Checkpoint #1: Wed, February 11th 10 AM EST
This is a one-page proposal in which you outline the specific topic you wish to research. You should include questions that you intend to answer in your research, and you should discuss why this topic appeals to you.
Research Paper Guidelines
You are required to write a 10-12 page research paper in this course. You may choose your own topic, and I encourage you to choose something that interests you, as you will be working with the subject throughout the semester. Research topics that have worked well for other students include the safety of social networking, the effects of globalization on human rights, and elements that contribute to individual identity (i.e. being an only child or being a twin, having a parent who was incarcerated during most of one’s childhood, living with a disability, etc.). While you have substantial freedom in selecting your topic, please note the following guidelines:
Your topic needs to be something about which you can make a specific point or argument.
Your topic must be something you feel comfortable discussing with your classmates.
Please consider highly controversial topics about which people typically feel very passionately (abortion or same-sex marriage, for example) to be unsuited for this particular assignment.
All checkpoints and the final draft of the research paper must be in MLA format and turned in electronically and as a hard copy.