Prof. Deborah S. Flippens

COM 200 Interpersonal Communication

RESEARCH PAPER GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

OBJECTIVE

The Research Paper provides an opportunity to demonstrate your acquired knowledge, experience, and scholarship regarding the field of Interpersonal/Relational Communication addressing a key concept/topic of your selection. A vast amount of information has been introduced in this course. Select a topic of interest to you; and that you wish to examine more extensively. If you have written on a subject of interest in other assignments for this course, you may continue that discussion with this paper. This paper should reflect serious higher-level and critical thought. Reliable connections need to be made to key concepts in Interpersonal Communication. Only formal discourse and effective written expression should be utilized. This paper should be substantive and well-researched; and not based on conjecture, opinion, or generalizations. The content quality (grammar, format, and so forth) and synthesis of the main ideas will be strictly graded. (I do not require a separate abstract page or a review of literature).

GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Provide a title page containing your name, date, course, university, and title of your paper.

2. Provide a formal Works Cited page using MLA writing style. Correctly cite online sources.

3. Provide a minimum of five (5) references from a variety of authoritative resources, i.e., book, journal article, case study, scholarly magazines, online source and so forth. Do not use more than three online sources, or a five-point deduction will be applied to the grade.

4. Each page should contain your name and page number

5. Use the MLA writing style format. Use the ECSU writing center or check this MLA website for assistance. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html

6. The paper should be approximately no more or less than five (5) pages, double-spaced, 12-pitch font. Focus on substance and not fillers.

7. Cites and references should be consistent and correctly formatted throughout this paper.

8. If research assistance is needed, then gain assistance at a library. If writing assistance is needed for composing a research paper, then gain guidance from the ECSU writing center or similar resource.

9. The opening paragraph should gain the reader’s attention, introduce the topic purpose the thesis statement or central ideas (main points) that will be addressed in the paper.

10. Create a clear transition statement or paragraph sentence for each new paragraph.

11. Each paragraph should address a clear idea or key concept.

12. Create sub-headings for each area of discussion, i.e., introduction, the key concept or topic, problems and solutions, or whatever approach you wish to take in appropriately organizing this formal paper. All major areas of discussion must have a sub-heading.

13. Develop a solid conclusion clearly stating your topic research, recap, and outcomes.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This assignment will allow you to process further and research a topic/key concept of your selection that demonstrates your new understanding of human communication and relational interaction. You will apply not only factual and robust research but also your lived experience, as well as learning in this course to this pivotal paper. This assignment encourages higher-level thinking, analysis, organization, planning and your distinct and unique voice on a given topic. This assignment should skillfully exhibit your consummate academic effort in this course. All students should have a good understanding of work performance and grading standards for this course.

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