a detailed research paper

RESEARCH PAPER STEPS: A significant component of this class is to help you learn how to gather information and then synthesize this information into a well written research paper. In order to help you better learn how to research your paper will be broken down into a variety of steps which will help you to stay on top of the work and develop your research into a worthwhile paper.  Research paper topic and in-progress bibliography (5 points)  Annotated Bibliography (minimum of 5 sources—not including Internet sites) (15 points)  Visit Reading and Writing Center (5 points extra credit)  Detailed Research Paper Outline (100 points) REQUIREMENTS FOR DETAILED OUTLINE OF RESEARCH PAPER: Each student will write a clear, well argued, outline of a research paper on a topic associated with world history or world civilization before 1500. If you will write about Oceania or Polynesia, it will be about civilization before the arrival of Europeans and the influence of European culture. The outline/draft should be approximately 3–5 pages in length, double spaced, and written with 12 point, Times New Roman type. I expect the outline to be well written as well as have something meaningful to say. You are encouraged to select a topic of personal interest to you so long as you can find reputable research materials. Your research paper outline is required to have a thesis: your argument or the case you want to prove. You may find it helpful to formulate a question to drive your research. How and why questions are often the most helpful. Your thesis is, in effect, a sophisticated answer to your question. A thesis may often, but not always, take the form of a statement like: “Something is the case because of A, B, and C.” By so doing, your paper will have the internal direction of seeking to solve a problem or answer a question to keep it on course. You should write about something that interests you because that is the beginning of a good paper. If you are bored and uninterested in writing and researching the paper then you can be sure that I will be bored reading it. Although you will not be writing an actual paper, you will be preparing information and finding evidence to support your thesis. Your detailed outline should include either quotes or paraphrases from reputable sources. Citations should be given for material to which you refer or paraphrase, including that in the textbooks. An entire grade worth of points will be deducted from any paper that does not list, either in footnotes or in author-date style references, the sources of its information. Include a bibliography or list of works cited in alphabetical order by the last name of the author at the end of your paper or exam. Please do not hesitate to talk to the instructor. Make use of office hours!