APA Writing Assignment

You are going to write a mini-research paper using APA formatting guidelines.

Type: Informative and Persuasive

Topics: Choose a short story from the current unit on which to write your paper:

1. Guy de Maupassant “The Piece of String”

2. Naguib Mahfouz“The Norwegian Rat”

3. Gabriel Garcia Marquez “Tuesday’s Siesta”

4. Leo Tolstoy “The Long Exile”

Using the story you have chosen, answer the following question (thesis):

How do the cultural and biographical components of the author enhance the reader’s understanding of the text?

Requirements:

  1. Thesis Statement: All papers must have a thesis statement (the answer to the question above).

Example: Chinua Achebe’s Nigerian and post-colonial heritage is evident in his text Things Fall Apart.

  1. Length: Essay must be at least 350-500 words in length (about 1 and ½ pages)
  1. APA Format: All of the following must follow APA guidelines.
  1. Title page (header, proper title)
  1. Abstract: 2 sentences
  1. Essay:
  1. 3 sources cited in the paper
  2. Standard English writing rules
  1. References:
  1. Two of the three sources must be from two different mediums:
  2. book
  3. magazine
  4. web site
  5. magazine on web site
  6. journal article on web site

Points Available: 100

Due Date: May 17, 2013

Assignment #1 – Total Score: _____ / 30

Author’s Name: ______

1a.) What time period did your author write in?

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1b.) What events were going on during this time period that may have influenced

your author?

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2.) Describe the family background of your author. (wealthy, siblings, schooling,…)

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3.) What profession(s) did your author have?

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4.) Describe the love life of your author. (married, affairs, alone,…)

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Assignment #2: REVIEWING THE AUTHOR’S WORK

The next step is to review your author’s work. Carefully read and complete the following steps in order to ensure that you understand your chosen text and are able to use it to prove a thesis. Answer each section in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper.

Directions:

1.) Review your chosen text(s)

2.) List and Define all major characters in your text(s)

3.) List the themes conveyed in your work and provide explanations of each theme.

4.) List five quotes and indicate their page number.

Explain the meaning and importance of each quote in your own words.

TOTAL POINTS: ______/ 40

Assignment #3: RESEARCHING YOUR AUTHOR USING THREE OUTSIDE RESOURCES

You have chosen an author and analyzed his text. Now, it is time to figure out exactly who your author was and what motivated him/her as a writer (Why they wrote what you’ve read). In order to figure this out, you must first conduct research. Follow the directions below for Assignment #3 in order to complete the outside research portion of your paper. By completing Assignment #3, you will have completed the outside research portion of your paper.

Directions:

1.) Find three outside sources in the Library (Literary criticisms about your author’s work,

a biography, …) ONLY TWO MAY BE INTERNET SOURCES

2.) Figure out what may have influenced your author (politics, religious abuses, childhood

trauma, love life, warnings for the future, acquaintances, war…); this will give you a

starting point for your investigation. Tip: look under these headings in the index of

your source.

3.) Fill out the research organizers using each of the sources. Be sure to note all

important information including page numbers. This will be necessary when

you need to use internal citations. Use specific quotations sparingly; try to paraphrase most information. (Check the back of your packet for examples of

proper internal citations.)

(For additional space use either note cards, note book paper, or the backs of the research sheets. Be sure to label this information carefully with page numbers. Keep all additional research with your packet at all times.)

TOTAL POINTS: ______/50

FIRST OUTSIDE SOURCE

(Fill in all areas that pertain to your source. Skip areas that are not relevant to your source. This information will help you to easily construct a works cited page.)

TITLE: ______

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AUTHOR OR EDITOR(S): ______

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PLACE OF PUBLICATION: ______

(City and state if necessary)

PUBLISHER: ______

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COPYRIGHT: ______

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VOLUME: ______

EDITION: ______

ARTICLE TITLE: ______

______

WEBSITE: ______

URL: ______

(Need carets before and behind < >)

PAGES USED: ______

______

OTHER (MAKE NOTE OF THE ISBN NUMBER HERE):

FIRST OUTSIDE SOURCE RESEARCH

(Complete the chart below with evidence you have collected from your first source. You must have 3Facts: fill out all 3 boxes!)

EVIDENCE FROM SOURCE:
(Use quotes when taking information word for word.) / PAGE NUMBER EVIDENCE IS LOCATED

SECOND OUTSIDE SOURCE

(Fill in all areas that pertain to your source. Skip areas that are not relevant to your source. This information will help you to easily construct a works cited page.)

TITLE: ______

______

AUTHOR OR EDITOR(S): ______

______

PLACE OF PUBLICATION: ______

(City and state if necessary)

PUBLISHER: ______

______

COPYRIGHT: ______

______

VOLUME: ______

EDITION: ______

ARTICLE TITLE: ______

______

WEBSITE: ______

URL: ______

(Need carets before and behind < >)

PAGES USED: ______

______

OTHER (MAKE NOTE OF THE ISBN NUMBER HERE):

SECOND OUTSIDE SOURCE RESEARCH

(Complete the chart below with evidence you have collected from your first source. You must have 3Facts: fill out all 3 boxes!)

EVIDENCE FROM SOURCE:
(Use quotes when taking information word for word.) / PAGE NUMBER EVIDENCE IS LOCATED

THIRD OUTSIDE SOURCE

(Fill in all areas that pertain to your source. Skip areas that are not relevant to your source. This information will help you to easily construct a works cited page.)

TITLE: ______

______

AUTHOR OR EDITOR(S): ______

______

PLACE OF PUBLICATION: ______

(City and state if necessary)

PUBLISHER: ______

______

COPYRIGHT: ______

______

VOLUME: ______

EDITION: ______

ARTICLE TITLE: ______

______

WEBSITE: ______

URL: ______

(Need carets before and behind < >)

PAGES USED: ______

______

OTHER (MAKE NOTE OF THE ISBN NUMBER HERE):

THIRD OUTSIDE SOURCE RESEARCH

(Complete the chart below with evidence you have collected from your first source. You must have 3Facts: fill out all 3 boxes!)

EVIDENCE FROM SOURCE:
(Use quotes when taking information word for word.) / PAGE NUMBER EVIDENCE IS LOCATED

ASSIGNMENT #4: EVIDENCE OF INFLUENCES IN THE TEXT

Directions:

1.) Read back over the research you have collected on your author

2.) Decide on three primary factors that influenced your author to write the text(s) that you read. In order for you to be correct, evidence of these influences must be

contained in the text(s) that you read, as well as, supported with outside

research.

3.) After choosing two documented influences, (that is you have recorded proof

that these events actually occurred in your author’s life) complete the following

worksheet in Assignment #4 to find textual evidence that demonstrates these

influences existed in the text.

ASSIGNMENT #4: TEXTUAL EVIDENCE OF INFLUENCES –

TOTAL POINTS: _____ / 30

(Complete the following using your author’s text)

INFLUENCES: ______

______

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TEXTUAL EVIDENCE (Use quotes when citing word for word.) / PAGE NUMBER(S) INFORMATION IS LOCATED

ASSIGNMENT #5: CONSTRUCT AN OUTLINE – Follow the format on a separate sheet of paper.

Introduction (Be sure to put the heading of each major section)

I. Introduce your Author (basic bio)

A. Attention Getting Device (Use a question, quote, statistic, or vivid description that is related to your thesis in order to grab the reader’s attention and spark interest at the start of your paper.)

B. Transitional Statement (This is the sentence or sentences that specifically relate your Attention Getting Device to your thesis. Often it is the answer to a question you have posed or a brief explanation of background information)

C. Thesis Statement (What you will prove and the order in which you will prove it.)

Body

II. First Influence (You should devise a topicsentence that indicates each influence and

relates it directly back to the thesis statement)

A. First Example

1. Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

a. Further details

b.Further details

c.Further details

2.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

B. Second Example

1.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

2.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

III.Second Influence (You should devise a topic sentence that indicates each influence and relates it directly back to the thesis statement)

A. First Example

1.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

a. Further details

b.Further details

2.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

B.Second Example

1.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

2.Supporting evidence / explanation of facts

Conclusion

IV. Wrap up author’s influences and work(s)

  1. Transitional Sentence (Moves from the body of your paper and signals close)

B.Re-phrased Thesis (Reword your thesis to summarize the main points of your paper; should not be an exact replica of the thesis in introduction)

C.Clincher (Use a quote, shocking statistic, or vivid description to create an impact statement that is related to your thesis/AGD and leaves the reader thinking about your topic.)

TOTAL POINTS: _____ / 50

ASSIGNMENT #6: CONSTRUCTION of the ROUGH DRAFT

Now that you have organized your research and ideas in an outline it is time to put those thoughts into a rough draft. You will take the ideas organized in your outline and connect them in sentence form.

Things to watch out for:

  • Be sure to use effective transitions between all paragraphs.
  • Be sure each paragraph of the body contains a topic sentence that clearly relates it back to the thesis or a main point (one of the influences)
  • Be sure to use internal citations for every paragraph of the body
  • Be sure to proof read for punctuation and spelling errors

(After you have constructed a rough draft, complete Assignment #7 with a partner)

ASSIGNMENT #7: PEER EDIT OF ROUGH DRAFT

(After you have completed your rough draft, find a partner. Switch packets and rough drafts with your partner. After your partner has read your rough draft, have your partner complete the following worksheet.)

Rough Draft Peer Evaluation

Directions: 1.) Evaluate your partner’s rough draft by completing the checklist.

2.) Indicate yes or no for each item

3.) Next to each element include either:

- a suggestion for improvement

- questions asking the writer to clarify their ideas

- comments that indicate details are missing

- a specific statement of positive reinforcement

Did the writer… / Yes / No / Comments
Devise a creative title?
Introduction
Create a vivid & relevant AGD that sparks the reader’s interest?
Use transitional statements logically linking the AGD to the thesis?
Create a thesis statement that clearly states the topic and three main points?
Body
Each paragraph uses a well-written topic sentence to connect ideas to a main point in order to prove the thesis?
Effective transitions are used to connect paragraphs to the thesis and ideas within paragraphs (NO So, And,…)
The writer included their own insights (analysis of information)
NO PLAGAIRISM
Included cited textual evidence to prove thesis and support insights CITED QUOTES AND RESEARCH FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES
Conclusion
Included transition and rephrased the thesis
Clincher (refers to AGD)
Mechanics
Remains in the same tense
Does not use personal pronouns
(I, me, my, you, your, we, us)
Correct spelling and grammar
Evaluation
What grade would you give this paper (Why?)

STEP #8: CONSTRUCT A FINAL DRAFT

You have made it to the final step, constructing a final draft! Use the information from your Peer Edit to revise your rough draft. You will need to pay close attention to detail when constructing a final draft. You will also need to fill out the attached checklist once you have finished your final draft.

Research Paper Checklist

(for rough draft and final copy)

+ -

Format

  1. Header (page # flush right, TITLE IN ALL CAPS flush left)______
  2. Title page (1/3 of the page down, centered, all info included) ______
  3. Abstract______
  4. One inch margins (border)______
  5. Title is unique______
  6. All 12pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced______
  7. Title on 1st pg of essay, flush left, skip line, begin______

Reference Page (if none exists, subtract 5 pts.)

  1. Title of page is centered (not underlined, not bold, 12pt.)______
  2. Alphabetized by author’s name or first word in title______
  3. Entire page is double spaced______
  4. Entries follow APA format with a minimum of 3sources______

Introduction

  1. At least 1 paragraph in length ______
  2. Attention getting device? ______
  3. Intro. flows into thesis statement (coherence) ______
  4. Thesis statement is the last or next to last sentence ______
  5. Thesis easily follows the three prong formula ______

Body

  1. Organization follows the thesis statement______
  2. Body stays focused on topic (little summary not too much biography)______
  3. Good use of transitional statements and conjunctive adverbs (i.e. however,

subsequently, consequently, therefore, nevertheless, furthermore, etc.)______

  1. No run-on sentences (use of just a comma to connect sentences)______
  2. No fragments (lacks a subject and predicate)______
  3. Paragraphs seem to be well constructed

One idea per paragraph (focused)______

  1. No obvious grammatical problems ( Their-there, could of, subj. –verb agreement)______
  2. Sent. Variety (combination of simple, compound, complex, compound-complex)______
  3. No abbreviations______
  4. No contractions______
  5. No use of pronouns: I, me, my, you, we, us (unless in a quote)______
  6. No capitalization or punctuation problems______
  7. Paragraph is directly related to thesis______
  8. All numbers under 10 are written out (excludes dates)______

Parenthetical Citations (if none exist, subtract 5 pts.)

  1. At least 10 parenthetical citations______
  2. Follows correct format
  3. No more than 5 quotations______
  4. Only one long Quotation or less ______

Conclusion (if none exists, subtract 5 pts.)

  1. Does not begin with In conclusion, ______
  2. Restates the thesis in other words (thesis is not cut and pasted)______
  3. Does not include new/researched information (should be in body)______
  4. Wraps up the body and refocuses to main idea______

Note: Paper should be 1-2 pages in length: For every page short, subtract 2pts.

Total number of pluses and minuses ____