Final Draft Specifications Length: Minimum requirement: 900 words (not including title page, figures, or reference page) – 1200 words (MAXIMUM) Format: Please double-space all work in this class. Use Font size 12, Times New Roman, one inch margins all around. File type: Please submit work as a .doc or .docx file. Please be sure to include your name in the file name, in addition to including it on the title page to ensure I know whose work belongs to whom once it’s been downloaded. Format: Please use APA citation style. If you are an English major and have obtained permission from the instructor via e-mail, you may use MLA format. Your paper should include at least one visual element that has an informational/communicative function within the main text (not just a piece of decorative clipart, for example). Visual elements must be properly labeled and properly cited.(We will practice this in class.) Important Note: * Please no Abstracts. (These are just summaries of the entire paper and are generally used for much lengthier papers.) * Please place all visual elements at the END of the paper. This minimizes formatting disruptions and allows for maximally efficient assessment and grading of your work. Research Sources: You must use at least five (5) high-quality/reliable sources, at least three (3) of which must be scholarly journal articles from the NU library’s databases.(Be assured that the NU Library skills you develop will be transferable to other academic research environments, as academic libraries are set up very similarly and draw upon the same database vendors: ProQuest, EBSCO, etc.). Whenever you use web sites, you will need to be aware of the limitations and possible biases of such sources. This awareness should shape how you use various kinds of web sources in your paper. Your goal should be to draw upon credible sources in your paper, and to conduct a thorough and fair inquiry. Audience: Address your paper to a general audience. Your ILR classmates have a wide range of backgrounds and academic interests; assume this kind of broad readership when you write your paper. Assume that your readers are not specialists in your topic area. All ideas must be developed and fully explained. Assessment Criteria for Final Research Project (Total of 125 points possible) Revision & Language 40 pts. Possible Did the paper get substantively revised, based on the instructor feedback given for the first graded draft? Note: This will require students to have submitted a rough draft beforehand in time for grading/feedback, and for students to read the instructor’s feedback and make a credible effort to address the comments made by the instructor in the draft from Week 3. Is paper written with clarity, specificity, and correct grammar and mechanics? *Note: If a paper’s language is not considered understandable due to a high frequency of language level errors that impede understanding and/or other foundational issues with basic English composition, such a paper may not pass, despite addressing other aspects of the assignment. Organization & Development 45 pts. Possible Is the research question given clearly in the introduction? This should be at the end of the introduction. Does it have a clear and specific focus? Do unified paragraphs, with one topic each, all address this question? Are there clear and well-crafted transitions? Does paper have sufficient background info to understand the research question and answers? (No more than 40% of total paper). Is paper at least 900 (minimum)-1200 words (max), excluding title page, Abstract (not needed for this paper), and References? *Note: If paper is substantially beneath meeting minimum length requirements, this may be grounds for a non-passing paper. Is there at least one substantive visual element in the paper? Is it discussed meaningfully in the text of the paper showing the reader how it helps to address the research question? PLEASE PLACE THESE AT THE END OF THE PAPER. THANKS! Use of Secondary Sources 40 pts. Possible Are all required research sources used and are they well chosen? At least 5 sources, 3 of which must be peer-reviewed/ scholarly journal articles. *Note that if scholarly source requirements are substantially far from being met, this is grounds for a non-passing paper in the D to F range, depending on the paper. Is there an interdisciplinary aspect to the paper? Are secondary sources integrated strongly using the 3-step Method: (1. Introduce your source’s relevant credentials, 2. Give quote or paraphrase, 3. Explain its significance to your point and how it helps to address your research question). Are there any “dropped quotes” with no student analysis or discussion / poor source integration? Does the student appropriately paraphrase facts and figures? Are there any unnecessary block quotes? Block quotes = quotes of 40 words or more. Are secondary sources used accurately and logically? (Quotes / paraphrases are not misrepresented and logically support assertions. Sources are used to directly & logically address the research question given at the beginning of the paper.) Is APA Format credibly attempted for formatting, in-text citation, and for References? Is paper double-spaced, using font 12 Times New Roman? (This should be used for either APA or MLA). (If you are an English major and have been given permission to use MLA Format, is MLA Format credibly attempted for formatting, in-text citation, and for Works Cited list? TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 125