LaGuardia Community College, English Department

The Research Paper, ENG103.0907 (31661) Fall I 2020

Instructor

Dr. Naomi Stubbs                 

Email: naomi_stubbs@hotmail.com Slack preferred

Virtual office hours: Weds 11-12 and by appointment, via Zoom

Course Description

In this course, students engage in the process of developing an independent academic research project. The course emphasizes strategies for selecting an appropriate academic research topic; formulating research questions; conducting, integrating and citing research; and developing an argument. Students deepen their sense of audience awareness, as they engage in the recursive writing process and consider different genre conventions and rhetorical appeals.

Section Description

By various accounts, P. T. Barnum was a showman, con man, innovator, shrewd businessman, educator, curator, and celebrity—his impact on the worlds of entertainment, science, and business was profound. Barnum’s businesses (including his museum, circus, and freak shows) also present a lens through which to examine the prevailing attitudes, assumptions, and scientific “advancements” of the nineteenth century. Taking Phineas Taylor Barnum as our starting point, you will identify a research topic to explore throughout the semester. Utilizing primary and secondary sources, you will complete an original research paper and complete weekly assignments designed to improve your research skills

As an online course, this course will meet asynchronously for the most part via Google Classroom, but note we have scheduled class during the first week. You must have regular access to a desktop/laptop computer and a reliable internet connection.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will have:

• Developed strategies for identifying appropriate topics for a research paper and formulating research questions
• Utilized the research resources available through LaGuardia, including the library and online databases.
• Annotated and interpreted sources, using summation, paraphrase, quotation, and analysis, as well as parenthetical citation
• Evaluated and synthesized primary and secondary sources in support of a well-reasoned argument
• Written a minimum of 4,000 words, including a minimum of one staged research paper of at least 1,800 words that integrates multiple sources
• Employed APA or MLA documentation

Evaluation

Your grade for this course will be determined as follows:

Research folder (RF)                   50%

Final essay                                     30%

Participation and attendance       20%

All assignments are submitted as Google Docs and/or via Google Classroom. Please note that late submissions will be subject to a per diem grade deduction and that no assignment will be accepted 1 week after the deadline. I will post all RF and final grades on BlackBoard.

Assignments are typically due Mondays or Wednesdays by noon. You can always request an extension, but it must be in advance of the deadline.

Revisions of individual assignments are typically not permitted as you will need to move on to the next step. However, you may submit any assignment at least 48 hours before any given deadline if you wish to get feedback to then revise and resubmit in time for the deadline. Please let me know via Slack if you take advantage of this option at any point so I know to look for your work!

What is the Research Folder (RF)?

Each week you will add at least one assignment to your research folder via Google Classroom. These assignments are worth 10 points each and ultimately count for 50% of your grade.

What will your final research paper be about?

Your final paper for this course is an essay that explores an idea stemming from the life and works of P. T. Barnum. This is a research essay and requires the use of a minimum of four sources (at least three of which must be available in print), both primary and secondary. It should be 1800–2500 words long (about 7–10 pages)

Policies and FAQ

Attendance

In order to fulfill the requirements of this course, you must participate fully. For the most part, attendance is recorded based on timely completion of the quizzes each week (one due Monday and one due Wednesday, by noon), though there are exceptions noted in the schedule below. Attendance and participation account for 20% of your final grade.

Academic Honesty

This class will be conducted in compliance with LaGuardia Community College’s Academic Dishonesty policy. All students are responsible for preparing and presenting original work. Do not plagiarize (in whole or part; for any assignment) and be sure to cite all sources. If you do use quotes from any source, you must be sure to give a reference for this information using MLA or APA style.

What happens if you plagiarize?

In accordance with the college’s policy, the penalty for plagiarized work ranges “from a grade of ‘F’ on a given test, research paper or assignment, to an ‘F’ in the course, or suspension or expulsion from the College.” Accidental plagiarism is still plagiarism, so take care!

Accommodations

All registered students have a right to equal education. I will happily accommodate students with disabilities, so long as they have registered with the Office for Students with Disabilities. All reasonable accommodations will be made once the OSD has contacted me.

Textbooks

I am very aware that textbooks are very expensive and tricky to procure these days. In order to defray your expenses, I am making the limited readings available on Google Classroom. 

Communication

This class will be run via Google Classroom with additional communication via Slack, email and/or Zoom. Course code nsn26w6

Slack will allow for quicker messaging and replies and I will invite you to join the channel once I have your preferred email address. Students have found this more convenient and faster than email in previous courses.

You can also email me (naomi_stubbs@hotmail.com) but note that I do not always check messages evenings and weekends. You should allow 24–48 hours for replies.

Zoom will be used for occasional class meetings (see the first week) and for office hours. You can access it via your phone or any computer with a camera and microphone.

Guidelines for Virtual Office Hours (on Zoom)

I will hold a weekly office hour on a drop-in basis on Zoom on Weds 11-12. I will be available other times by appointment for one-on-one meetings. When joining on Zoom, you do not have to have your camera turned on, but you will need a microphone. If you have a headset, please use it if possible to minimize background noise.

Finally…

If you still have questions, first check the syllabus—make sure it is not answered already. If not, you should DM me via Slack or email me.

Schedule (subject to change)

Week 1 (14 Sept): P. T. Barnum

Monday

• Complete info form, review syllabus, watch “Intro to the Course”
• Attend class on Zoom at 2:15pm

Wednesday

• Read: Barnum
• Due: Post questions in response to Barnum reading by noon
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 2 (21 Sept): Choosing a Topic

Monday

Wednesday                                                                      

• Due: Topics and Research Questions due by noon (RF)
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 3 (28 Sept): Finding Sources

Monday

• Watch “Finding Sources”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon (students observing Yom Kippur can have a 1-day extension)

Wednesday

• Due: Revised Topics and Research Questions due by noon (RF) (be sure to review my feedback on your previous assignment first)
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 4 (5 Oct): Assessing Sources

Monday

• Watch:“: Assessing Sources”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon

Wednesday

• Due: at least one entry to the collaborative annotated bibliography by noon
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 5 (12 Oct): Thesis Questions

Monday

• Watch: “Thesis Questions”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon (24-hour grace period for submitting this due to Monday holiday)

Wednesday

• Due: Thesis Question (RF) by noon (be sure to review my feedback first)
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 6 (19 Oct): Research Plans

Monday

• Watch: “Research plans”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon

Wednesday

• Due: Research Plan (RF) by noon
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 7 (26 Oct): Proposals

Monday

• Watch: “Proposals”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon

Wednesday

• Due: Proposal (RF) by noon
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 8 (2 Nov): Outlining

Monday

• Watch: “Thesis and Outline”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon

Wednesday

• Due: Annotated bibliography (RF)
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 9 (9 Nov) Using Sources

Monday

• Due: Thesis (RF)
• Due: Outline (RF)

Wednesday

Week 10 (16 Nov): Drafting

Monday

• Watch: “Writing your essay”

• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon

Wednesday

• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 11 (23 Nov): Peer Review

Monday

• Watch “Peer Review”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon

Wednesday

• Due: First draft (RF)
• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Thanksgiving (30 Nov) 

Monday

• Due: Peer review reports (RF)
• Read NYT article

Wednesday

• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Week 12 (7 Dec): Second Draft and Reflection

Monday

• Watch: “Finishing up”
• Due: Complete quiz based on the lecture by noon
• Due: Second draft of essay (RF)

Wednesday

• Optional: attend class/office hour on Zoom at 11am

Finals (14 Dec)

Monday

• Reading Day (no classes or deadlines)

Wednesday

• Due: Final draft of final essay❖    Due: Final Reflection (RF)