coping mechanism. Alternative methods in treating mental illnesses: are they useful or harmful?Crime and Mental Illness – How should society deal with crimes perpetrated by the mentally ill?Funding for mental illness: why governments need to invest, and the consequences if they don’t.Exploring the causes of mental illness – biology vs. sociology.How the education system should address issues surrounding mental illness.The impact of a mentally ill individual on family and friends? What should loved ones do? …or any other appropriate topic, cleared with me prior to commencement. You may choose to use references from The Catcher in the Rye in organizing your paper (Holden and his upbringing, the impact of unresolved traumas, self-medicating, family relationships, and others). You could, for example, incorporate references to the novel as methods of organization (perhaps as way of introduction, or to maintain unity by forming topic sentences). This is not mandatory, but advisable. Students are reminded to follow the appropriate guidelines for writing quality research in the MLA format. The required length is 1000 words. Note: Microsoft Word has an MLA function that will format the paper automatically!! Three web sites that will be essential in your progress are the following:The Purdue University On-Line Writing Lab. This resources will answer any and all questions you may have: Machine. The layout has changed a little bit, but it is more user friendly than ever. Follow the step by step instructions and you will produce excellent, perfectly formatted citations (which = easy marks!) and Documenting: Tips on Paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is an essential skill when doing a research paper. The Purdue site has some helpful info on this, but this site is particularly useful. Be sure to look over it carefully., students will receive credit for work done in advance of the submission of the completed research paper. This work includes:A brief paragraph outlining your paper, and a working outline that suggests the order in which your information will be presented. You must also provide a list of five resources that will be referenced. The submission of these sources must follow the MLA format for Works Cited. In other words, create your Works Cited page! Value = 5%. Due Date: TBDResearch notes reflecting an understanding of each source as it relates to the chosen topic. These notes would include things like a written summary, potential direct quotes or particular information that could be featured in your paper as an important, significant paraphrase. Value = 10%. Due Date: TBD (Paper copies are required). Finished Paper = 85%. Due June 6th (Paper copies are required – no emailed submissions!). Please Note: The next few weeks will be quite hectic. Please keep up with your work and manage your time. It is very important to avoid plagiarism. Don’t be tempted to use an on-line essay writing site or service. I will know. Be prepared to discuss your research paper with me, as I may ask to interview you on its contents. The research paper will not be accepted without the prior submission of the preparation work. A Final Note: Remember that using Wikipedia is like relying on a drunken person to provide insight into a significant event. They may be able to provide a general outline, and may even provide some reliable info. However, they ultimately cannot be trusted until their claims are verified by appropriate sources. Feel free to use Wikipedia to help guide your research, but it does not count as an official source. Therefore, do not list or cite it. Here is a copy of the Research Paper Scoring Scale. Please use it as a guide / checklist. FORMAT – 14 points5 ptsThe title page is in correct format: Title, Your Name, Teacher’s Name, Course Name/Number, Date3 ptDouble spaced throughout paper, including Works Cited page3 ptOne inch margins throughout paper3 ptPage number on top right of all pages (except title page) following your initial and last nameWRITING AND PARENTHETICAL NOTATION – 37 points7 ptsDemonstrates use of paraphrasing with correct parenthetical references7 ptsDemonstrates use of quotations with correct parenthetical references (must include at least two direct quotes less than three lines, and at least one in excess of three lines)9 ptsCompelling, accurate evidence from professionally legitimate sources is given to back claims4 ptsCitations “match” the title on the Works Cited page; all in-text citations are listed in Works Cited10 ptsAccurate spelling – appropriate grammarSTYLE AND ORGANIZATION – 41 points4 ptsThesis is clearly and concisely stated5 ptsThe introduction is engaging, states the main idea and previews the structure of the paper3 ptsEach body paragraph has a topic sentence4 ptsEach paragraph has thoughtful supporting detail sentences that develop the main idea5 ptsClear transitions are used to connect sentences and paragraphs5 ptsTone, style and diction are appropriate5 ptsEssay is coherent – organizational pattern is logical and conveys completeness5 ptsSentence fluency and variation – sentences are varied in length and structure5 ptsConclusion is engaging, clear, and restates the thesisWORKS CITED PAGE – 8 points3 ptsWorks Cited entries are in alphabetical order3 ptsEntries use italics, indentations and quotation marks correctly2 ptsThere is a minimum of five sources ................
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