RESEARCH ESSAY WRITING — Research Thesis Statement: (50 points)Due: 7/23Submit a thesis statement for your Research Paper. You may find…

RRRRESEARCH ESSAY WRITING — Research Thesis Statement: (50 points)Due: 7/23 Submit a thesis statement for your Research Paper. You may find help under Course Information Tab and link, “Can’t see the Forest for the Trees”. I need to clear it before you write your proposal so you don’t waste your time with a thesis that is not appropriate. Worksheet of In-Text Citations and Working Bibliography Page (50 pts). Due: 7/25 See Course Information Tab for help with MLA format Proposal ( 100 points, 1000-1500 words) Due: 7/29 Write and submit a proposal for your research paper based on Lesson 6: “Gathering Research,” Lesson 7: “Integrating Research,” and Lesson 8: “Documenting Research.” Select the topic from an area of interest in your major field or choose another topic you are interested in and develop it into a research document. Write an argumentative research paper framing your argument with commentary and opinion with in-text documentation and Works Cited. Consult the suggested writing assignments in Student Course Guide for the Writer’s Odyssey for Lesson 8, p. 65. ReResearch Paper (200 points, 2000-3000 words). Due: 8/5 Your proposal as well as your subsequent research paper should reflect your consultation with external sources including books, periodicals, journals, interviews, surveys, and the Internet. Try to have a variety of sources and include at least five sources within the text of your paper using parenthetical documentation. You will use the MLA research format for your topic as discussed in your textbook. Remember to follow the guidelines format for 2009 MLA. A link has been provided under the Course Information Tab for your consultation. Check it out! Be sure to include a list of sources (working bibliography for the proposal and works cited for the actual research paper) at the end of your paper.

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Anon

Anon 1

Anon
Ginger Hughes
English 1302-2423
13 November 2009

Food for Health and a Greener Earth: Organic

Rising concerns for health and environment have made organic foods a controversial topic among consumers today. This proposal examines the effects of synthetic chemicals used in food and conventional farming to illustrate the benefits of organic food and farming on human health and the environment. Naturally grown foods have been around for generations. The advent of industrialized farming for mass food production during the twentieth century increased the amounts of foods exposed to man-made pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and preservatives. Recent discoveries indicate the adverse effects of these chemicals on humans, animals, and the environment. The consumption of organic foods will not only promote better health for humanity but also encourage organic farming in order to preserve the planet for future generations.

SUMMARY

Foods made without the use of artificial fertilizers, hormones, and preservatives are defined as organic food. Although agriculture through human history used organic farming methods, industrialized farming and the invention of synthetic fertilizers triggered a chain of events in farming and food manufacturing leading to mass production. Recent research indicates that artificial hormones and antibiotics given to livestock, preservatives and flavors in packaged food, and the use of fertilizer, pesticides, and genetic engineering in produce present numerous health hazards to humans and animals. In humans, long-term exposure to these chemicals including nitrates have been linked with health conditions like cancer, infertility, and autism among many others. Synthetic fertilizers and pest-eliminators disrupt eco-systems and have been reported to create deformities, infertility, and unusual behavior among wild animals. We all inhabit one earth; it is our duty to create a friendly environment for all beings on the planet. Selecting organic foods will encourage more farmers to convert to organic farming methods that maintain the natural balance of the environment. Eliminating the use of pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics in food will prevent a multitude of unwanted diseases and illnesses both in human and animal populations. Organic farming will reduce waste, promote recycling of organic matter, minimize landfills, and support eco-systems. Although many argue against the availability and high cost of organic food, they are accessible through organic gardening, local farms, and careful shopping.

QUOTATIONS AND PARAPHRASES:

• “The word ‘organic’ refers to a natural or ‘earth-friendly’ method of farming and producing food” (Dunn-Angelou 10): This quote supports the definition of organic.
• “We suspect that the increase in chemical and medical sensitivities, childhood cancers, infertility rates, learning disabilities, autism and mood disorders may relate in some way to the sea of endocrine disruptors in which we all swim” (Mills par 16): This quote gives evidence for effects of synthetic fertilizers and hormones.
• “Epidemiological studies have linked nitrates in drinking water to reproductive problems and bladder and ovarian cancer. When nitrate-contaminated well water is mixed with infant formula and fed to babies, the infants can suffer from methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome” (Rich par 18): This quote refers to the effects of chemicals in artificial fertilizers.

“Toxic herbicides and insecticides are accumulating in ground and surface waters. Chemical fertilizers are running off the fields into water systems where they generate damaging blooms of oxygen-depleting microorganisms that disrupt ecosystems and kill fish” (“Hidden Costs” 3): This quote provides the effects of harmful chemicals on wildlife and the environment.

“Data gathered since 1981 from the Rodale Institute’s experimental farms in east-central Pennsylvania on organically grown corn and soybeans shows that the soil retained 15-28% more carbon than conventionally farmed soil, the equivalent of 1,000 pounds of carbon, or 3,500 pounds of carbon dioxide per acre foot of soil” (“Everything”): This quote gives statistics of the benefits of organic farming.
Dr. Mary Warren, a holistic practitioner and an expert on nutrition claims that Phytonutrients found in organic foods help heal many conditions and diseases: This paraphrase illustrates the benefits of organic food.

BASIC ELEMENTS

The introduction followed by the thesis will provide the reader with a basic understanding of organic food and create curiosity towards the subject in order to gain insight on a currently controversial subject.

The body will define the term, “organic” followed by details of organic farming in human history, the evolution of modern farming methods, the adverse effects of non-organic farming and foods on human health and the environment supported by data, the benefits of organic farming and food with statistics, ending with counterarguments and concessions in order to convince the reader.

The conclusion will integrate a restatement of the thesis while persuading the reader to adopt an organic lifestyle and a sense of awareness and responsibility towards creating a greener earth.

BNEFITS TO THE AUDIENCE

The consumption of organic food is a highly debated issue at present, due to mixed reviews by experts and cost. The research paper will offer eye-opening details about organic food to the reader: why organic food is important to a world filled with increasing maladies, what synthetic chemicals are doing to the environment, how we can help the earth’s eco-system, and how we can overcome the high cost of organic food. The data, statistics, anecdotes, expert opinions, and testimonies will fuel the knowledge of the curious and grant interest to the disinterested consumers in the audience. All consumers, young and old will benefit from the information provided in this research.

TIMELINE

Tuesday 3rd November -Conduct personal interview with Dr. Mary Warren, a nutritional expert (1pm).

Wednesday 4th November –Gather online research (9am to 11am).

Thursday 5th November –Reserve reference books from the library (10am).

Saturday 7th November –Review textbook and videos for research paper and start draft (1pm to 4pm).

Sunday 8th November –Finish writing first draft (3pm to 5pm).

Monday 9th November – Finish revising and start citations page (10am to 12noon)

Wednesday 11th November – Finish writing (2pm to 4 pm).

Friday 13th November –Revise and prepare for submission (1pm to 7pm).

Working Bibliography

Dunn-Georgiou, Elisha. Everything You Need to Know About Organic Foods. New York: Rosen P.G., 2002. Print.

“Everything I Need to Know About Organic Foods.” The World’s Healthiest Foods. Whfoods.org. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2009.

Gore, Albert. An Inconvenient Truth. New York: Rodale, 2006. Print.

“Hidden Costs of Industrial Agriculture.” Union of Concerned Scientists. Ucusa.org
. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2009.

Kimbrell, Andrew. Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food
. California: Earth Aware, 2007. Print.

Mills, Dixie. “Endocrine disruptors — tipping the hormonal scales.” Womentowomen.com. 17 Aug 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2009.

“Pesticides and Neurodevelopment.” National Institute of Health Sciences – National Institute of Health. Niehs.nih.gov. 9 Nov. 2007. Web. 4 Nov. 2009.

Warren, Mary. Personal Interview. 3 Nov. 2009.

Dear Students:

I want to address some problems that some students have with the proposal:

Please don’t use the 2nd person, “you”, as this is not appropriate for a research paper. use 1st person, “I” or “we”, or 3rd,”he-she-it-they”. It is preferable that you use 3rd. Ist is OK if you are writing a persuasive piece but be careful not to get caught up in talking about yourself.

Make sure you use correct MLA format for 2009 for the works cited page. Your heading need not be in a header but your last name and pagination must be.

Make sure your sources are reliable. For example Wikipedia can be changed by anyone so it is not reliable, and some websites have an agenda to give you a message or sell you something. Also make sure your sources are up-to-date.

Make sure you have both Web and Print sources.

Your thesis should address what you are going to be talking about in your paper specifically and should be in your introduction. There is a power point on thesis under the course information tab.

I am looking forward to gaining great insight into subjects I had no idea about! It will make for interesting reading.

Ginger Hughes

ENGLISH1302…Fall 2010

Assignment

for the Research Paper Proposal

(Used courtesy of Professor Stephanie Venza)

Purpose:

To persuade your professor and yourself that your research project is a well planned and valuable project which will be successful. You will be seeking approval of a project: that project is your research paper. Once your proposal is approved, you will begin putting together your research paper.

Audience:

Yourself and your English 1302 instructor

Topic:

Write a brief document that summarizes your research project for this course.
These are the major components of an Academic Research Proposal:

An overview of the completed research paper, including
An introduction to your project and a preliminary thesis statement
A short summary of the topic you are researching including short
quotations, and paraphrases from some of your potential sources
A description of the basic elements of your paper
An explanation of the how readers will benefit from reading this paper
A strong conclusion
(2) Your detailed, specific plan for completing this project, including a timetable
tailored to your specific work and home schedule

(3) A working bibliography: a list of at least four reliable sources in correct
MLA citation format
Requirements:

MLA format
Two to three pages plus a
One page working bibliography

Evaluation will be based on how well you

Tailored your message for your audience
Wrote an introduction that engages your reader
Stated a brief overview of your project
Used correct MLA citation format in the text and in your bibliography
Explained how readers will benefit from your research project
Provided a complete, realistic plan for completion of your research paper, including all the required checkpoints
Supplied the necessary details to support your proposal
Concluded strongly, perhaps refocusing on your thesis
Designed the proposal so that it is easy to read
Wrote with language that is concise, positive, and specific
Edited your proposal carefully
This course also addresses the following objectives:

ENGLISH 1302

GUIDELINES FOR THE ACADEMIC PROPOSAL

Purpose:

To persuade your professor and yourself that your research project is a well planned and valuable project in which will be successful. You will be seeking approval of a project: that project is your research paper. Once your proposal is approved, you will begin putting together your research paper.

Audience:

Yourself and your English 1302 instructor

Topic:

Write and submit a proposal of your research paper.   Proposal: 2-3 pages. Based on Lesson 6: “Gathering Research,” Lesson 7: “Integrating Research,” and Lesson 8: “Documenting Research.”
 You may select the topic from an area of interest in your major field. Consult the suggested writing assignments in Student Course Guide for the Writer’s Odyssey for Lesson 8, p. 65.
Format:

Write a brief document that summarizes your research project for this course.
These are the major components of an Academic Research Proposal and you will section your proposal according to these components:

An overview of the completed research paper, including
An introduction to your project and a preliminary thesis statement
A short summary of the topic you are researching including short
quotations, and paraphrases from some of your potential sources
A description of the basic elements of your paper
An explanation of the how readers will benefit from reading this paper
A strong conclusion
2. Your detailed, specific plan for completing this project, including a timetable
tailored to your specific work and home schedule

3. A working bibliography: a list of at least four reliable sources in correct
MLA citation format

Requirements:

MLA format
Two to three pages plus a
One page working bibliography

Evaluation will be based on how well you

Tailored your message for your audience
Wrote an introduction that engages your reader
Stated a brief overview of your project
Used correct MLA citation format in the text and in your bibliography
Explained how readers will benefit from your research project
Provided a complete, realistic plan for completion of your research paper, including all the required checkpoints
Supplied the necessary details to support your proposal
Concluded strongly, perhaps refocusing on your thesis
Designed the proposal so that it is easy to read
Wrote with language that is concise, positive, and specific
Edited your proposal carefully.
English 1302 also addresses the following objectives.

The basis for rating each item on the proposal and research paper rubric:
Introduction with strong thesis and clear sense of audience and purpose
Do the opening sentences bring the reader to the general topic?
Is there an attempt to hook the reader?
Does the thesis contain a controlling idea or clear direction that indicates the writer’s purpose?
Indicates clear organization, critical thinking, logical development of ideas, exposition and or argument
Does the writer organize the paper in a logical manner?
Does the writer use topic sentences that support the thesis?
Does the writer use transition devices to make clear the train of thought?
Does the writer employ the universal intellectual standards as appropriate to the assignment? (Attached)
Strong evidence of research and successful integration of outside sources
Does the writer incorporate ideas from outside sources that are appropriate to the task?
Does the writer show that he/she recognizes credibility of sources?

Language, mechanics and technical proficiency
To what extent do grammatical and mechanical errors interfere with the readers immediate comprehension and/or enjoyment of the paper?

MLA usage, including in-text citations and works cited page
Does the writer display competency with heading and header?
Does the writer display competency with margins, spacing, font size etc?
Does the writer use correct in-text citations and have a corresponding entry on the works cited page?
Conversely, does the writer have an in-text citation for all works on the works cited page?
Is paraphrasing adequate?
Conclusion that summarizes the main points of the essay and impacts the reader
Does the conclusion give a sense of closure to the paper?
Does the conclusion avoid new information needing support?
Does the conclusion take advantage of a last chance to impact reader?
Please pay special attention to these areas as they have been a problem to students in the past:

1. Thesis in Introduction

2. Impacting Conclusion
3. Strong evidence of research and successful integration of outside sources

4. 2009 MLA format, including in-text citation and working bibliography page