1. Guidelines for Final Paper (Independent Study Project
Due Date: January 26

2. Requirements: MLA formatting 6-8 double spaced pages (1500-2000 words)
Typed
12 point font
Third person / no contractions (for formal writing)
ed to me by midnight on January 26
Worth 10% of final grade
Note: there is an interview component that is worth 5% of the final grade → the interview will involve a conference, some questions about your research, and an informal presentation of notes and sources. Interviews are one-on-one and a separate rubric will follow

3. Start with an Outline
Depending on your research paper goals and topic choice this outline may be modified. Don’t feel compelled to write a 5 paragraph essay → depending on how your argument is laid out you might have a 6 or 7 paragraph essay (breaking up larger points). As an example, this is the basic way to structure and organize brief research paper for our final assignment.

4. Start with an Outline (paragraph 1)
Introduction/Hypothesis
Hook
Background information about a) your topic and b) the topic as it appears in the context of each of the two countries (Canada + an international country)
Thesis (with 3 controlling ideas)

5. Start with an Outline (paragraph 2)
Topic Sentence 1
Point, Proof, Analysis 1
Point, Proof, Analysis 2
Transition sentence

6. Start with an Outline (paragraph 3)
Topic Sentence 2
Point, Proof, Analysis 1
Point, Proof, Analysis 2
Transition sentence

7. Start with an Outline (paragraph 4)
Topic Sentence 3
Point, Proof, Analysis 1
Point, Proof, Analysis 2
Concluding sentence for paragraph

8. Start with an Outline (paragraph 5)
Conclusion
Revisit thesis
Restate 3 main evidence points
Concluding remarks

9. Some ideas for structuring
There isn’t one single exemplary way to arrange your research essay. In reference to the 3 internal essay bodies (paragraphs 2, 3, and 4), some students will select a matter of arranging their information for the comparison so that one of the point, proof, analysis sections will be about the law topic within Canada, and the other point, proof, analysis section will be about the law topic in the international country.
Alternately, a student may prefer to have the whole 2nd paragraph address the law topic in Canada, and the whole 3rd paragraph deal with the international country. In that case, the 4th paragraph will become the area in which comparison will occur.
Look at your notes and information to decide which structuring option will work best for you.

10. Three Tips for Organizing a paper according to MLA:
Organize the first page. Though MLA does not presumes a title page, you shall include your identification information, incl. your first and last name, instructor's name, course name and date of the paper, each on the separate line in the left upper corner of the first page.
Use in-text citations. Every direct quote you use in the paper shall be properly cited right after. Even paraphrases of author ideas should be cited in the in-text format. Include author's name and the number of page you use the quote from in the end of the sentence before the period.
Form the reference page at the end of the paper. Put “Works Cited” at the top center of the new page and list every source you quoted or paraphrased in the paper. Sort them in alphabetical order by the last name of the author.

11. Examples https://style.mla.org/formatting-papers/
** In text citations
Sample%20MLA%20Formatted%20Paper.pdf