Individual Research Project
During the course students will be working on an individual research project of their own choice. Students will submit a proposal of their research topic, submit a draft of their paper for peer editing, and finally turn in a finished 12 page term paper.
For the proposal students must provide their research topic and an annotated reference list of at least 5 journal articles. That is, the appropriate APA references for the 5 articles selected, along with a brief (i.e., abstract length) explanation of the relevance for each article to the proposed research topic. The proposal will constitute 5% of your course grade.
We will be using peer editing for your term paper. This means each student must submit a draft copy of their paper on 17 March. This draft will be read and edited by one other student in class. The writer of the paper and the peer editor must meet to discuss the editorŐs evaluation by 25 March. The draft must be at least 7 pages in length, contain references, and a reference list. When the final term paper is turned in the edited draft copy along with the peer editorŐs evaluation must also be submitted. Part of a student's grade on the term paper will reflect development from the draft copy to the final paper. The peer editor will be evaluated on the thoroughness of his or her editing job of the term paper; this will constitute 10% of your course grade.
The final paper should be 12 pages in length (title page and reference list don't count), plus or minus one page where 12 point Times font, double spacing (i.e., 23 lines per page), and 1 inch margins are used. The paper must be appropriately referenced, having an absolute minimum of 12 sources. Along with your final paper you need to submit your draft copy, your editor's comment sheet, and the first page (either a printout or photocopy) of each source cited in your paper. Details about APA referencing format will be discussed in class and on the course website. Your paper will account for 35% of your course grade.
Here's the link to the Peer Editing Form (pdf format) that you will need for editing another student's paper.