Perhaps the most important part of this course is comprised of the three research papers. These papers demonstrate your expertise with ethical issues and fulfill many of the course objectives required by Towson University. I know that the work you will put in on these papers will be substantial. Please be assured that I will also be spending considerable time reading and reviewing your work. Let me detail in this video why the papers are so important and also provide ways in which you can improve your writing.

The cornerstone of all academic research is honesty. Earlier in the course you reviewed materials discussing plagiarism and the types of plagiarism that can occur in research papers. Unless stated otherwise in the course, you should acknowledge the work of others that you use in your paper. This is what we mean by academic honesty.

Beyond the issue of honesty, there are several other reasons to acknowledge the work of others.1) Your readers want to know if you are an expert on the topic. You can demonstrate your expertise by citing important documents on your subject. This informs the reader that you have researched the topic and are prepared to offer reasoning based upon investigation not just opinion. 2) Including references will allow for your readers to further research the topic. There are many times when I have read an academic paper where I come across an interesting quotation that I want to read from the original source. Providing citations lends a helping hand to the research of others. 3) Providing citations is furthermore a way in which to show respect and admiration for the work of others. Being respectful of others’ work is a great way to endear yourself to the reader. Hopefully they will then later be respectful of your work!

Academic writing differs from informal writing, the way we text others, or speak. The focus of the writing is on the subject of the paper, not on the person giving the paper. Avoid “I,” “my,” “me,” and other personal statements. Too often I read papers that address the students’ feelings and opinions rather than present prior writings on the topic.

First and foremost in academic writing gather all the writings, videos, webpages, etc. that you can find on your topic. Wikipedia might be a good place to start—particularly if a bibliography is given. However, more research than that is needed. I had one college professor tell me that if I didn’t find writings in disagreement over the topic, then I hadn’t really done my research! Don’t just look for publications that agree with your position. Make sure to seek out opposing viewpoints on the topic. Try to understand why someone would advocate for something that you do not agree with. This will better inform your writings and conclusions in your papers.

Almost all professions require attention to detail, that is, following protocols or directions. Would you take your car to an auto mechanic who just improvises a repair? Would you want to go to a dentist who ignores health procedures? Some of the requirements for academic papers may make no sense to you, but over many decades scholars have developed and agreed upon these requirements. If your writing is to be taken seriously by that community, you will need to abide by their rules. Also make use of the specialist vocabulary that we have learned in the course. The application of these words helps to better define the issues and convey the meaning to your informed readers.

Now for a few comments on the mechanics of your paper. Provide your paper with an interesting title. “Unit 8 Paper,” while descriptive of the assignment, is not an enticing title. Provide a good introductory paragraph that entices the reader to continue with your paper. Also, if appropriate, include a thesis sentence at the end of the opening paragraph. With the title and introductory paragraph the reader’s interest should be piqued, the direction of your paper is known, and your command of the subject matter is established.

Consider the flow of your writing. You can avoid abrupt stops and starts in the text or paragraphs by including transitions, that is, sentences that better prepare the reader for a new topic. Try reading your paper out loud to someone else and see if they find any change of subject too abrupt.

You should provide a concluding paragraph that sums up the paper and completes your text. Remind your audience why your arguments were so important. Don’t just restate your thesis; provide reasoning for your position.

Last of all, I am requiring that you indicate which citations are in print. This is called a publication marker. Items in print generally receive greater scrutiny since they are often examined by editors or reviewers. Therefore these items are likely to contain fewer errors.

The sample paper on Purdue OWL is helpful. MLA Sample paper from Purdue OWL: pdf . With the exception of the problems in the first two paragraphs, this is an excellent paper. In the first two paragraphs the writer centers too much of the attention on herself and her personal interaction with the material rather than on the subject matter.

I am excited that these papers will spur your growth as scholars. I am looking forward to reviewing your work.