This lesson will address the writing component of the final project.
Lesson Objectives:
- identify the grading criteria established in the assignment description
- develop the outline into a full research paper
- evaluate other student work in a peer review
- revise and submit a final research paper for a grade
Writing the Research Paper
Structure
The structure of the research paper should follow the structure of the outline, and writing the research paper is simply a matter of adding flesh to the bones created by the outline. This is why it is important to create an outline prior to writing the paper in order to plan and organize what lies ahead. Many writers get stuck by starting at the top and attempting to write the introduction first. Yet, the introduction addresses what is in the body, so it is wiser to create the body of the paper by fleshing out the background and the supporting data paragraphs prior to wrapping it up with the introduction and concluding paragraphs. In the same way, the paragraphs should include an introductory and concluding sentence. Frontload your sentences: The most important information should be mentioned at the beginning of the sentence rather than at the end. When a sentence is frontloaded, the reader can quickly assess significant information. This will attract the attention of your readers and make it more readable.
Content
The content in the paper should revolve around supporting the thesis statement, and the body of the paper should be packed with data generated from your research. Data in a research paper is evidenced by in-text citations. A paper full
Writing Style
The research paper should take on an academic writing style; Characteristics of academic writing include a formal tone, avoid pronouns, a clear focus on the research problem under investigation, and concise word choice. The overall structure of academic writing is formal and logical. There are no rhetorical questions or descriptive imagery. Sentences and paragraphs should be interconnected so the reader is able to follow your argument. Every word should have a clear purpose. In academic writing, less is more.
Many versions of Word offer a ‘Read Aloud’ feature, and this is a great way to review the writing style prior to submission.
Spelling and Grammar
Good grammar and sentence structure enhance the readability of research papers, thus helping in effectively communicating with the target audience. Undertaking extensive research paper grammar checks prior to submission can ensure that the most common grammar mistakes are avoided. spelling, grammar, and word choice send a message about the identity of the writer and convey information about how that person functions from a professional perspective. Poor spelling and grammar give the impression that the researcher/writer was careless, and this diminishes confidence in the quality of the work. This makes a simple spellcheck and grammar review a critical step prior to submitting your paper.
Referencing Your Paper
Keep in mind that all of the data in your paper must be referenced in the bibliography and cited in text either in parenthesis or as footnotes. In-text citations tie the data in your paper to the specific reference where you found the data. The citations also provide evidence that your paper is the product of your original research and work. Note that your paper must score below 10% similarity on the Turnitin database (excluding the bibliography.) Papers scoring 10% or greater will be referred to the student conduct board for plagiarism. Original research and writing supported by in-text references is a great way to avoid plagiarism.
The image below provides an example of in-text citations that use parenthesis, also known as parenthetical citations.
You can also use footnotes to reference in-text instead of parenthesis. Footnotes assign a number to each reference and the number is inserted into the paragraph. You can do this manually by numbering your references on your own and inserting them inside your paper, or you can insert footnotes using the referencing tool in programs like MS Word.
 | To use the footnote referencing tool; 1. Place the cursor in the text where you want to footnote mark to appear. 2. Click the References tab and choose Insert Footnote. 3. Type the reference. 4. Double-click the footnote mark to return to your place in the document |
The paper will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
| Structure | -The paper must include all sections specified in the paragraph chart in the assignment description. -Use subheadings to organize each section of the paper to ensure they are there. |
| Content | -The paper must be a research-based analysis of a phenomena related to African Humanities. -The paper must have a thesis statement. Put it in bold or italics so it is obvious and easy to find. -The data in the body of the paper must support the thesis statement in the introduction. -The paper must use terms & concepts presented in the course. These are words and phrases in bold and italics throughout the web lessons. Use bold or italics to make them stand out in your paper. For example, if your paper is addressing the how a food with African origins, such as coffee, has influenced beverages throughout the world, you should use terms and concepts from the Globalization & Diaspora lesson. |
| Writing Style | -The paper should use declarative sentences; avoid ‘I think,’ slang, tangents -Do not editorialize; this is not an essay. -The paper should not promote stereotypes, misinformation or generalizations about African people. If you are going to address topics such as violence, oppression, etc., it is important to situate the phenomena in its social and historical contexts. -Use transition sentences to connect your paragraphs. -Write authoritatively. You have done scholarly research on this topic, so write like an expert. -READ THE PAPER ALOUD. It should sound as though you are addressing a large audience. |
| Spelling and Grammar | -Always conduct a spellcheck before submitting a paper. -Read aloud to check for grammatical errors. -Use an online grammar check such as www.grammarly.com for assistance. |
| Referencing | -There must be at least five scholarly references in the bibliography. -There must be in-text referencing within the body of the paper. -The bibliography must be properly formatted using any citation style. -Failure to include references and in-text citations will result in an automatic ‘0’. |
| Formatting | –minimum five pages (2,500 words) double-spaced (it is OK to go over) -Times New Roman, 12 point font -one-inch margins -no extra spaces between paragraphs -name date and title in header -title page is not required and does not count toward five page minimum references should be on a separate page and it does not count toward five page minimum. |
Feel free to download and use the properly formatted Word template:
Writing Resources
The last month of the semester is dedicated to research and writing the final paper in order to ensure students have sufficient time and resources to produce an excellent paper. In addition to starting early and completing the project development activities, there are several free resources available to receive assistance in the writing process both on and off campus.
 | –Santa Fe Learning Commons offers tutoring and writing assistance on campus and remotely. -Smart Thinking is an online tutoring service. Simply upload your paper and receive feedback from an- expert. You can access Smart Thinking in the left menu in Canvas (see right.) –Grammarly Online Proofreading Service –Bartleby Write (one month free trial) |
For Discussion in Canvas:
Complete your paper and submit a finished version for peer review in Canvas. (The paper must be complete to review.) Use the criteria in the assignment description to evaluate at least two other student paper and provide recommendations on how they can improve. You must provide constructive criticism to receive credit. Use peer feedback to revise your paper and submit your final paper to Canvas for a grade.