Instructor: Karen Franklin, Ph.D. HMSX 605 & 705 TERM PAPER INSTRUCTIONS What is the goal of this project? This term paper provides you with an opportunity to perform more in-depth research on a topic of relevance to sexual violence. This will be an original research paper that provides a comprehensive analysis of the issue, or some aspect of the issue. At a minimum it should involve a review of the literature on the topic, an assessment of alternative positions, an evaluation of the evidence and a well-defended argument. You should convey what knowledge and ideas have been established on the topic, and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. What do I mean by original research paper? Original has three meanings. First, not only do you need to conduct research and write a paper based on that research, but you also need to have your own approach or take on this material. The emphasis should not be what other people think, but on your own critical appraisal, or argument. Keep in mind, however, that your beliefs must be grounded in specific, clearly documented evidence. Second, original means that this paper should be your own work. It should not have been written by someone else or purchased or borrowed from someone else. It should not be recycled, that is, written by you for a previous class. Finally, original refers to the fact that all material that you take from another source MUST have the source indicated. If the material is a direct quote, the material must be in quotation marks (" "). If you are paraphrasing, or expressing someone else s ideas in your own words, then the source of the material must still be stated. What are the penalties for plagiarism? All of you have probably been warned many times about plagiarism. Instructors are becoming more and more sophisticated at detecting plagiarism, using special software programs and on-line databases. I do not expect any of you to engage in deliberate plagiarism, which will be reported and will result in an F grade for the entire course.
Term Paper Instructions / HMSX 605/705 / Page 2 However, plagiarism may be unintentional. Any paraphrasing of someone else's ideas, framework or insights without giving credit to the original author constitutes plagiarism. The basic idea is that if an insight, opinion or interpretation is not your own, it should not be presented as if it were. Be sure to enclose all direct quotations in quotation marks (" ") when you are taking notes during your research phase. Any plagiarism, even unintentional, will result in either an F for the course or a 0 grade on the paper, depending on the severity of the offense. Prior to beginning work on this paper, I advise reading the San Francisco State University plagiarism policies and warnings, available on-line. How should I structure my time and effort? Many students make the mistake of waiting too long to get started, and of not properly organizing their time and efforts. This project should be tackled in phases, as follows: 1. Phase One Topic Selection and Refinement: Topics are to be selected in the second week of class. As soon as you have selected your topic, it is important to refine your selection, to narrow it scope and sharpen its focus. Common error: Topic too broad. Your topic should be narrow enough that you can thoroughly review the issue, the primary sources, etc. Make sure there is sufficient information available for you to do the necessary research. 2. Phase Two Library Research: As soon as you have selected and refined your topic, begin conducting library research. Doing your research a little bit at a time will make it more manageable, and will result in a better conceptualized final product. Common error: Postponing the research. Time will fly by. In this course, your written outline and oral progress report are due on March 6, which will arrive in no time. 3. Phase Three Outline: Your preliminary outline is due on Monday, March 6. On that date, you must also be prepared to share with the class a brief oral overview of your project. The outline should describe the topic and the subtopics that you will address. It must include a list of at least three primary sources. Based on a 100 point scale, three points will be deducted from the final paper grade for each day the outline is late, including weekends and holidays. Outlines will be returned to students with instructor approval of the topic and/or recommendations.
Term Paper Instructions / HMSX 605/705 / Page 3 4. Phase Four First Draft: In order to do well, your paper must go through several drafts. The first draft will be a rough draft, following your outline. Print it out, edit it with a pencil, and make substantial revisions. Cutting and pasting with scissors is highly recommended. Common error: Insufficient Editing. Many students type their paper on a computer, and then turn it in. This style of writing results in a sloppy paper that will receive a low grade. Without printing it out and substantially revising it in a process that goes through several drafts, your paper will not be a polished, college-level work. 5. Phase Five Revisions and Final Paper Only after two to three rough drafts will your paper will be ready for you to make the final corrections and print it out, using a good-quality printer and paper. How should I organize my paper? Be sure your paper has an introductory paragraph, telling the reader where the paper is headed. The Introduction sets the stage for the paper, but it must also be concise and to the point. Start with the general topic or problem and tell us why it is important and interesting. This provides the broad context for your research and analysis. Be sure your paper has a concluding paragraph that ties up the issues and focuses the reader on your main arguments and conclusions. A good paper: defines what the controversy is about and why the issue is important presents examples, illustrations, data, or evidence relevant to the issue at hand offers a clear point of view or advances an alternative solution presents the main arguments on the opposing side of the issue is written in clear style, is logically organized, and is easy to read draws on variety of different sources
Term Paper Instructions / HMSX 605/705 / Page 4 What sources should I use? I expect you to do research at the library. You must cite your sources in the body of your paper and you must include a bibliography or reference list at the end of your term paper. I expect a minimum of eight bibliographic sources, not including any Web sources (discussed later). (An exception to this rule is journal articles that have been published on the Web.) There is no maximum number of sources. Most should be professional books or articles printed in professional journals. No more than two sources may be from "popular" publications, such as daily newspapers, general readership magazines (such as Time, Newsweek), or the daily newspaper. A NOTE ON INTERNET SOURCES: The Internet is a wonderful, convenient way to get information. Many professional journals and libraries now have their materials on the Web, so you can consult them without going to the library. Web sites can also direct you to important data sources. However, web sites are entirely unedited and contain a great deal of misinformation and bias. Anyone can upload or "publish" material on the Web. Therefore, no more than two of your sources may be from a Web source. You will lose points for overreliance on the Web. What is the proper citation format? Three commonly used citation formats are those of the APA (American Psychological Association), the MLA (Modern Language Association), and the ASA (American Sociological Association). I am most comfortable with the APA style, but you may choose any one of these styles. Whichever style you choose (APA, MLA, or ASA), the important thing is to be internally consistent, in regard to your in-text references and citations. On my Web site, I will provide links to style guides for each of these three styles. In-text citations must always be by author's name and date of publication of the work being cited; include a page number when appropriate (for exact quotations, for instance). Example: "Masculinity may exist more as an ideology or a cultural stereotype, rather than a personality attribute (Thompson and Pleck, 1995). Do not cite by title; be sure to include all authors' names if there are multiple authors (for more than four authors, use the first author's name followed by "et al." -- note the period with "al." Example: (Turner et al. 1996). Also, do not use footnotes or endnotes for citations.
Term Paper Instructions / HMSX 605/705 / Page 5 What is the appropriate manuscript format and style? Be sure to precisely follow all of these specifications: Length: 12 to 15 pages, including reference list Line spacing: Double-spaced Margins: One inch all around Font: 12-point Times New Roman Title page: This page includes a title, your name, and the name of the course. The page is not numbered, and does not count toward the length. Page numbers: Do not forget to number your pages. What do you expect in terms of writing quality? I enforce stringent writing standards. Poorly researched and poorly organized papers will receive low grades. Papers with many spelling and grammatical errors will be severely penalized. Quality writing also includes the following: Clarity of wording Overall cohesion and smooth flow Conformity to formal academic grammar Correct punctuation and spelling Consistent style Attention to formatting details (e.g., paragraph indentation and location of page breaks) Synthesis of the relevant issues (your voice dominates, rather than a string of quotes or summaries of studies) Write and edit your paper carefully for good organization, clear language, correct spelling and punctuation, etc. If I find errors in your paper that are discussed in this handout, your grade will suffer. To do well on this paper, you will have to go through several drafts and revisions. The best writing is done with scissors and bold, merciless pencil slashes. After you finish your first draft go back and chop out any paragraphs, sentences, or words that you can do without.
Term Paper Instructions / HMSX 605/705 / Page 6 Every college student should have a copy of the small paperback book, The Elements of Style, by William Strunk and E. B. White. I recommend spending a few minutes looking through it before you begin writing. There are also a number of on-line style guides, some of which I provide links to from my Web page. A NOTE ABOUT SPELL-CHECKING SOFTWARE: Spell-checking is a marvelous invention, but it is a poor substitute for proof reading. Their many mistakes that they computer won't catch. Grammarchecking software is even worse; it often makes incorrect suggestions and introduces errors. A recent study found that students who relied upon spell-checking software actually had more errors in their papers than those who did not. Examples of common problems that your spell-check probably won t catch include: Effect vs. affect Than vs. then It s vs. its Which vs. that What are some common errors that students make? What other tips do you have for my writing? The following are some of the most common errors made by students: 1. Passive voice. Write in the active voice. Try to avoid using forms of the verb "to be" (e.g., is, was, were, have been). People often use the passive voice to avoid responsibility. For example, a boss might tell you, You are not getting a raise this year, rather than saying, I have decided not to give you a raise. 2. Too many quotations. Quotations are best used when you want to describe the position or opinion of somebody important. Most term papers contain far too many quotations. 3. Incorrect use of possessive. Perhaps the most common grammatical error on student papers has been the incorrect use of the possessive case. The words its and it's seem to be the most troublesome, although the principle is very simple: If you could say it is, then the word it s includes an apostrophe; otherwise, it does not. (Catch phrase to remind yourself: It s a contraction = it is a contraction. ) See Strunk and White for more explication. 4. Misuse of semicolons. This is another extremely common problem. Make sure you understand the role of the semicolon, if you are going to use it. Refer to Strunk and White; my web site also has links to sources that explain this. To be on the safe side, avoid use of semicolons altogether unless (or until) you understand the rules well. For those of you seriously interested in the
Term Paper Instructions / HMSX 605/705 / Page 7 craft of writing, Lynne Truss s highly entertaining book, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, has an entire chapter on the history of the colon and semicolon. 5. Improper use of which. After you have finished your final draft, go "whichhunting.": The word which is properly used in subordinate clauses, as explained in Strunk and White. Otherwise, the proper word is that. 6. Calling the United States America. When referring to the United States use the word U.S. or United States. In addition to the fact that many Canadians and Central and South Americans find it offensive (and ethnocentric) that people in the U.S. refer to our country as America, when it actually includes these other countries, more and more authors are pointing out the necessity of making the distinctions. 7. Avoid absolutes. Don t assume all men, women, athletes, stockbrokers, rapists, feminists, and so on, think or behave the same way. For example, avoid statements like rapists are driven by the motivation of --. Instead, write something like, Some rapists are motivated by --. Do you accept late papers? Late papers will receive automatic reductions in grade and will be graded without written comments.