Term Paper
Assignment: Drawing on our readings and at least two sources you’ve identified through your own research, please argue for/against a specific answer or solution in response to some question or problem relevant to the subject matter of this class.
The best papers will
- focus on a single aspect of a question or problem that the student is genuinely interested in;
- clearly state and vigorously defend an arguable thesis;
- be accessible to a typical undergraduate student who has not taken our class;
- have an opinion and speak in the student’s own voice; and
- go beyond our discussions in a way insightful to the rest of the class.
Timeline
| Writing fellow conference | Format | Due | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project proposal | Prior to submission | Single-spaced, 1 page | Friday, March 13, by midnight, to CourseWorks |
| 1st draft | Post submission | Double-spaced, could include bullet points/placeholders | Friday, April 3, by midnight, to CourseWorks |
| 2nd draft | Post submission | Double-spaced, 9–12 pages | Friday, April 17, by midnight, to CourseWorks |
| Final draft | N/A |
Double-spaced, 9–12 pages + single-spaced, 1-page cover letter addressed to me | Wednesday, May 13, by midnight, to CourseWorks |
Revision
We expect students to follow their own critical assessment of the feedback they’ve received. Revision does not mean simply changing a few words here and there; create a new document in your favorite word processor and start afresh. Of course, you can and should recycle language from your previous drafts, but you should do so critically and selectively—think carefully about what a passage adds to the present draft, find creative ways to adapt old language for new purposes, and don’t be afraid to decide when it’s best to rewrite a passage from scratch.
Cover letter
The cover letter is an invitation to reflect on the comments received (what do you find helpful and what not so much, and why or why not?) and discuss how they have shaped the revision (this is also the place to discuss feedback that you’ve decided not to adopt). If you feel comfortable doing so, I encourage you to share what you think of the revision yourself—what problems have been especially challenging, what are you proud of, and perhaps what do you still find unsatisfying? (Being conscious and critical of your own writing is an overall beneficial skill to acquire as a writer, and it will not negatively affect your grade!)
Acknowledgments
Integral to scholarship is the acknowledgment of all the feedback, assistance, and support that have shaped and contributed to our thinking and writing. You can do this by including an “Acknowledgments” section and/or placing footnotes at the specific places where you have been helped; consult the more recent papers we’ve read for examples. (Though you don’t need to thank me for comments or suggestions! I’m just happy to help 😊.)