RESEARCH PORTFOLIO~ INSTRUCTIONS & DUE DATES
TOPIC BRAINSTORMING
Due Friday 3/17
Come up with 2-3 potential topics for your op-ed paper.
What controversial issues relating to maternal/infant health, the shaping of reproductive desires, and the ability to realize those desires do you want to explore? Look over the syllabus, think about our discussions and readings thus far, and take a quick look at the topics that we have not yet discussed. Reflect on your own interests and experiences and develop 2 or 3 questions/issues that you want to learn more about – and on which you will write a well-researched and clearly argued 5-6 page op-ed piece.
For each potential topic, write about 1 typed page explaining why it interests you and why you think this issue would be important to bring to the attention of a wider public – which is what an op-ed piece is aimed at doing. This assignment is not graded, but absolutely essential to the development of this assignment. We will be discussing possible ideas and engaging in some collaborative brainstorming in class – SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU PUT SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT INTO IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE TOPICS. (If you don’t submit on time, your class attendance this week will count as an absence, regardless of whether you show up!)
FINAL TOPIC DESCRIPTION
Due Friday 3/24
Describe your final choice of the topic you want to explore in your op-ed piece.
Write – or significantly revise what you already have written – a 2 page description of your topic and why it is important to you as well as to the wider public.
Professor Klimt has to approve your proposal – so make it convincing and clear!!! This assignment is not graded BUT BE SURE TO HAND IN ON TIME as you can’t go onto the next step until you have an approved proposal.
WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY
Due Friday 4/7
Submit a working bibliography that is relevant, helpful and correctly formatted. It should include:
4 scholarly peer-reviewed sources in academic journals published after 2010 that gives you information and insight into your issue.
1-2 relevant class readings
2 non-scholarly sources from reputable sources published after 2010. Be sure to provide the links. The emphasis here is on reputable!! See the link to the library guide as to how to figure out whether or not your source is a good accurate source of information. (NO Wikipedia, unauthored blogs or web sites, book reviews, brief news reports, etc.)
Use APA or Chicago style and BE SURE your bibliography is correctly formatted and complete.
Prof. Klimt will give you feedback on whether or not your sources meet assignment expectations and give you useful insight into your topic. If they do not meet expectations, BE SURE to find other sources that do. Not having appropriate sources for your final paper will make it difficult to write a good paper and cost you points!
This assignment is not graded, BUT if you fail to hand it in on time Prof. Klimt will NOT accept your final paper.
RESEARCH PAPER DISCUSSION POINTS
Due Monday 4/15
Submit Discussion Points for your work-in-progress presentation.
State your central issue and why it is important in 2 -3 clear sentences.
Explain the position that you will be arguing for in your op-ed piece. Use clear bullet points with accompanying brief but easily understandable explanations.
Explain the position you will be arguing against in your op-ed piece. Use clear bullet points with accompanying brief but easily understandable explanations.
Your Discussion Points and your Work-in-Progress presentation will count for total of 5 course points.
WORK-IN-PROGRESS PRESENTATIONS
Wednesday 4/19, Friday 4/21, Monday 4/24, Wednesday 4/26
Be prepared to clearly and succinctly present your issues and arguments.
The aim is to share your research and insights with your classmates and get feedback and questions that will help you further develop your ideas in your final paper.
You will be assigned one of these dates for your work-in-progress discussion.
Your Work-in-Progress presentation and your Discussion Points will count for total of 5 course points.
The date of your progress report will be posted in the Research Portfolio folder.
Your Discussion Points and your Work-in-Progress presentation will count for total of 5 course points.
FINAL PAPER
Due Friday 4/28
Hand in a 5-6 page paper that does the following:
Clearly presents why the issue addressed in the paper is of central importance for the health and well-being of parents and infants. It should be specific enough to be able to develop a focused in-depth discussion and clear positions as well as recommendations for how to improve the health and well-being of an identifiable population. Convince your readers why you care about it – and why they should as well.
Explains the controversies around this issue. This includes clearly explaining and discussing the pros and cons of t least 2 distinctly different positions on what to do about the challenges you have identified. If possible, explain who the stakeholders are in the arguments about how to address this concern.
Present a persuasive, thoughtful and clearly-presented argument in support of your position that effectively utilizes available research and evidence and offers specific recommendations for how to effectively improve the health and well-being of a particular population.
Aim to convince a general audience – especially those who may not initially agree with you – of the importance and validity of your position and recommendations.
The final paper will count for 35 course points.
Guidelines:
The paper should be written in the style of an op-ed piece for a general audience in a well-respected media forum. See the samples of op-ed pieces on our MyCourses site.
DO NOT use quotes – put all information and ideas from your sources into your own words. BE SURE to cite sources within the body of the paper. (author, page)
Include a correctly formatted Bibliography of all your sources (4 scholarly, 2 non-scholarly, 1 class reading). Use either APA or Chicago style.
Style: 12 point, 1 inch margins, double space, first page header should include name, date, class, professor.
Length: Your paper should be 5-6 pages. That is about 250-300 words per page or a minimum of 1,300 words and maximum of 1,800 words for the whole paper (NOT including the bibliography).
Submit as a Word or pdf file.