Educators of Tomorrow

Paper #3: Free Choice Research Synthesis
Assignment:
For this paper, you will research a topic of your choice and write a 5-6-page essay that explains the information to a freshman student in a different major. Your topic should focus on an aspect of your major or chosen career path. In addition to the synthesis of information, you will also provide an evaluation and analysis of the sources and topic. Although this research paper should remain objective, you may make MINOR claims, such as “This [innovation] was a turning point because…” or “It is important for society to understand how [this process] works because…” A successful essay will synthesize sources and present the issue with a clear and logical structure. You may choose one visual (a table, graph, or picture) that helps illustrate the information that you are presenting, but you do not have to. The visual combined with the caption and figure information should be no bigger than half a page. For each visual you include beyond 1, you should extend the minimum requirement for your paper by half a page. All visuals must be accurately labeled, titled, and captioned, with a source provided. You may use brief quotes from reliable sources, but the majority of the paper should be summarized or paraphrased information that is cited correctly. You should not use first person (I, we, us, our) or second person (you, your) in this paper. At this point in the semester, this essay should be virtually free of MLA formatting errors, citation problems, and grammar mistakes. You should use multiple sources in each paragraph.
Getting Started:
First, you will brainstorm to find a topic that you would like to write about. There are suggested prompts below to get you started. You can use Google to look at news articles, wiki pages, and other websites in order to find your topic. Keep in mind that you do not want to use these websites as sources for your paper.
Finally, you will develop an outline that is organized, cohesive, and logical. From there, you will begin to write your rough draft.
Requirements:
• At least 5 peer-reviewed sources (other sources can be used in addition to these)
• 5-6 pages in length
• Topic that addresses a topic in your field or chosen career path
• Strong thesis and clear topic sentences that help your reader move logically through your paper.
• Multiple sources in every body paragraph
• Proper MLA formatting, including in-text citations and works cited page
Suggested Prompts
• Write an essay that tells your audience about an innovation (a new method, idea, product) in your field, whether it is recent or historical.
Suggested Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Pertinent background information about the field
Section 3: Why it was needed
Section 4: The innovation (what it is, when it occurred, who invented it)
Section 5: What changed as a result of the innovation
Section 6: Conclusion
• Write an essay that tells your audience about a turning point (an event or idea that significantly changed the way things were done) in your field.
Suggested Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Pertinent background information about the field
Section 3: Events or circumstances leading to the turning point
Section 4: The turning point
Section 5: What changed as a result of the turning point
Section 6: Conclusion
• Write an essay that tells your audience about something significant in your field that people outside of your field should know about.
Suggested Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Pertinent background information about the significant thing
Section 3: Reasons people should know about it (think about how it will benefit them to know)
Section 4: Why people do not know about it and/or what could be done so that people will know about it
Section 5: The best way to share the information
Section 6: Conclusion
• Write an essay that tells your audience about the impact that something in your field has on society as a whole OR another field.
Suggested Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Pertinent background information about the impactful thing
Sectin 3: First reason it impacted society OR other field (include viewpoints of its effect).
Section 4: Second reason it impacted society (with viewpoints)
Section 5: Other reasons as needed
Section 6: Conclusion
Side note: Once I graduate, I would like to become an educator. My major is multidisciplinary studies, and once I graduate, I will get a teachers certification through an alternate route. I would like for the paper to emphasize the different ways to obtain a teachers certification.