For this project students will identify an issue concerning fire in California to investigate in detail using available resources including but not limited to; archival documents, secondary sources, oral histories, archaeological and fire ecology reports, peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and newspaper articles. This project will impart legitimate research and writing skills that will mirror those used regularly by cultural resource managers, historians, and social and environmental scientists. The purpose is to encourage students to more thoughtfully use a wider array of peer reviewed resources to convey their arguments.
This assignment is ultimately worth 20% of your final grade for the class. Below are the due dates for the 3 required deliverables and the dates we will conduct the two graded 2 peer review components of the project.
The final draft of your research project can take the form of a conventional 6-7 page research paper, or can be some other kind of deliverable that shows a comparable level of effort and dedication to quality research. Examples of alternative forms of deliverables can include (but are not limited to) paintings, drawings, comics, poetry, posters, songs, short films, and interactive websites. Students seeking to pursue alternative forms of final products should reach out to their GSI by October 28th, to establish expectations with regard to the type of deliverable you will be producing, its content, and the method of turn in that will be appropriate for each individual project. Students pursuing this option will still need to submit Sub-Assignments 1 and 2, and will still need to participate in the Peer Review activities to receive full credit.
Sub-Assignment Due Date Point Value
1. Title, Topic Paragraph and annotated bibliography Friday 10/15/20 by 11:59pm on Bcourses 20%
1. Annotated Outline Friday 11/12/20 by 11:59pm on Bcourses 20%
Peer Review of Assignments 1 and 2 In the Discussion Section Following the Deliverable Turn in 20%
(10% each)
1. Final Draft Friday 12/3/20 by 11:59pm on Bcourses 40%
Total 100%
Descriptions of Sub-Assignments:
1:Title, Topic Paragraph, and Annotated Bibliography
Title: Provide a succinct, yet descriptive, title that will prepare the reader for the content
of your paper.
Topic Paragraph: A few sentences about your topic, including your Research Question, and how it relates to the themes of the course.
Annotated Bibliography: Find and read a minimum of 4 peer-reviewed sources/monographs, primary documents or oral histories (at least 3 of which come from outside the class reading list) and 1 additional sources (may be peer reviewed or unreviewed). For each of these sources format properly in Chicago Author-Date style and a paragraph annotation for each. Each annotation should include 4-5 sentences that:
a) summarize the source and its conclusions
b) the relevance of the source to your topic
c) how you intend to use the data or argument presented within the source in your paper
Submit all three parts as one document on bCourses.
File name :YourLastName,FirstName_topic
2. Detailed Annotated Outline – The outline must contain a minimum of 7 peer-reviewed sources/monographs, primary documents or oral histories (at least 6 of which come from outside the class reading list), and 3 additional sources (may be peer reviewed or unreviewed). For each of these sources format properly in Chicago Author-Date style.
The detailed annotated outline should be in the following format:
a) Write an introduction paragraph and refine your topic paragraph by integrating the feedback you have received from peers and instructors
b) Write topic sentences for each of your paragraphs that explain what evidence you intend to use to support your argument
c) Use bullet points underneath each topic sentence to explain how your sources and their evidence supports the topic sentence of the paragraph
d) Write a preliminary thesis and or concluding statement (1-2 sentences)
e) Include a works cited section
Submit on bCourses.
File name :YourLastName,FirstName_outline
Peer Review of Assignments 1 and 2: During the discussion sections following the submission of your first and second Sub-Assignments, we will dedicate some class time to peer-review workshops. In these workshops, students will work in pairs, review eachother’s submitted works, and offer feedback and constructive criticism. To receive full credit students will need to a) have a completed submission b) attend discussion section and participate in the peer review, and c) submit a filled out worksheet (to both their GSI and peer-review partner) at the conclusion of the discussion section.
3. Final Project: Either a 6-7 research paper (not including works cited), or an alternative deliverable demonstrating equivalent effort. Papers must use a 12 point font, 1” margins, double spaced. The paper should have in-text citations and a bibliography with at least 10 sources (7 of which must be peer-reviewed, monographs, primary documents or oral histories, and 9 of which must be from outside of class). Format your paper, citations, and bibliography in Chicago Author-Date style. Guidelines for alternative final deliverables will be set by your GSI on a project by project basis.
Submit the assignment on bCourses.
File name : YourLastName,FirstName_essay