Eng201 Writing and Research
MASC Project
Overview:
Primary, or "original," research is the process of engaging a problem or topic firsthand, and drawing our own, "original," conclusions about our findings. In contrast, secondary research is the process of engaging "what's already been written" (Thonney 398). In primary research we actively seek answers to questions. In secondary research we seek to learn what others have already discovered, and the answers to questions they have already asked.
Primary sources are the results of primary research, and include speeches, firsthand accounts of events, stories, poems, autobiographies, letters, pieces of furniture or clothing, paintings, and other artifacts.
Secondary sources examine primary sources, and include books, articles, histories, and encyclopedias.
Historic primary sources may be found in museums, memorials, historic locations, and so on. Washington State University has a unique resource, the Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC), and one of the roles of the MASC is to hold historical material associated with the university. For the next writing project, we will visit the MASC to locate suitable items related to WSU's history and develop research and secondary questions we will use for further investigation.
You will need a camera (no flashes!!!!!!) to take photos of the source you decide to work with, and writing materials (i.e. paper and pencil or pen).
You may find more information about MASC at http://libraries.wsu.edu/content/masc-home.
Assignment:
For this project you will develop a research question and secondary questions through the process of examining historical artifacts for WSU, selected by the university archivest and the instructor. You will then answer your questions though presearching and researching, and write an essay in which you make a claim about what the information means, when considered as a whole. Your essay should clearly describe and analyze the object you choose. Equally important, it should create a synthesis of your primary and secondary research, your observations and conclusions, and your analysis. Lastly, readers should come away with a clear understanding of the process leading to your question and the process that led to the answer(s) you arrived at.
In order to write an effective primary source analysis, you will first need to ask questions about the nature of the source itself. Who wrote the document or made the artifact? When was the artifact created? Why was it created? Once you’ve answered the basic questions about your source, however, you must go beyond simple descriptions and discuss the significance of the artifact. Can the source tell us anything about the structures and norms of the author’s society? What does it tell us about the time or place in which the author lived? Your thesis should be the conclusion you reach about the significance of the source after careful reading and analysis.
The draft you submit to me must include a half-page to full-page reflection. See Essay 2 Reflection for specific requirements. Drafts which do not have a reflection and which have not been submitted for peer evaluation will not be accepted and will not receive credit for submission.
Goals and expectations:
- 4-6 pages typed and double-spaced, with an appropriate heading and descriptive title.
- A clear and specific thesis statement.
- A minimum of one primary source from the MASC (and as many as you want), and three secondary sources to support your thesis.
- Clear and logical organization, including a strong introduction, conclusion, well-developed supporting paragraphs, and effective transitions.
- Use of specific, concrete details in each body paragraph which not only identify the specific claims and evidence you examine, but which also provide specific examples and details to show the significance of those claims and evidence.
- An engagement with your sources that creates a conversation about the subject and your primary and secondary sources.
- Clear use of MLA or APA documentation styles to document all ideas not your own. Drafts without a works cited/reference page will not be accepted; works cited/reference pages do not count toward the page requirement.
- Revised drafts should demonstrate careful proofreading and revision, including but not limited to revising thesis statements, organization, grammar, and sentence mechanics.
Our overall goal is to engage at least one primary source, related secondary sources, and the source-driven conversations taking place through your research question.
You are required to submit a draft to the appropriate topic thread in Blackboard for peer evaluation by the start of class on Friday, October 9. A draft is due to me on Monday, October 12, by the start of class, and will be returned with my feedback on Monday, October 19, so please plan appropriately.
Note: All papers will be randomly checked for plagiarism. Any and all sources may be randomly checked to verify credibility and authenticity.