Final project instructions

EN103 Fall 2009


Ackerbauer



Final project instructions

For your final project in the course, select one of the following research options:

1.) Art/lit option:
Research the life and work of one artist or writer and write a paper discussing how one of that person’s works (a painting, poem, story, play, novel, etc.) was significant in his or her career. I suggest you select an artist and a work with which you are already familiar and in which you are interested.

2.) Local history option:
Research a significant person, landmark or institution in a local community’s history and write a paper discussing the subject’s influence (good, bad or mixed) on that community. If you select this option, I suggest you take advantage of the Kenneth Dorn Regional History Study Center at FMCC’s Evans Library.

3.) Science/tech option:
Research a cutting-edge development in science, technology, engineering or medicine and write a speculative paper discussing what the future significance of this development might be. For example, you might research how scientists are developing a new technique for curing a disease, or how a software company is designing a new Web application.

4.) Education option:
Research a current development in education theory and/or practice and write a paper discussing how the development has affected schools and students (or how it might in the future).

No matter which option you choose, your speculation, argument or analysis must be based on evidence from your research sources, not merely your own personal opinions or “common sense.” You must acknowledge and address one or more counterarguments, citing at least one source with whom you disagree. I will be happy to help suggest specific sources for your individual project, and of course the staff at the FMCC library is available for research consultation.

The final paper will be 5 to 7 pages long (double-spaced in a standard 12-pt font) and will include a separate cover sheet and a separate “Works Cited” page listing your sources according to MLA style. Your paper must use at least five separate sources identified in the body of your paper with in-text citations.

Key dates:

Dec. 2 – research proposals due; oral presentations begin.
Dec. 9 –  oral presentations conclude.
Dec. 16 – final papers due.