You will write a 1,500–1,750 word current APA-formatted final paper that builds upon the research question/topic and outline. The paper must include a title, abstract, and reference page. The paper must include a minimum of 10 scholarly sources: 1 primary source (the chosen college’s website) and at least 9 other authoritative sources (i.e. ebook, book, or journal article). You must synthesize all research into a well-blended paper that clearly addresses a defined research question/topic that you develop concerning Harvard University, a prestigious and historical American college. Review the Historical Review Project: Research Paper Grading Rubric to learn how this assignment will be evaluated. Paper Components: 1. Title Page a. Title: The title summarizes the paper and its focus. The title must be clear enough to give the reader an idea of what to expect in your paper. Avoid statements that sound vague or flippant. b. Other Title Page Information: a. Student Name b. Institution 2. Abstract a. Write a well-written paragraph (100–120 words). b. The Abstract is written last. The content is to be a synopsis of the main findings of your paper. Consider this paragraph an abridged version of your full paper. 3. Body Paragraphs & Headings To ensure that your paper meets the requirements of the rubric, the following elements must be clearly identified with headings. Introduction a. Although not labeled with a heading on your paper, this section will introduce your topic and provide your specific research question that will be developed throughout the paper (250 words). b. Discuss why you chose this particular college and provide a brief history of the college. Give a broad overview of the scope of the work you are reviewing. c. Best practice is to place the research question at the end of the introduction. In doing so, you are creating a transition for the rest of the paper that supports your topic. Importance a. Why did you choose this topic? b. What interested you in this topic? c. Do you have any history with this topic? Significance a. Why is this topic significant or worthwhile to study? b. What, if anything, can be learned from this topic? Impact a. How does this topic relate to current practices? b. What important questions are answered/addressed/discussed at this present time based on your topic? c. Reflect on what has been learned from your study? Biblical Worldview a. From a biblical worldview perspective, what are the issues this topic presents? b. Offer alternative ideas which incorporate a solid biblical-worldview perspective. The use of Scripture is appropriate in this section. Conclusion a. Your conclusion must relate to the introduction in some way so that your paper displays coherence. b. If your introduction included a metaphor, quote, theme, etc., you may integrate that content again. c. A minimum of 250 words is expected. 1. References Use the following: a. The college’s website will be your primary source b. Use additional resources as your secondary resources as appropriate • The Bible For citing religious texts include the translation (in italics), original translation date/republished date, and the passage reference (., (New American Standard, 1960/1995, 1 Peter 1:1)). Reference entry: King James Bible (2017). King James Bible Online. (Original work published 1769) • Educational journals • Books you have read that have influenced your worldview or educational philosophy 2. Do not use Wikipedia or other wiki-type pages as sources in an academic paper. Because it is an open environment, the information is constantly being changed by registered users and is not always reliable. 3. Include at least 2 scholarly references, including a primary source (the college’s historical website) and a secondary source. 4. Point of View When writing in current APA style, you may use the first-person point of view when discussing your opinions or what you have learned from writing your paper (“I learned…”). 5. Tense Current APA style requires authors to use the past tense or present perfect tense when using signal phrases to describe earlier research; for example, “Jones (1998) found…” or “Jones (1998) has found…” 6. Pronoun Usage Common writing problems include pronoun-antecedent agreement and the gender issue of “he or she.” 7. Gender Issue If you repeatedly use singular antecedents and follow them up with masculine pronouns, this technique is considered sexist. For example, “Each teacher should manage his own classroom.” Also problematic is if you redundantly use “he or she” and “his or her.” (Do not use “he/she” or “his/her.”) 8. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement a. Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. It is incorrect to write, “Each teacher [singular] should manage their [plural] own classroom.” b. To assist in avoiding both of these problems, it is recommended that you write in plural as consistently as possible. For instance, use students, principals, teachers, parents, schools, etc., instead of their singular counterparts. Follow these antecedents up with “they” or “their.” This avoids the gender issue altogether. c. When you find that you must use a singular, you may periodically use “he or she” or simply restructure the sentence to avoid the “he or she” if possible. Rare use of this phrase is acceptable. 9. Academic Integrity Plagiarized papers will be rejected. The following tips will help you avoid any problems with plagiarism: a. Direct Quotations: No more than 10 percent of your paper may be made up of direct quotations. Short quotations must be in quotation marks, and longer quotations must be indented. If you do not set off direct quotations in this manner and cite them, you have plagiarized. b. Ideas and Facts: If the idea or fact is not your own, you must cite its source. When not directly quoting, you should summarize or analyze the idea in your own words.
