Research Essay 2: APA
Many of the social/political issues depicted in Ready Player One reflect issues and events we are currently dealing with in the present day. Research one of the topics listed below; explain how this issue is discussed in the book, how (and to what extent) the issue affects us in the present day, how this issue is likely to change/evolve over the next 30 or so years (by the 2040’s), and end the paper by discussing how the real-world evolution of this issue will compare with the depiction in the novel.
Format: APA
Sources: 4 sources minimum.
• At least two sources should be scholarly.
• You can use the book as one source—the book is not a scholarly source.
• Avoid using study aid sources and plot summaries as sources.
• Look for academic journal articles, ebooks, books from the library or elsewhere, published interviews (for example, Elon Musk has some interesting thoughts on artificial intelligence), and websites (these are typically not scholarly sources).
• You should find sources that provide information about the current state of the issue and also predict how the issue is likely to change/evolve over the next three decades.
• One of the four sources can be a podcast or video (documentary)—do not consider these scholarly sources.
• Consider using more than the minimum number of sources—exceeding the minimum number of sources (and word count) will only improve your grade and is necessary to move your grade into the high A range.
Point of View: 3rd person; avoid 1st and 2nd person
Length: Minimum 1200 words—always meet or exceed the minimum word count. This minimum word count includes everything from the title page, abstract, essay to the References page.
Choose one of these topics to investigate. Some of these topics are similar, so you can combine several if you would like—just make sure they are closely related.
• Global warming/catastrophic climate change
• Mass poverty/economic depression and unemployment/food shortages (these are related; you can discuss them together or focus on one or two)
• Energy crisis/energy shortages/lack of availability
• Alternative/renewable forms of energy
• Personal privacy/security in the surveillance state
• The dangers of advancing technology/artificial intelligence
• The dangers of corporate greed/predatory corporations—IOI in the book and certain current corporations guilty of questionable/predatory conduct
• LQBTQ+/identity issues—representations in the book (you may want to discuss character avatars), the current state of these issues in society, and how dynamics will change and develop over the coming decades
• Virtual reality systems (META, for example)—in the book, now, and how it is projected to develop by the 2040’s
If there is another topic you would like to investigate, reach out to me and we will discuss it. If I think the topic will fit the parameters of the assignment, I will sign off on it.
What should You Discuss?
Write an introduction, and then divide your paper into four sections:
• Explain the state of this issue in the book (in the 2040’s).
o For example, how do virtual reality systems impact the world of Ready Player One? What role do they play in the book?
• Then, explain the state of the issue in the present day, including current developments, problems, and concerns.
o What is the status of virtual reality in the world today? To what extent is it used, how long has it been used, who uses it, what current problems/concerns exist, etc.
• Next, forecast the status of the issue in 30 years (in the 2040’s).
o How will virtual reality evolve/change over the next 30 years? What role will the play in life in the 2040’s. What possible dangers lurk and how may they be mitigated?
• Will the real-world evolution of the issue mirror what is described in the book? Will it be better or worse? What factors will influence it? If you predict it will be worse, what actions now may prevent that?
Then, end the essay with a conclusion.
Each of these sections should consists of multiple paragraphs supported by research. Label each section with a heading—choose a name that summarizes the section. Find sources that will allow you to discuss these points.
Directions:
• Begin with the title page—see the APA notes and sample paper for examples.
• Page 2 should be a one paragraph abstract that summarizes the paper. Review the sample essay for an example.
• Organize your paper into sections by using by using headings—the first heading should be for the Introduction.
o Headings can be centered or aligned left—just do them all the same way.
o You can choose the name of the headings, but they should look something like this:
o Introduction, Virtual Reality (or whatever the name of your topic is) in Ready Player One, The State of Virtual Reality in 2022, Projected Evolution by the 2040’s (or How Virtual Reality Will Change by the 2040’s), Comparison to Ready Player One, Conclusion.
o You can add additional headings and investigate additional avenues of the topic, just make sure you cover the material mentioned above: the status of the issue in Ready Player One, the status of the issue in today’s world, how this issue will evolve by the 2040’s, how it will compare (in the 2040’s) to its role in Ready Player One.
• The essay should begin on page 3.
o Write the title of the essay, and then list the first heading: Introduction.
o Begin with an introduction paragraph that includes an attention getter/hook, some brief background information about the topic and how it is featured in the book, and the thesis statement. Try to build up to the thesis statement. The thesis should include a debatable point about the topic/issue, how it is featured in Ready Player One, and how the issue will change/develop/evolve over the next 30 years.
• After the introduction, move to the next section.
o List the name of this section in the heading, and then discuss the status of the issue in the book.
o Support your paragraphs with research.
• Each section should contain several paragraphs. Support these paragraphs with research.
o Use research to develop your paragraphs.
o You should use at least one piece of research in each body paragraph. Cite the research in the text and on the references page in APA format.
o Limit direct quotes to less than 10% of your paper. Direct quotes should be no more than a sentence or two in length.
o Instead, rely more on paraphrasing material. When you paraphrase, completely change the wording so it is written in your own words. No more than two consecutive words from the original source should appear in your paraphrase. Remember to cite your paraphrases.
• Continue developing your paper by including each section.
• End the essay with a conclusion paragraph that restates your thesis, recaps your major points, and ends with a final thought—consider predicting the future.
• The final page of the essay should be the References page.
o List every source you cited in the paper. Make sure every source cited on the References page is also cited in the paper at least once.
Research Essay 2: APA
Many of the social/political issues depicted in Ready Player One reflect issues and events we are currently dealing with in the present day. Research one of the topics listed below; explain how this issue is discussed in the book, how (and to what extent) the issue affects us in the present day, how this issue is likely to change/evolve over the next 30 or so years (by the 2040’s), and end the paper by discussing how the real-world evolution of this issue will compare with the depiction in the novel.
Format: APA
Sources: 4 sources minimum.
• At least two sources should be scholarly.
• You can use the book as one source—the book is not a scholarly source.
• Avoid using study aid sources and plot summaries as sources.
• Look for academic journal articles, ebooks, books from the library or elsewhere, published interviews (for example, Elon Musk has some interesting thoughts on artificial intelligence), and websites (these are typically not scholarly sources).
• You should find sources that provide information about the current state of the issue and also predict how the issue is likely to change/evolve over the next three decades.
• One of the four sources can be a podcast or video (documentary)—do not consider these scholarly sources.
• Consider using more than the minimum number of sources—exceeding the minimum number of sources (and word count) will only improve your grade and is necessary to move your grade into the high A range.
Point of View: 3rd person; avoid 1st and 2nd person
Length: Minimum 1200 words—always meet or exceed the minimum word count. This minimum word count includes everything from the title page, abstract, essay to the References page.
Choose one of these topics to investigate. Some of these topics are similar, so you can combine several if you would like—just make sure they are closely related.
• Global warming/catastrophic climate change
• Mass poverty/economic depression and unemployment/food shortages (these are related; you can discuss them together or focus on one or two)
• Energy crisis/energy shortages/lack of availability
• Alternative/renewable forms of energy
• Personal privacy/security in the surveillance state
• The dangers of advancing technology/artificial intelligence
• The dangers of corporate greed/predatory corporations—IOI in the book and certain current corporations guilty of questionable/predatory conduct
• LQBTQ+/identity issues—representations in the book (you may want to discuss character avatars), the current state of these issues in society, and how dynamics will change and develop over the coming decades
• Virtual reality systems (META, for example)—in the book, now, and how it is projected to develop by the 2040’s
If there is another topic you would like to investigate, reach out to me and we will discuss it. If I think the topic will fit the parameters of the assignment, I will sign off on it.
What should You Discuss?
Write an introduction, and then divide your paper into four sections:
• Explain the state of this issue in the book (in the 2040’s).
o For example, how do virtual reality systems impact the world of Ready Player One? What role do they play in the book?
• Then, explain the state of the issue in the present day, including current developments, problems, and concerns.
o What is the status of virtual reality in the world today? To what extent is it used, how long has it been used, who uses it, what current problems/concerns exist, etc.
• Next, forecast the status of the issue in 30 years (in the 2040’s).
o How will virtual reality evolve/change over the next 30 years? What role will the play in life in the 2040’s. What possible dangers lurk and how may they be mitigated?
• Will the real-world evolution of the issue mirror what is described in the book? Will it be better or worse? What factors will influence it? If you predict it will be worse, what actions now may prevent that?
Then, end the essay with a conclusion.
Each of these sections should consists of multiple paragraphs supported by research. Label each section with a heading—choose a name that summarizes the section. Find sources that will allow you to discuss these points.
Directions:
• Begin with the title page—see the APA notes and sample paper for examples.
• Page 2 should be a one paragraph abstract that summarizes the paper. Review the sample essay for an example.
• Organize your paper into sections by using by using headings—the first heading should be for the Introduction.
o Headings can be centered or aligned left—just do them all the same way.
o You can choose the name of the headings, but they should look something like this:
o Introduction, Virtual Reality (or whatever the name of your topic is) in Ready Player One, The State of Virtual Reality in 2022, Projected Evolution by the 2040’s (or How Virtual Reality Will Change by the 2040’s), Comparison to Ready Player One, Conclusion.
o You can add additional headings and investigate additional avenues of the topic, just make sure you cover the material mentioned above: the status of the issue in Ready Player One, the status of the issue in today’s world, how this issue will evolve by the 2040’s, how it will compare (in the 2040’s) to its role in Ready Player One.
• The essay should begin on page 3.
o Write the title of the essay, and then list the first heading: Introduction.
o Begin with an introduction paragraph that includes an attention getter/hook, some brief background information about the topic and how it is featured in the book, and the thesis statement. Try to build up to the thesis statement. The thesis should include a debatable point about the topic/issue, how it is featured in Ready Player One, and how the issue will change/develop/evolve over the next 30 years.
• After the introduction, move to the next section.
o List the name of this section in the heading, and then discuss the status of the issue in the book.
o Support your paragraphs with research.
• Each section should contain several paragraphs. Support these paragraphs with research.
o Use research to develop your paragraphs.
o You should use at least one piece of research in each body paragraph. Cite the research in the text and on the references page in APA format.
o Limit direct quotes to less than 10% of your paper. Direct quotes should be no more than a sentence or two in length.
o Instead, rely more on paraphrasing material. When you paraphrase, completely change the wording so it is written in your own words. No more than two consecutive words from the original source should appear in your paraphrase. Remember to cite your paraphrases.
• Continue developing your paper by including each section.
• End the essay with a conclusion paragraph that restates your thesis, recaps your major points, and ends with a final thought—consider predicting the future.
• The final page of the essay should be the References page.
o List every source you cited in the paper. Make sure every source cited on the References page is also cited in the paper at least once.