After you’ve gone through your research phase, the next step in your project is to explain to an audience of your classmates and me what other people have written about the problem or concern that you have identified. In this paper, you should synthesize and integrate your annotated bibliography sources.
Remember that your primary purpose is to fully explain the problem or concern and to offer some history of your subject. You might find it necessary to compare and contrast your sources, highlighting agreements and dissonance. When you note disagreement, you should evaluate the sources to determine which source you think best addresses the concern. Soon you will be using these arguments as support for your own argument for change.
Guidelines
Your explanatory report should synthesize at least five (5) sources, and at least four (4) of your sources must be from scholarly sources. Your paper should be four (4) to six (6) pages long. This length is an approximation; the development of your topic should dictate the length. Make sure you adequately explain your main concept and any controversies surrounding it.
Your paper should be typed in an 11- or 12-point font and adhere to MLA formatting guidelines.
Grading Criteria
• Do you have an identifiable thesis about a relevant concept, issue, or problem?
• Do you adequately support your thesis?
• Do you effectively integrate sources to support your thesis and to clarify your topic?
• Are your sources credible? If they are not, do you acknowledge their lack of credibility and address why you used them anyway?
• Does your report meet the assignment guidelines?
• Do you have an effective title for your report?
• Overall, is your report well organized and free of errors?
Due Dates
One draft of your Explanatory Report will be due for peer review on Friday, April 11th. Another revision will be due on Monday, April 14th.
Your final revision is due on Wednesday, April 16th.
When you submit your final paper, you also must turn in a copy of your drafts and your peers’ review sheets. Make sure you include your Works Cited page.
I encourage you to visit the Writing Lab (Heavilon 226) for help with any part of the writing process.
Your Explanatory Report is worth 100 points
- Printer-friendly version
- Login to post comments