07 Jan Starting the drafting

The Commentary Rough Draft

The first three pages of your Commentary rough draft are due this week. This week’s draft should include the following.

An introduction that catches reader’s attention, provides an overview of the topic, and presents a new or unique angle on a current event

A thesis that transitions from the introduction to the body and clearly provides the writer’s position on the topic; the thesis should be debatable, meaning others may disagree or have a different perspective

Discussion of background and other perspectives within the larger conversation, represented through integration of research

Body paragraphs that explain, support, and answer the promise of the thesis statement

Effective use of author tags, direct quotes, summary, and paraphrases

Proper APA style for in-text citation and an end References page

Additional Requirements

Three complete body pages (double-spaced), plus title page and reference page

Essay typed and submitted as a Microsoft Word 2010 document (.docx), with 12-point font and APA formatting for margins, title page, running heads, and page numbers; please be sure to review the formatting in the APA paper and title page tutorial

Integration of a minimum of two credible sources

Submit your assignment to the Dropbox, located at the top of this page. For instructions on how to use the Dropbox, read these step-by-step instructions.

See the Syllabus section “Due Dates for Assignments & Exams” for due date information.

Plagiarism Tutorial

Click on the link above to view the tutorial.

APA Reference Materials

APA Guidelines for Citing Sources

This tutorial is a resource for citing references using the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Highlights include purposes of citing, guidelines and examples of how to cite sources in text and at the end of a paper, and how to format a reference list or an entire paper.

Transcript

APA Handbook

This handbook is a resource for citing references using the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Highlights include APA websites, practice exercises, ways to avoid plagiarism, and guidelines and examples for how to use sources, cite sources in TDA posts, cite in the text and at the end of a paper, edit citations, and format a reference list or an entire paper.

American Psychological Association (APA) Style Website

This website provides answers to frequently asked questions and lists APA manuals, style guides, and software available for sale. Purchase is optional. Two good references are Concise Rules of APA Style and the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Course Project

Starting the drafting process this week will not only give you a head start on writing, but it will allow you to receive professor feedback before the final part is due next week. Additionally, peer review will be conducted in class next week, so you will also have feedback from peers to guide you through the revision process. As you start drafting, remember that the final Commentary essay (due in Week 7) must include the following requirements.

Five full body pages, plus an APA title page and a References page, written in Microsoft Word 2010 (.docx)

APA formatting for font, margins, spacing, running heads, page numbers, and in-text citations

A minimum of three academic sources

A unique angle that takes a set position on a topic currently in the news