Final Assignment

Associate Program Material
Appendix A

Final Project Overview and Timeline

Final Assignment Overview

The final assignment for COM/156 is a 1,450- to 1,700-word research paper on an instructor-approved topic of your choice. The subject of your paper should provide you with ample opportunities for research. You are required to use three to five references to support your thesis. The final paper must follow APA guidelines and must include the following elements:

• A title page • An introduction including the thesis statement • A body with at least three paragraphs, including supporting evidence and in-text citations • A conclusion • A reference list of citations with at least three to five sources, two of which must come from the University Library

Final Project Timeline

Budget your time wisely and work on the assignment as directed throughout the course. As outlined below, some midcourse assignments are intended to help you create your final essay. If you complete all course activities and use the feedback provided by the instructor and writing center resources, you should be able to successfully complete your essay.

□ Suggested in Week One: Read the Final Assignment Overview and Timeline in Appendix A.

□ Due in Week One: Research Plan assignment. Submit a research plan for your paper.

□ Suggested in Week One: Brainstorm and narrow your topic selection. Submit a narrowed topic.

□ Due in Week Two: Strategies for Gathering and Evaluating Sources assignment Identify sources for your paper.

□ Due in Week Three: Quoting, Summarizing, and Paraphrasing a Source assignment. Learn about how to include the work of others in your paper.

□ Also suggested in Week Three: Learn about the requirements of proper APA formatting.

□ Due in Week Four: Thesis Statement assignment. Develop and submit your thesis statement, which will guide the rest of your writing.

□ Due in Week Five: Outline assignment. Create and submit an outline of the major points of your research paper.

□ Due in Week Six: Body Paragraphs assignment. Expand on the outline you created in Week Five and use it to compose the body of your research paper.

□ Also suggested in Week Six: Incorporate your source material and include transitions that tie all your ideas together. Begin to build your reference page that lists sources you used in your paper.

□ Due in Week Seven: Introduction and Conclusion assignment. Write your introduction and conclusion paragraphs, add your introduction to the beginning of the body, and add your conclusion to the end in preparation for your final draft.

□ Due in Week Eight: Research Paper Revision Analysis assignment. Using feedback provided from several sources—such as your instructor, the Center for Writing Excellence, and Plagiarism Checker —revise and polish your research paper in preparation for submitting the final draft.

□ Suggested in Week Nine: Use the checklist in Appendix H to proofread your research paper and make any last-minute changes.

□ Due in Week Nine: Final Project: Research Paper assignment. Submit your completed research paper.