{"id":212,"date":"2014-01-11T07:47:31","date_gmt":"2014-01-11T14:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tonahangen.com\/wsc\/hi215\/?page_id=212"},"modified":"2014-04-07T13:22:02","modified_gmt":"2014-04-07T17:22:02","slug":"big-idea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.tonahangen.com\/wsc\/hi215\/big-idea\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Idea Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Big Idea Research Project<\/strong> (25% of your final grade)<\/p>\n

Download the project guidelines<\/a> (PDF)<\/p>\n

In this project you will tackle one \u00e2\u20ac\u0153big idea\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in American thought and trace it through at least FOUR different thinkers from different time periods. Your final project can take one of two forms: either a conventional research paper, or a more creatively structured format, such as a dialogue, drama, or imaginary roundtable interview. The schedule for this project, and the guidelines for assessment, are listed below.<\/p>\n

As before, in your research you should prioritize scholarly peer-reviewed articles, printed reference works, and university-press books over other types of sources. Please do not use Wikipedia (or About.com or Ask.com or similar sites) as bibliographic entries. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no minimum or maximum number of sources, but keep in mind this should be the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153capstone\u00e2\u20ac\u009d effort of the entire semester and should demonstrate your very best work.<\/p>\n

April 1 Have chosen your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153big idea\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (5 points)<\/strong>
\nWrite up the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153big idea\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and as many of the four thinkers as you know at this point. Submit this in written form (not a journal entry this time).<\/p>\n

Week of April 7 Schedule a time to meet IN PERSON with me<\/strong> during my office hours to discuss your idea and your plans for research.<\/p>\n

April 15 Research Pr\u00c3\u00a9cis due (5 points)<\/strong>
\nRestate your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153big idea\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve refined it through initial research, and provide a research log or explanation of your completed & planned research. Include a bibliography of your sources.<\/p>\n

April 24 Final project due on this day (10 points)<\/strong>
\nCompleted paper, in polished form as hard copy printed paper, to be submitted in class. Please, no email submissions.<\/p>\n

Apr 29-May 6 Oral Presentation at Mini Academic Conference (5 points)<\/strong>
\nYou will present your research to the class in some way on your assigned presentation day \u00e2\u20ac\u201c obviously you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t read the whole thing to us. You might read the introduction and conclusion and discuss major findings, or might prepare an oral presentation based on it, or might assign class members to perform part of the dialogue\/drama. Your presentation could consider not only what you discovered in your research (i.e. the substance or content of your project), but also what you learned from it or how it represents a culmination or integration of your learning in this course all semester.<\/p>\n

Guidelines for Assessment: <\/strong>
\n(Use this as a checklist to make sure you have all components in place)<\/p>\n

Paper Mechanics<\/strong><\/p>\n