Overview
In a well-written 5-8 page research paper you will describe the history of the case on the topic you have chosen early in the semester. You will describe the main problems of your environmental topic and solutions that groups, corporations, governments and you think appropriate.
Your paper must meet the following requirements:
Demonstrates strong or adequate knowledge of course concepts and chosen cases.
Correctly represent knowledge from readings and sources.
Provides a strong critical analysis and interpretation of the information given about a specific case of environmental challenges.
Sources or examples meet the required criteria and are well chosen to provide substance and perspectives on the issue under examination. (Use 6-8 Sources both in-text and in references page)
The Paper is clearly organized, well written, and in the proper format, as outlined in the assignment.
Strong sentence and paragraph structure; few errors in grammar and spelling.
The paper contains proper APA formatting.
Your paper should include a title or cover page, an introduction, body, conclusion, and reference section.
Introduction:
The introduction should address three questions: What the paper is about, why it is important and how the problem could be solved?
What? Be specific about the topic of the paper, introduce the background, and define key terms or concepts.
Why? This is the most important, but also the most difficult, part of the introduction. Try to provide brief answers to the following questions: What new material or insight are you offering? What important issues does your essay help define or answer?
How? To let the reader know what to expect from the rest of the paper, the introduction should include a “map” of what will be discussed, briefly presenting the key elements of the paper in chronological order.
Write a compelling body of text:
The major struggle faced by most writers is how to organize the information presented in the paper, which is one reason an outline is so useful. However, remember that the outline is only a guide and, when writing, you can be flexible with the order in which the information and arguments are presented.
One way to stay on track is to use your thesis statement and topic sentences. Check:
topic sentences against the thesis statement;
topic sentences against each other, for similarities and logical ordering;
and each sentence against the topic sentence of that paragraph.
Be aware of paragraphs that seem to cover the same things. If two paragraphs discuss something similar, they must approach that topic in different ways. Aim to create smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections.
Write the research paper’s conclusion:
The conclusion is designed to help your reader out of the paper’s argument, giving them a sense of finality.
Trace the course of the paper, emphasizing how it all comes together to prove your thesis statement. Give the paper a sense of finality by making sure the reader understands how you’ve settled the issues raised in the introduction.
You might also discuss the more general consequences of the argument, outline what the paper offers to future students of the topic, and suggest any questions the paper’s argument raises but cannot or does not try to answer.
