ENGLISH W233

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ENGLISH W233

• The Basics

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Intermediate
College Writing English W233 builds upon the
skills which you developed in English W131, where
you learned that the college essay is essentially
argumentative (rather than informative) in
nature. Whereas your final expository researched
paper in English W131 was primarily rational in
its argument, your final paper in English W233
will be supported both by rational argument and
by the interpretation of primary research.
English W233
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Very basically, English W233 is a semester-long
research project. You will be writing a formal
academic essaya sort of mini-thesis, if you
willin APA format.
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• APA Style is a format established by the American
  Psychological Association, and an essay in APA
  format is broken down into eight discrete parts
• Cover Sheet
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Method
• Results
• Discussion
• References
• Tables

• A cover page in APA format.

• A succinct summary of the essays contents.

• A statement of relevance, a comparison of the
  literature, a description of what is lacking, and
  a general hypothesis.

• A detailed description of the primary research
  method(s) which will be adopted to examine the
  hypothesis.

• A detailed description of the results of the
  primary research.

• A discussion of the research findings in light of
  what was known, what is now known, its relevance,
  and whether or not the hypothesis has merit.

• A bibliography, annotated or otherwise.

• Tables and other illustrations to clarify the
  research.

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You will work on one research project all
semester long, writing your essay one part at a
time, although not necessarily in the order
listed. At the end of the semester you will
blend all of your assignments into a unified
whole.
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Although the formal nature of the academic essay
may strike you, initially, as tedious, the
structure has been established by tradition and
will prove invaluable to those of you who intend
going on to graduate school, as it will prepare
you for writing effective theses and
dissertations.
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Naturally, if you are going to spend an entire
semester reading and thinking about a topic, it
ought to be something about which you feel
passionate. However, please avoid topics which
are not capable of academic treatment, or which
rely on irrational or non-rational systems of
knowing.
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I am not precluding papers about God or
parapsychology by any means. However, all topics
will have to be approved by me, and it will be
your responsibility, no matter what topic you
choose, to establish the academic viability of
your proposed research.
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It is not often that you have the luxury of
spending an entire semester working on a single
research project. Take advantage of the
opportunity, and enjoy the experience. Good luck.
PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA,
MEd, MA (2009).
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