Checklist for writing an "A" research paper:
Is the topic an ASL or Deaf Culture topic? (Don't hand in a
paper on "The value of cochlear implants." or "types of hearing loss.")
Is my report 500 words or more?
Does my paper contain fewer than three misspellings? (Preferably none.)
Did I document where I got my information? Did I cite at least 3
enduring, traceable sources of information in my references?
Did I use APA style references?
Did I use parenthetical expressions at the end of referenced ideas
directing the reader to the full reference at the end of the paper? For
example (Vicars, 1997).
Any time I used an author's ideas word for word; did I put those words
in quote marks?
Did I limit the number of direct quotes in my paper? Did I limit
the length of the quotes? (No paragraph long quotes.)
Did I do a research paper rather than a "book report?" (Book reports
are fine if that is the assignment you are supposed to be doing. This
checklist is for "research papers" --not book reports.)
I know the deadline for when this paper is due.
Even if I have changed "every word" in the sentence-- if I've borrowed
someone else's idea--I have provided a reference.
I have used online references only if I've been able to ascertain
the actual author's name, date of publication, title of the
document, and name of the publisher. Even so, I've still provided at
least three other references that are more permanent in nature.
If I've needed to write less than 500 words I've secured permission from
the instructor.
I have grammar checked my document.
The body of my paper includes references in the format of an opening
parenthesis, author's last name, comma, year of publication and a
closing parenthesis. For example (Vicars, 2001).
At the end of my document I have provided a list of references that
include the author's last name and first initial, the publication date,
the name of the article or the book, the name of the journal or, if it
is a book--the publisher and the place of publication.
I have avoided quoting directly out of books or articles, but when it
was absolutely necessary to do so I made sure to cite the exact page
number in my reference entry at the end of my research paper.
I have
submitted my report in electronic format prior to the due date.
I know that this paper might be published by Lifeprint and I give
them permission.
Instructions on how to write a "D" paper:
1. Pick an ASL topic that looks easy.
2. Get a few transient references from the net.
3. Write 500 words of blather the night before it is due.
Instructions for how to write
a paper that gets you an "F" for the course:
1. Browse the internet and cut and
paste until you have 500 words worth of plagiarized information.
2. Change a word here and there. Rearrange the information.
3. Format it really nice.
4. Put your name on it and send it in.
Acceptable references at ASL University:
In the body of your document just use the last name of the author and the year, for example, (Vicars, 2001). Then at the end of your document you put the word "references" followed by a list of the books and articles which influenced your writing.
If reference is a book:
Author's last name, first initial. (year). Title of book-- underline
it. Place of publication: Name of publisher.
Example:
Vicars, W. (1998). Sign Me Up! Salt Lake City, Utah: Lifeprint
Institute.
If reference is a Journal:
Author's last name, first name. (year). Title of journal article only
capitalize the first letter. Name of journal underline it. Volume
number, starting page number-ending page number.
Example:
Vicars, William. (1999). Teaching ASL online. Journal of ASL. 7,
139-156.
If you find an online source that specifies the actual author's name, date of publication, title of the document, and name of the publisher--(good luck)--I'll accept the reference. Note, this must be from an original source document on the web, do not quote someone else's research paper.
If reference is a web page:
Author's last name, first name. (Year, Mo. Day). Title of the article
or web page goes here, underline it and only capitalize the first letter
and words that are always capitalized. Title of the journal,
general website, or book goes here . Name of the publisher or the
sponsoring organization goes here. Retrieved Day, Mo. Year: <full web
address>.
Example:
Vicars, William. (2001, Jan. 4). Nonlinguistic communication. ASL
University Library. Lifeprint Institute. Retrieved 12, Feb. 2001: <http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/nonlinguisticcommunication.htm>.