Writing Question
Learning Goal: I’m working on a writing report and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
THE TOPIC IS GLOBAL WARMING!
A seminar paper is a critical explanation and analysis of a specific issue or artifact covered in the seminar. Within the parameters of the rubric, you will choose your own topic to research, present your findings to the class, and compose a complete, polished final draft of each. Papers must conform to an academic style (MLA or APA), and must include at least seven external references, with accurately formatted in-text citations.
For this paper, please take good notes as you do your research. Write down quotations that help explain your thesis, and be sure to make a note of the page number. You will be explaining and analyzing your topic, so be sure to use examples and quotations to illustrate your thesis.
Structural Guidelines
Times New Roman, 12pt. font, 1-in margins, double spaced, 1000-1250 words
Introduction
Introduce topic
Explain the guiding research question
Explain the significance—Why should we care?
State thesis
This should address the major topics that also serve as subheadings in the discussion section of the paper (see below).
Methods Section (If applicable to your topic)
Briefly describe and summarize the methods that have been used to collect the data. In academic articles in the natural sciences, researchers typically include a section titled “Methods” or “Methodology” that describes how they got the data.
If an article doesn’t include a methods section, it probably means the authors are relying on data from other researchers to support their thesis. You can skip the methods section if this is the case for your references but do still describe how we know what we know about your topic.
Explanation/Analysis
This section is where you explain the topic and why it matters. You are supporting your thesis here. Use the “w” questions as a guide:
What is it?
When did it begin? How long has it been happening?
Where does it happen?
Who is it happening to? Who discovered it?
Why is it happening?
Do not make general statements without backing them up with specific data, examples, or quotations from your sources.
You should include at least 3 direct quotes from your secondary sources. You may certainly include more as well as a paraphrase, but 3 is the minimum.
Conclusion
Tie the various points or themes together, and underscore how they relate to your thesis without repeating it verbatim.
Emphasize the importance of your findings, i.e. answering the “So what?” or “Why Should I Care?” questions.
If relevant, hint at where further research could be done to continue to analyze this topic.
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APA
1156 words