Your mission is to choose a biologically related topic.  You will then complete EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH.  During the course of this research, which incidentally will not be confined to the internet or encyclopedias, you will begin to form an impression of your topic; it's importance to society, one side of a controversy, etc.  This will become your THESIS.  You will then construct a well organized OUTLINE, which will give the framework of how you will present your topic and your arguments in support of your thesis.  From this outline you will take a FIRST STAB at writing your paper.  Using peer and teacher comment (and perhaps the writer's workshop) you will then re-craft your initial attempt into a FINAL DRAFT.  Both drafts should include parenthetical citation (MLA format) for paraphrased and quoted material that you draw from your sources.  The general idea is to use other peoples' research and information to make your point.

TOPIC:  This will communicated to me in a well-written, typed, paragraph that includes your justification for this choice.  Worth 20 points and due Friday 2/01/02

EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH:  This will be communicated in typed (correct MLA) form and will have at least 8 sources.  Your research should continue after this point (I will look for at least 10 on your final works cited page).    At least one half of your sources at all stages must be from print media.  Worth 30 points and due Friday 2/15/02

THESIS:  A well-crafted typed sentence that describes what you are going to prove.  Worth 20 points and due Friday 2/15/02.

OUTLINE:  A written outline of your entire paper including introduction and conclusion.  Worth 30points and due Wednesday 2/20/02.

FIRST STAB (draft):  A typed first attempt at your paper.  This will be handed in to me after it has been checked for completion and been submitted to a peer for review and comment.  Your peer review is worth 20 points and your draft is worth 80 points.  Drafts will be checked visually as they are handed to reviewers on Wednesday 3/06/02 and be handed in on Friday 3/08/02. 

FINAL VERSION: A typed (Times New Roman 12pt or approved equivalent, 1”margins), double spaced 8-10 page (I will stop reading after page 10!), well-written, much improved from the beginning, work of writing, science, and support.  Worth 100 points, due Friday 3/29/02.

The Fine Print

All the work you submit must be accompanied by all of your previous work (or lose 50% on that portion).  You must have a folder or notebook to contain your work.

Remember that this is a work in progress and that it should reflect change and improvement from one segment to the next.

No late work will be accepted on this assignment.  No excuses (except illness[I'll call]) PERIOD.

This is a 300 point test grade for this quarter.  I wouldn't be surprised if it accounted for more than 50% of that category.

You will receive the paper scoring guidelines well in advance of the rough draft due date.

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