RESEARCH JOURNAL
  Annotating a Text  

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE TASKS YOU WILL COMPLETE AS YOU WORK ON YOUR RESEARCH PAPER.  I WILL FILL IN SUGGESTED AND REQUIRED DUE DATES FOR EACH TASK. THUS, YOU MAY WISH TO REFER TO THIS PAGE WHEN MAKE YOUR OWN TIME TABLE LATER IN THE SEMESTER.

The following are this semester's approximations for scheduling the tasks of your research paper. These are general guidelines so that you meet the deadline for the assignment--you should tailor the particulars of the tasks to your own research timetable, keeping in mind the needs of your own personal schedule. Remember,WHEN DATES HAVE BEEN FILLED IN, the suggestioned schedule is most likely accurate (i.e., they will be composed of the times you should be finished with the named tasks so that you do not lag too far behind).  DO NOT LET TIME SLIP AWAY FROM YOU! THIS IS A TIME CONSUMING PROJECT.  YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR RESEARCH AT THE LAST MINUTE.

1                      --------------------------Make selection* of topic. Draft                                                                                        general research research question. Begin     

                                                                (general topic research, specifically books.)

                                                                *  Select your topic wisely.  You will NOT

                                                                have time to change your topic!

2                        -------------------------Narrow your topic sufficiently.  Begin more

                                                                specific research (i.e. journal articles,                                                                      interviews, etc.).

3                        -------------------------Create a working thesis statement.

4                           ------------------------Finish reading the research

                                                                 materials that you've gathered, all the while

                                                                 taking meticulous notes.

5                           -----------------------Assess.  Have you answered your research

                                                                question?  Do you need to gather any more

                                                                resource materials?  Can your thesis be

                                                                sufficiently supported?  Do you need to

                                                                revise your thesis statement?

6                      -------------------------- Create a working outline for your research

                                                                 paper.  Begin placing quotes/notes in the

                                                                 order in which they will be used in your paper

                                                                 Ask yourself these questions and any others

                                                                 you think are pertinent to this stage of the

                                                                 research process:

                                                                 1. Do I now see any gaps? (eg. A weak area                                                                  of appeal within my argument for which I                                                                  need additional support? A gap in the                                                                            organization of my argument?) If so, get busy

                                                                 filling the gaps and strengthening the

                                                                 argument.  

                                                                 2. Have I found an area for which

                                                                 I now realize I did not record in my                                                                                  notes a quote that would be perfect?  If so,                                                                  go back and find that quote. (Hint:  Start with

                                                                 the annotated bibliography.)

7                         -------------------------Turn in annotated bibliography.  BEGIN

                                                                 DRAFTING YOUR RESEARCH PAPER!

8                         -------------------------In class, guided edit of your research paper.

                                    -----------------DUE DATE for RESEARCH PAPER!

                                                                 Due by 9:00 p.m. You MUST hand                                                                  your paper to me personally! (I teach on

                                                                 Monday evenings in room AS 210--you'll

                                                                 find me there or in my office, AS27 if you

                                                                 don't turn your paper in during the Comp II

                                                                 class period.)

                                                                 NO EMAILED PAPERS!!!

                                                                 It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to

                                                                 be sure I receive the paper.  I am NOT

                                                                 accountable for any lost or late papers!!!