Reference no: EM131582950
Short Paper "SP" Explanation
SPs should in some way touch upon at least one of the required readings, and attending themes, that we have addressed during the given timeframe.
You may also wish to bring in other readings/sources, whether from or beyond those covered in the course.
Finally, you also may want to [hint, hint] draw upon other relevant research and scholarship in these papers, which will entail a certain "added" initiative (a trip to the actual or virtual library, perhaps?) on your part.
The ultimate goal of writing SPs is to cultivate the development of your own critical, analytical, and creative voice.
Things to consider in writing your SPs:
• Isolate a specific concept/theme/topic in the text(s) that most piqued your interest.
- How is this concept/theme/topic analyzed by the author?
- How is this concept/theme/topic relevant to the author's overall argument or claim?
• What questions or concerns do you have about this concept/theme/topic? (Your questions or concerns constitute the beginning of your own argument and analysis. In other words, your argument and analysis will ultimately be your attempt to address these questions or concerns.)
• Offer your own argument and analysis concerning the specific concept/theme/topic you have isolated.
- What is your "take"?
- Support your argument (consider examples).
- Consider contemporary applications of ideas discussed in reading (e.g. through art, music, literature, film, other media; through social/cultural/political themes and discourses; etc.)
- What's at stake? (Who cares? Would anyone disagree with what you're arguing?)
•Focus, focus, focus.
Technical requirements for SPs:
1. Use footnotes or endnotes. [In Microsoft Word, this should be as easy as choosing "References" in the top menu and then choosing either "Insert Footnote" or "Insert Endnote."
In scholarly parlance, this mode of citation is typically called Chicago style. I have included sample paper using Chicago style in the Content area of our Blackboard course.]
2. 4 pages minimum (excluding any bibliography, title page, etc.)
3. "Common" font (e.g. Times New Roman, Garamond)
4. 12" font size
5. Double-spaced
6. Left-justified
7. 1" margins
8. Paginated (header or footer acceptable)