cp 12 research paper prompt
Over the next week, we will explore cases, studies, and research related to the idea of justice. Your will then be to:
1. Develop your own thoughtful, unique research question,
2. Complete extensive research into the topic, narrowing your research to find sources that help you to answer your question, and
3. Write a well-composed research paper that synthesizes your most credible and relevant evidence to provide the reader with a complex answer to your original question.
a. Remember: the purpose of this assignment is for you to find and synthesize the most credible information about a topic of your choice, not to argue your own pre-established opinion. If you find yourself researching in an effort to “prove,” you’re headed in the wrong direction!
In the box below, formulate the question that will guide your research and writing. Remember that a research question should be complex and high level (we will discuss this in class).
Possible topics include (but are not limited to): Wrongful convictions, exonerations (DNA or other), death row, solitary confinement, bias in the justice system, privatized prisons, coerced confessions, the preschool to prison pipeline, mental health & incarceration, felony convictions & voter suppression, penal labor (prisoners doing hard labor for little to no pay), restorative justice, drug abuse and incarceration, the rape kit backlog, the death penalty, difference between military and federal courts, effective solutions for reducing recidivism, specialized programs for prisoners, prison design, comparitive effectiveness of prison systems, etc.
Example questions: What impact does solitary confinement have on inmate mental health?
What are some factors that influence the recidivism rate of female inmates?
How might training be adapted to support the expectations & needs of police officers?
What impact does prison time served have on an inmate’s life post-release?
How might interrogation methods (alternate to Reid technique) affect false confessions?
What are the main reasons innocent people are wrongfully convicted of major crimes?
Your Research Question:
Resources to help you complete this assignment:
↬ Your notes on credibility!
↬ CSU: Evaluating Credibility with C.R.A.A.P.
↝ PearDeck notes, one pager, video on databases
↬ Google Scholar
↬ Best sites for research
↬ Library databases notes
↬ Rubric
↬ Language patterns
↬ Sample annotated bibliography entry
↝ Notes on annotated bibliographies
requirements and deadlines:
Assignment Description & Grading Due Date
1 Articles ↬ Find & read five articles directly related to your research question.
↬ As you read:
↝ use your notes on credibility to ensure that the sources are trustworthy; you will be asked to evaluate their credibility in your annotated bibliography.
↝ complete a short review of each article following these instructions on a blank piece of paper!
● Looking for some media bias websites? Try A, B, or C.
● Looking to fact-check an article or source? Try I, II, or III.
September 30, end of day
2 Annotated bibliography
↬ An annotated bibliography of the four best articles, following the directions provided (linked to the left). October 7, end of day
3 Research paper ↬ A five paragraph research paper that thoroughly answers the prompt and includes evidence from the three best sources. October 14, end of day
your research paper must include:
↬ An introduction that
↝ gives an overview of the sources you have used to support your claim
↝ presents a clear, detailed thesis statement that directly answers your research question (you will support this with your analysis of your research).
↬ Three strong body paragraphs that each:
↝ incorporate at least two pieces of evidence (direct quotations) from a source(s) of your choice
↝ thoroughly detail and explore how the evidence selected clearly connects back to your thesis/the answer to your research question
↬ A conclusion that:
↝ restates your thesis statement
↝ effectively wraps up your essay
↝ optional: poses a potential solution to the identified problem, based on research
↬ An annotated bibliography that:
↝ includes citations for four sources according to MLA format and evaluates sources according to instructions
↬ Use the language patterns linked above to help organize your writing.
deadlines for submission:
Initial Deadline: Thursday, October 14th (at 11:59pm)
↬ Submit research paper on www.turnitin.com (using “cut and paste” upload)
↝ add codes can be found on your teacher’s syllabus
↬ Additionally, click “turn in” on Google Classroom
Revision/Final Deadline: Thursday, November 4th (11:59 pm)
↬ Submit through Google Classroom (click “turn in/resubmit” on the assignment)
↬ All changes must be marked.
↝ Anything added to the draft should be highlighted
↝ Whenever a sentence or more is deleted throughout the draft, it should be noted using the strikethrough feature (ALT+SHIFT+5)
↬ No late or revised work will be accepted past this point.
annotated bibliography instructions
Your annotated bibliography should include citations for all 4 and full entries for 2 of the best sources you gathered and plan to use in your research paper. For each source, in addition to an MLA citation, you need to include a 7-10 sentence paragraph evaluating the source for its credibility and relevance. The Assessment should include the following:
● A clear summary of the source
● An Assessment of your source’s credibility, using at least three concrete strategies from our notes & discussions in class
○ Your Assessment should not only identify the elements, but address why and how they relate to the credibility of the source as a whole.
● An explanation of how the article can be used to answer your research question
Use the sample annotated bibliography to guide your Assessments; be sure to write in complete sentences.
Resources
● Sample annotated bibliography entry
● Language patterns for source Assessment (below)
● How to cite sources
Language patterns for source Assessment:
MLA Citation Use the instructions HERE to determine your source type and complete an MLA citation.
Summarize the source (2-3 sentences) ● The author is explaining _______
● In general, the article discusses _______
● One section of the article describes _______
● An important fact to note is _______
● _______ helps to reveal _______
Explain the source’s credibility (3-5 sentences) ● When ________, it is important to consider ______ because….
● ______ helps to determine _______
● The author of this source is ______, which suggests _______
● The use of _______ in the article demonstrates _______ because _______
● The fact that ______ makes it clear that this source is credible, because ______.
Summarize how the article can be used in research (1-2 sentences) ● The evidence regarding _______ helps to explain _______
● When the author presents the evidence that __________, they suggest _______
● When writing about _______, it would be helpful to consider ____ because _______
● This article helps to answer the research question because _______
