Research Project Instructions
Part 1 (to be completed during Week 7):
Find a Topic, Find Sources, and Write a Very Rough Draft.
Step 1: Topic
Find a topic which is clearly related to one or two of the reading assignments in Modules G, H, I, J, K, and L. The best topics for a research paper are questions or problems which you can explore, and perhaps solve, by listening to various scholars.
For example, this would be a good research question: “What was the social and religious context of Anne Bradstreet’s poetry?” Once you understand that context, you can develop a thesis and paper which discusses the relationship between her cultural situation and how she expresses her feelings and her faith.
Another example might be this question: “Why does war and facing death lead people to become more philosophical (more reflective) about ethics and the meaning of life?” Obviously, Gilgamesh and Arjuna become more philosophical as they deal with death. What psychological research might help us better understand this urge for reflection? What other literary works explore this issue? What features of human nature are discovered in such writings?
You are free to develop your own topic. Some possible avenues for research might be:
A. What life experiences lead author “X” to write as he or she did?
B. What universal features of human experience lead author “Y” and author “Z” to reach such similar conclusions or concerns in spite of their very different cultures?
C. What can we learn from the representations and treatment of women in texts “A” and “B”? What can we learn from the representations and treatment of various ethnic groups in texts “A” and “B”?
D. What common social pressures are felt by the various characters in texts “C” and “D”?
E. Is author “E” reviving an earlier literary theme in his work? Is author “F” following a literary style which is found in other works at that time period?
Step 2: Sources
After you have a topic which you plan to explore, you can start collecting sources for your research. Please use the many tools of Liberty’s Jerry Falwell Library to gather at least ten scholarly/peer-reviewed sources. Save the bibliographic information for the sources which can help you discuss your topic.
Often we are told to seek the most recent research results. This is a good principle when looking at quickly changing fields such as the medical sciences, physics, or environmental sciences. However, when looking at philosophical, religious, literary, and historicial topics, older research is often very valuable. Thus, do not limit your search to the latest publications.
The ten sources cannot include literary works assigned in this course, common dictionaries, encylopedias, Wikipedia, Cliff Notes, etc. Once collected, put these ten sources into the format of either an APA reference page or an MLA works cited page.
Step 3: Write Your Proposed Thesis and a Preliminary Introductory Paragraph
A. After finding your sources, polish your research question. (You might have changed your focus while looking at the sources.)
- A good research question leads to some sort of conclusion or message. That conclusion or message should be reduced to a thesis statement. This thesis should be one or two sentences long. It is a promise to your audience of what you will prove in your paper.
C. You are not expected to develop a final thesis or a final introductory paragraph in Week 7. You are still learning about your topic.
However, it will help you, if you start writing about your topic. Thus, for Week 7 you need to submit a paragraph which introduces your thesis and some of the results of your research so far.
This preliminary, first paragraph should be at least 200 words long. It is a chance to start putting your thoughts into specific words.
Submission: Submit the list of ten sources (using APA or MLA end-text citations) and submit your paragraph which includes a clear thesis sentence by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 7.
Part 2 (to be completed during Week 8): Write the Research Paper.
Step 1: After developing your thoughts and research, start writing your paper. As you spend time on your paper, you may adjust your topic and outline to fit what you are learning.
Eventually, you will need a very clear thesis and a helpful introductory paragraph. Your thesis should be one or two sentences long. It is a promise to your audience of what you will prove in your paper.
Step 2: Write several drafts of your paper. Use the following principles to guide your revision of your drafts.
A. Structure and Organization: The paper should be well-organized and have an insightful introduction and thesis. There should be smooth transitions between the paragraphs and between ideas within paragraphs. You should end your paper with a meaningful and helpful conclusion. Be sure that your paper moves step-by-step from your thesis to conclusion.
B. Content: Your final draft should have a balance of (a.) interesting and helpful information from your research and (b.) your own original, insightful, and clear ideas. Quotes and summaries from your sources should not dominate your paper. Quotes and summaries should assist you in presenting your own conclusions.
You should also have a good understanding of the historical, religious, and/or philosophical context of your topic. Your assertions should be supported with trustworthy evidence.
Often key terms in a research paper will need to be defined. However, dictionaries often give too many explanations or too vague explanations of terms. Often you will need to develop your own definitions of key terms (within the context of how other scholars are also using the terms).
C. Length: Your paper should have between 2000 and 2500 words excluding the title page and reference page. (You should not include an abstract, separate thesis statement, or an outline with your final draft.)
D. Sources: Seven or more scholarly/academic sources should be used to support your ideas or show what others are saying about your topic. (Earlier ten sources were required for Part 1, but now only seven sources are required to be used in the final paper.) The seven sources cannot include literary works assigned in this course, common dictionaries, encylopedias, Wikipedia, Cliff Notes, etc. You should carefully follow the rules of MLA or APA when quoting and citing sources.
E. Format & Style: Your paper should be double spaced and should use 1-inch margins, 12-pt. font size, and a common font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman). The paper should be formatted according to MLA or APA rules.
F. Grammar & Mechanics: The paper should be error-free and follow standard academic rules regarding grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
G. Plagiarism: Plagiarism and self-plagiarism are unacceptable. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words or ideas without crediting the source. Self-plagiarism is when a student resubmits work he/she previously submitted for another class. Other forms of plagiarism are explained in the Liberty Way. If some form of plagiarism should occur, the student will fail the assignment and possibly the course. In some cases, the student may be suspended or dismissed from the university. Plagiarism detection software will be used to check all submissions.
