Research Paper: Higher Education

Paper Requirement: 3+ FULL pages, 3-4 research sources from Galileo only

The purpose of a research paper is to explore a topic and propose a new idea about it based on research. It is not a report, nor does it tell the reader what is widely known. Rather, it tells us something new about a topic. That idea—YOUR idea– is then supported with research. A good research paper will contribute a something new for people to consider.

Topic:

A hot topic in this year’s presidential election has been access to college. With that in mind, our research will tackle access to higher education in the United States.

First, choose a topic that relates to a challenge in higher education. You may define and explain that topic or define and offer a solution for that topic. You may also argue for or against a current solution that has been proposed.

What would you like to explore? Some ideas might include access to college for prisoners, for single parents, for undocumented immigrants, for those in poverty. You may discuss whether or not college should be free as has been proposed. You may argue that education should or should not be available to a certain group, or you may simply define and explain the problem or offer an original solution. You may research a solution that has been proposed and argue for it or against it.

Note: If you choose to define a problem p. 248, discuss the causes and effects of a problem p. 273, or make an argument, Chapter 10, please refer to your text for explanations about how to do each thing effectively.

Paper Stipulations:

MLA format—Use OWL to format your MLA citations and Works Cited page.
ALL sources must come from Galileo. To format the Works Cited entry for work from a database, look in OWL under “electronic sources.”

You may use one of the two articles that we read for class.
3-5 typed pages + Works Cited page
If you write 3 pages, they must go all the way to the bottom with correct spacing and margins.

More than 5 paragraphs

The Works Cited page is NOT one of pages included in the 3 page requirement,
but you must have one.

No quotes over 2 lines

Use at least two but not more than 7 well-selected quotes. If your paper goes over three pages, you may add 2 quotes per page.
Must use a mix of paraphrases, summaries, and quotes.
You may use personal examples to support your paper. If you choose to do so, this is the only time you will use “I.” Do not use
2nd person or “I believe,” “I think,” etc.

7. Submit the paper via Turn it In. Make sure that the Works Cited page is the final page of the paper, not in a separate file.