The document below is a combination of the instructions for the collaborative paper that appears on the syllabus website and additional information (in red) that may help to clarify some points and offer some advice on how best to complete your own individual sections of the paper as well as the final product.

Also included are instructions on how to format and set up the final version of the paper. (See the end of the document for this information.)

Explanation of Collaborative Research Paper

The research paper is a major component of this course, and between preparation for it, peer evaluations, and the final product, it accounts for 35% of your grade for the course. So it is very important that you define your interests very early in the course, that you work cooperatively and productively with others, that you submit your element of the paper to the other members of your group at a reasonable time, and that you read the entire work before the final version is submitted. Every member of the group is responsible for finding and correcting errors in content, critical analysis, and grammar, spelling and punctuation in the final product. Use MLA style for the paper.

Because everyone in a group will read the entire paper, and everyone in the group is responsible for producing the introduction, conclusion, and bibliography, there should be NO errors in the paper at all – that is, there should be no typographical errors, no problems with grammar, spelling, or punctuation, and there should be a unity to the paper produced by the collaboration of all members of the group.

The collaborative paper will consist of the following parts:

1. 1. Introduction – the section of the paper explaining the problem to be addressed and briefly outlining the approach to be taken in examining, solving, or analyzing the problem. (Usually 1-2 pages – All group members write this section.) Clarification: Your paper is not due until the end of the term, but this does not mean that you should (you definitely should not) wait until a day or two or even a week or two before the paper is due to write this. One way in which you might approach it (and you probably should do this) is for everyone in the group to write their own version of the introduction, e-mail it or copy it and give it to all the other members of the group, and then set aside a time to get together (by e-mail or in person) to combine the insights of all the members of the group into a coherent introduction. Note that your individual sections of the paper are due TO ME by March 30, but that is only 2 weeks before the final paper is due. So you should get your individual part of the paper written AT LEAST two weeks prior to that (by the end of spring break, or shortly thereafter) so that you can make sure that other members of the group have a chance to read it and help you to clarify your section. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Remember that even though you get an individual grade for your section of the paper, everyone gets a grade based on the group’s production of the paper.

2. 2. Summary of the main argument or position – the section of the paper summarizing the original work/problem that is the subject of the critical analyses in the next section. (Usually 2-3 pages. One or two people write separate versions of this section that will ultimately be combined into one in the final paper. See the additional note at the end of this document for information on doing individual summary sections of the paper. This is the “factual” AND interpretive element of an original work or problem.) Clarification: Remember that there is more to writing this section of the paper than simply stating a bunch of “facts.” The facts about which you will write will also include your interpretation of those facts, the way in which you see the problem or issue, and will consist ideally of a combination of quotations and explanations of the original problem or issue AND your take on what it means, where it is going, what it implies, etc. See the note above on the introduction to the paper on the time-frame for getting your explanatory/interpretive section to other members of the group. It is very important for all sections of the paper that every member of the group has a chance to read it, comment on it, and suggest changes and improvements. See section 3, “individual critical analyses,” for more information.

3. 3. Individual critical analyses – the section of the paper devoted to your critical appraisal of the argument or position summarized in section 2. (Usually 2-3 pages. At least two group members will write two separate critical analyses – one per person.) Clarification: It is not likely that two or more people will have identical critical analysis of the problem or issue that is the subject of the paper. In fact, it is very likely that one person may focus attention on one particular aspect of the problem, and someone else will do something entirely different. The idea here is NOT to combine the critical analyses, but to make sure that each person who is writing a critical analysis is aware of the “factual/interpretive” section of the paper and aspect of the problem or issue so that there is continuity in the paper. It is also a good idea for those writing critical sections to communicate with each other about what they are writing while they are writing. Make sure that other members of the group have access to what you have written BEFORE your individual section of the paper is submitted to me on March 30^th so that they can be sure that your section is clear, complete, consistent, and well-written. This DOES NOT MEAN that other people should write your section of the paper for you, but it DOES mean that other people can and should help you to clarify the argument you are creating.

4. 4. Conclusion – the section of the paper summarizing the connection between the critical analyses in section 3 and the summary of the argument or position in section 2. (Usually 1-2 pages –All group members write this section.) Clarification: Generally speaking, whether you are writing an entire paper yourself, or whether you are collaborating with others, papers are not written in the order in which they are presented in final format. That is, it is normally the case that the “factual/interpretive” section is written first, then the critical appraisal, then the conclusion, and THEN the introduction. There is an old saying (I do not know the source of it) that the parts of the paper are basically this: The introduction, the body, and the conclusion. And in the introduction, you tell the readers what you are going to tell them, then in the body (the fact/interpretive and critical sections) you tell them, and then in the conclusion, you tell them what you told them and indicate why what you wrote is important, and what it implies, or what it means, or what it is related to, or any combination of these things.

5. 5. Bibliography – alphabetical listing of sources used. MLA Format. Clarification: One person in the group may use two references, another may use three, and another may use only one. And it is possible (and will be the case, in fact) that everyone should be using the same basic or generic source – that is, for example, if you are writing on Dewey on the Quest for Certainty, then everyone in the group will have that as a reference. But you need only list it once in the Bibliography. MLA format requires that bibliographies be listed in alphabetical order (by last name of author), and then if there is more than one work by the same author, that they be listed under that author’s name alphabetically by the name of the work. See the MLA Handbook for further information.

6. A further clarification. It does not matter to me whether you use endnotes or footnotes, but endnotes are usually simpler to produce, in general. Ultimately, when all the sections of the paper are combined into one paper, and if you are using a good word processing program, all the individual notes will be numbered consecutively. For the most part, MLA format requires or suggests that your references be put in-text, while footnotes/endnotes are reserved for notations on additional resources that explain or discuss some issue in further detail, or to clarify an issue that cannot be clarified appropriately inside the main text. Again, see the MLA manual for information. The CHAIR OF THE GROUP should take it upon himself or herself to put the entire paper together (this should not be a difficult or time-consuming task since every member should have his or her section completely written, proofread, and have all their endnotes set by the time the chair of the group receives it). Putting the paper together basically amounts to taking all the sections, combining them in the right order, and making sure that the pages are numbered, the fonts match, etc. This shouldn’t take more than an hour or so. The chair should then make sure that all the group members get a copy if it, so that EVERYONE can check the final version. See the end of this document for information on how to format the final paper.

Procedures for the Collaborative Paper

Remember that this is a group project that is graded both individually and as a group. So make sure that you work closely with each other on the production of the paper.

During the first week of classes, we will discuss some of the major features of all of the topics for the course in overview form. During the second week, everyone needs to fill out the form on WebCT indicating their interests, choosing their top four generic topic choices above and explaining briefly why you are interested in the topic.

From that point, you should begin to read the primary works related to your topic that appear in volume I of the text and the authors’ interpretive essays on or about that topic in volume II. You should use the discussion area of WebCT to talk to the members of your group about the topic, about your interpretation of the problem, and so on. You also need to decide among yourselves which people will do which sections (section 2 or section 3) of the paper. Then, you need to start looking at secondary sources and even additional primary sources (works written by the person on whom you are working or on whose problem you are writing) and begin writing your section of the paper. Remember that all group members write the introduction and conclusion, and these elements of the paper cannot be written properly (or at all) without the summary(ies) and critical analyses being done first.

Your individual draft version of your contribution to the paper is due on the date listed in WebCT. You need to provide all the people in your group with a copy of your draft.

Instructions for assembling the final paper

General:

SAVE THE DOCUMENT IN MICROSOFT WORD OR .RTF FORMAT ONLY.

The final document will probably be between 10 and 25 pages in length. The ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR A PAPER IS 30 PAGES DOUBLE SPACED. SO EVEN IF YOU TYPE YOURS AT 1.5 SPACING, MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES NOT EXCEED 30 PAGES AS A DOUBLE-SPACED PAPER. Remember that if you double space, it will be shorter looking than a paper that is double-spaced. Also remember that, generally, size doesn’t count – it’s quality that matters. Consider the following:

The title page is one page.

The introduction is usually 2-4 pages in length.

The summary/factual/interpretive section will be between 3 and 7 pages, depending on whether the individual writers combine theirs into one, or whether they are presented separately.

The critical analysis section(s) will be between 2 and 4 pages EACH, so you will have anywhere between 2 and 12 pages, depending on the number of people (I’m assuming 1 at least, and 3 at most for this explanation) writing critical analyses.

The conclusion is usually 2-4 pages in length.

The bibliography can be 1-2 pages, depending on which people use which sources, etc.

o Use double or 1.5 spacing,

o 1” margins on all sides,

o and a font that is legible.

Even if one group member types in Verdana, another in Times Roman, and another in Arial, the entire paper MUST be submitted in ONE font type (preference is Verdana, Times Roman, Arial, Garamond or a “Book” style), size (preference is 10 or 12 point) and color – the color should be black.

o Number the pages consecutively from the first page of the introduction to the end of the Bibliography. TRY NOT TO NUMBER THE TITLE PAGE.

o Usually, word processing software will make endnotes smaller in font size than the main part of the document. This is OK unless you think it looks nicer if everything is the same size. It doesn’t matter to me.

o Words that you wish to emphasize should be italicized. Titles of books and the titles of journals are italicized. Titles of articles and titles of sections or chapters of books are put in double quotation marks.

o Make sure that all of you know some things that I assume all of you already know. There is a difference between “there,” “their,” and “they’re”; the plural of “woman” is “women”; “even though” is two words, not one; “no one” is two words, not one; there is a difference between “then” and “than”; “So therefore” is redundant – just write “so” or “therefore” when you want to indicate a conclusion. You might want to look at Strunk and White’s Elements of Style for information on writing well. There is more to writing than simply making sure that everything is in the right order in the paper.

Specific Parts of the Paper

1. Title Page. This will have the title of the paper, the number and general topic of the group (i.e., for example, Group 1 on Emerson), the date, the course name and number, Semester, and the names of all the members of the group in alphabetical order.

2. The Introduction should be labeled “Introduction,” centered on the page. Then begin the content of the introduction as usual, indenting the first paragraph, etc.

3. The Background/Factual/Interpretive Section should be entitled in some way, but it depends on the focus of your paper what you will call it. It is possible, for example, that you could call this section something bland like “Summary of Hobbes’s Position on the State of Nature” (or whatever your topic is), or you might think of something more snappy. It is also possible here that if more than one person has written an individual factual/interpretive section you might choose to combine them into one, or, depending on the focus that each person has in their individual section, you can separate them into two (or more) parts, depending on how many people wrote on this particular aspect of the paper. In any case, make sure that such a section (or sections) show the name(s) of the authors. So, for example, you would begin this section with “Hobbes’s Position on the State of Nature” and then hit enter, then type “by” (and enter) and then type the name(s) of the author(s) of this section.

4. Critical Anaysis. There should be at least two of these (depending on how many people were assigned critical appraisal sections). These will have one author per section. So the first critical analysis will be called something like: “Why Hobbes is Wrong about Human Nature in the State of Nature,” then enter, then type “by” and then enter, and then type the name of the author. This will recur for each person who writes a critical appraisal section of the paper.

5. Conclusion. This should be called “Conclusion” and need not indicate the names of the authors since the authors are all the people in the group.

6. Bibliography. A problem usually arises when you are using MS Word to produce the bibliography and are using endnotes. To avoid the problem, make the endnotes the LAST endnote entry. Otherwise, you will end up with the bibliography and THEN the endnotes, and that’s the wrong ordering. If you are unclear about this, simply do the endnotes, and compile the bibliography after all the other sections of the paper are typed and formatted. At the very end of the document, at the end of the last endnote, simply start typing the bibliography. This section of the paper should be called “Bibliography” and that word should be centered on the page. The Bibliography ALWAYS begins on a separate page.