This essay is a research paper. While you may include some of your own experience, the focus is on information from your sources. The goal is to educate your readers about writing in your major and/or future career while demonstrating your writing, critical thinking, research, and MLA documentation skills. The readings, videos, discussions, and activities in Module 3 will lead you through writing this paper step by step.
Before You Write This Paper
You must have successfully completed the following assignments:
Quizzes 11-13
Activities 13-16 & 18-20
Group Discussions 2, 5, 6, & 8
You must carefully review these student papers: A paper focusing just on the career
A paper focusing just on the major
A paper focusing on both the major and the career
Essay Assignment As the syllabus notes, this course is designed to better acquaint you with the writing required in different fields of academic study and professional work. In this essay, you will present information about the writing required in your major and/or future career. You may also include information about reading, research, visuals, and/or presentations required in your major and/or future career, as well as other information, such as advice for succeeding in the field and job prospects in the field.
If you are considering two majors and/or careers, you may compare and contrast information from both; however, keep in mind that a comparison-contrast paper is more difficult to write. If you are writing about two fields, divide the body of your paper equally between them. Consider using subheadings to help with organization.
Title this paper “Writing in the Disciplines”
Your first one or two paragraphs must introduce the major(s) and/or career(s) you have chosen to write about. This paragraph should also include some background information about yourself, your research, and what you found. Include this sentence as your umbrella thesis statement: “I conducted research to discover more about this field, especially the writing requirements.”
The body of your paper must present your research findings. Every body paragraph must include MLA citations. While most of the paper (two-thirds or more) must be written in your own words, I recommend including a quotation in each body paragraph. All exact words from a source must be enclosed in quotation marks and cited in that sentence.
Long quotations of 50 words or more are limited to one per paper. These long quotations must be block indented. (See long quotations in Lunsford’s The Everyday Writer Chapter 12.) You must also show where you found information. While most information should be from your research sources, you may also include your own experience as a student or employee in this field.
Introduce material from a source with a phrase like this: “According to Lunsford . . .”
Flag any knowledge that comes from your own experience with a phrase like this: “As an engineering student, I know that . . .”
Introduce experts and interviewees with their full name and descriiption, such as “Mark Mahiʻai, senior Computer Science major at Sac State.”
Carefully review the sample paper above for examples of how to do this.
Accuracy of information and credibility of sources will largely impact your grade. Your main ideas must be well-developed with supporting details. The more detailed the information, the stronger your paper will be. See Lunsford’s The Everyday Writer Chapters 3 and 4 for help developing and organizing your paper. Consider using subheadings to help with organization.
For your last one or two paragraphs, write a reflection exploring one or more of the following questions:
What are your personal “take-aways” from this research?
How helpful did you find what you learned?
What surprised you most about what you learned?
Did this research inspire you to expand, refine, or change your plans for your studies or future career?
Don’t add an additional conclusion. This reflection is the end of the paper.
Other Requirements
Sentences, Paragraphs, and Word Choice
Your paper must flow well from sentence to sentence and from paragraph to paragraph. Each body paragraph should be about the same length, and paragraphs shouldn’t be longer than 3/4 a page. The general campus community is your target audience (students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents). Word choice and sentence structure should be academic rather than conversational. You are required to use “I” in some sections of this paper.
See Lunsford’s The Everyday Writer Chapters 4, 23, 24, and 26 for help.
Required Sources
Use MLA style to cite your sources within your paper and on a Works Cited page at the end. At least four sources must be discussed in your paper and accurately cited. Each interview counts as a source. See Chapters 54-57 for further help. Also see the instructional videos linked to the bottom of our Canvas home page.
Editing Your paper must be carefully edited. Be sure to use Grammar and Spell Check (Microsoft Word recommended). See Lunsford’s The Everyday Writer Chapters 5e and 32 for help.
Length
This paper must be at least 1250 words long but no more than 1750 words long. (Count words from the first word of your introduction to the last word of your reflection.)
below is student paper example.