Conversion Scale

19.7-20 A+ 18.7-18.9 B+ 17.7-17.9 C+ 16.7-16.9 D+

19.3-19.6 A 18.3-18.6 B 17.3-17.6 C 16.3-16.6 D

19-19.2 A- 18.0-18.2 B- 17.0-17.2 C- 16.0-16.2 D-

Expectations

Your final project, minimum of 7-10 pages in length (in the past the average was 10-12 pages), is considered a research paper with a bibliography that reflects the additional work you have done on one of the weekly topics that especially caught your interest. While it is meant to be an extension of any of the ten weekly reports already written, a mere quantitative expansion should be avoided in favor of a more qualitative enhancement based on research and critical thinking. Students who want to pursue a topic not addressed, or addressed only tangentially, in the weekly reports are encouraged to do so, but should inform Erik of his/her plans in advance.

Some notes on content:

The depth of outside research required depends largely on the topic and scope of your discussion. In any event, such research should be conducted in the library. Generally, students will need to access between 5-10 outside sources beyond those included among the assigned readings for the particular unit. A good place to start are the bibliographies and notes included in the individual assigned readings as well the general research bibliography posted on the web site. Although the web may be a good place to start, and to gather information, such sources should be approached cautiously and used alongside published scholarship.
The paper should present a clear thesis or argument which is developed in the body. Critical analysis is key. We expect you to go beyond mere summary and paraphrase in favor of voicing your own ideas on the subject. What is essential is that you show us that you have made an effort to really think about the material, and that you have made an attempt to argue your point convincingly.
Since this paper represents the capstone of this class, we expect that you will marshal all the skills and intellectual resources we developed together throughout the semester and that this will show through clearly in the paper. We expect the paper to display a depth and breadth of intellectual and analytic rigor reflective of the ways in which we have engaged our material this semester, and evince that you have put a good amount of critical thought into your discussion of the subject. Creative, novel, and challenging approaches are strongly encouraged.

Some notes on style:

This paper should include a separate cover page which includes title, name, class #, date, and assignment title (i.e., term paper).

Margins should be set at 1” on all sides.
Pages must be consecutively numbered (no number on page 1 nor on bibliography).

A separate bibliography must be appended to the end of the paper. Individual bibliographic entries should be complete and conform to standard style (see style guides listed on syllabus).