American Cultural Myths

Description

The I-Search paper is designed to teach the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic and the nature of research and discovery. As opposed to the standard research paper in which the writer usually assumes a detached and objective stance, the I-Search paper allows the writer to take an active role in the search, to hunt for facts and truths first hand, and to provide a step - by - step record of the discovery process.

Format of the Collection

What I Know, Assume, or Imagine: Proposal

Before conducting any formal research, write a section in which you explain to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what you imagine about your topic. For example, you are in the process of developing this section on what you already know, assume or imagine about your topic. Your in-class essay can serve as a beginning of the I-Search process.

The Search: Annotated Bibliography

Test Your knowledge, assumptions, or conjectures by researching your topic thoroughly. For this assignment, we will focus on internet sources.

Once you have a working research question, the next step is to research the internet and complete an annotated bibliography ( five sources). As you uncover new information, take notes and be sure to write up your experience while it is still fresh. Annotate your choice of final five sources following Purpue Owl's guidelines.

What I Discovered: The Research Paper

Discuss your findings in the last section. Your discussion should include an exploration of your topic using a specific research question as a framework. This section should help a reader more clearly understand not just the material you discovered, but your process of discovery as well.

This section, a 4-6 page essay, should be a fairly thorough reflection upon your actual learning experience. Therefore, do pay close attention to how your answer to the initial question may or may not have changed. Compare what you thought you knew, assumed, or imagined with what you actually discovered; offer some personal commentary and draw some conclusions.

Cite outside sources carefully in the body of your paper using clear signal phrases and any necessary background information and / or context for each source.

Works Cited

At the close of this 4 - 6 page paper, you will provide a Works Cited page, documenting the sources you used in your paper. Since you have been asked to compile an annotated bibliography of online resources for your topic, you will want to use Janice Walker's MLA style sheet for citing those online sources.

Due Dates: Vary by class. Check class schedules.

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