ENGL 1301 | Writing & Nursing | Ron Heckelman

Your topic for the paper must be selected from the list provided (see Handouts folder in D2L) and must be approved by the instructor. Once approved in an email, the topic may not be changed. However, your approach to the topic will naturally evolve over the process of doing research. (Papers submitted on topics that have not been previously approved will not be accepted.)

Due: By date announced. The paper must be submitted to the appropriate folder in D2L under the Assignments tab. No late papers, please. No wiggle room at the end of the semester.

Length: 3 ½ to 4 pages, typed, double-spaced.

Sources: Minimum of 3 to 5 scholarly/database/Med Pub sources. Three will be sufficient, but this is your call based on what you think is appropriate for your topic and your approach. If you have found a “popular” source that is useful you may use it. But it would not count toward the minimum of 3 scholarly sources.

*Documentation: APA style is required. See the sample research paper in APA at Purdue OWL as well as the info. about APA on the course Library Guide.

On Sources: The Modified Working Bibliography

Well before the paper is due, you must submit a Modified Working Bibliography as a separate document. This is a list of possible sources on your topic arranged alphabetically and in APA form with brief annotations. You will submit it to the folder so designated to receive it in D2L. It counts as a required separate assignment and receives a grade. At least 5 possible references, in correct APA style, with the appropriate annotations (see handout on this) must be included in the document. The Working Bib. must be submitted by the date announced, prior to the due date for the paper itself.   

Working Bib. handed in late (with no explanation) receive a lowered grade (one full letter grade). Although this does not directly affect the eventual grade on the research paper itself, it reflects on the research paper itself.

You are not obliged to use all 5 of the particular sources in the Working Bib. in the paper, but sources eventually used in the paper must be included in the Working Bib. A new entry or two, discovered since the Working Bib. was submitted, that you want to use in your paper, may be included in a “supplement” to the original working bib. document. The due date for a supplement will be announced.  

The working bib. called “modified” because there is particular information, in a particular order that must be in the annotation for each entry. There will be a separate handout (in the Handouts folder) on how to construct the annotations.

A well-constructed, properly annotated Working Bibliography often means a better research paper. Not unlike quality ingredients often mean a better-tasting cake. But of course, there is more to writing, and baking, than just dropping sources and ingredients into a bowl.

If You Need Help at Any Time: Keep me posted if you encounter any problems doing your research (finding sources, writing a draft et al). You should also get as many writing consults as you want/need in The Write Place (campus writing center). This can be ftf or online. Your paper—any paper—will be better if you use the writing center. See the syllabus, Useful Links, for how to contact The Write Place.