Research Paper: Identifying a Problem and Proposing a Solution
1. Isolate a problem you have that needs a solution. (You can choose to write about a problem you solved in the past.) The topic cannot be a general problem or one that people you know have--it must be your own. Prove that the problem exists through your personal experience and research. Below is a brief list of potential topics:
2. Develop a sophisticated solution that is practical and can result in meaningful change. This is not a HOW TO paper where in you give advice to your reader. Your focus is on yourself. The solution must contain the following:
3. Provide supporting evidence in the form of direct quotes and paraphrases from at least FIVE scholarly/academic sources, either traditional or online (at least 1 background source and 1 journal source). All of your sources must be approved by the professor. No DOT COM, DOT ORG, or DOT NET sources will be accepted--some exceptions with reliable news sites that I will examine on a case by case basis. Doing a general Google search is not an acceptable research method for an academic assignment. The SAC databases must be used--you have paid for these resources with your student fees and using them takes the guesswork out of whether or not you have approved, reliable, academic sources.
4. Compose a 1,200-1,400 word essay in which you develop proof of the problem and the solution with your personal story and research. Upload your final draft through Turnitin® before the due date.
5. With the final draft, also upload a sentence outline, one rough draft, and approved copies of the full-text versions of ALL your sources--not the Works Cited page that is automatically the last page of your research paper document. Do not upload the Works Cited page as a separate document.
6. Attach the prewriting and rough draft to the Comments of this assignment—accessible in the Grades tool.