GUIDE TO TERM PAPER WRITING

GOAL

• familiarizes the reader with the general topic that the paper is discussing
• describes how computers relate to the topic
• presents some controversy or debate regarding computers and/or their use in the area
• presents arguments for both sides of the issue
• gives accurate evaluations of the opposing arguments
• argues for a particular side of the debate, correctly and effectively refuting opposing views
• concludes with an accurate and logical explanation of your recommendation as to a solution of the problem.

GENERAL

• Length: 4000 words, (which is roughly 12 type-written, double-space, 1" margin, Times New Roman, 11 point font, pages of text). This includes the title page and bibliography. NOTE: We COUNT the words so make sure you have enough (in Microsoft Word, go to Tools-->Wordcount, also the online submission program will tell you the word count we use.)
• Stapled in upper, left-hand corner
• First pages of your paper must be the "Term Paper Evaluation Sheet" with your name, SSN, and grove username filled out.
• Next page must be your title page.
• Start numbering pages with your first complete page of text (the one after the title page)

TITLE PAGE

The term paper must have a title page consisting of the following:
• Title (see below)
• Author's Name
• UFID
• Date
• Course name and number
• Section Number
Your proposed title MUST BE in the form as one of the sample topics provided in the Term Paper guide. From inspection one can see that the title is in the form of a question that clearly indicates the subject being treated. This question must be a debatable one, in that it presents a debate or controversy within the topic and asks a question that could satisfactorily be argued on either side. Do not use the topic questions exactly as they are written in the Term Paper Guide. Use them as an example of what your own topic should be like.

Any one item missing from the title page may affect your grade for the third Basic Requirement (See the Evaluation Sheet).

BODY

The actual term paper text must have the following sections contained within it. In addition, each section must be labeled within the paper.

I. Thesis

II. Introduction

III. Discussion of Research

IV. Conclusion

V. Bibliography

I. Thesis

The thesis of a paper is the paper's raison d'etre, or "reason to be". Therefore, your thesis should be a statement of the topic being addressed, the controversy within the topic being presented, and an exact expression the goal of the paper. The reader should be able to discern what the paper will be about given the thesis and which side of the issue you have taken. The paper will be read and graded with respect to its goals.

The thesis is a brief summary of your paper written in your words. It should contain neither citations nor quotations.

The "goal" described in the thesis is not to explain both sides of the topic. It is to show that one side of the issue is more correct than the other. You must choose a side and state in the thesis.

Be very careful when writing the thesis. It is worth 14 (9 + 5 quality) of the paper's 100 total points.

II. Introduction

Here is where you must present some sort of hint as to the direction of your paper, how you will go about proving your thesis, and possibly (though not necessarily) an idea of which side of the conflagration the author will be advocating. The actual topic being discussed, as well as an explanation of the debate being addressed and its importance, should be presented. In addition, a general description of the arguments for one side - and then the other - should be cited to show that the paper is indeed addressing a real-life, debatable, non-trivial social concern. One or two examples of actual cases that have occurred in the real world (either for or against the thesis) can also be presented.

Important: Do not ignore this section of the term paper. The paper as a whole is meant to show that you have :

1. analyzed how computers are being used in modern society
2. found an area in which there are both positive and negative results from the use of computers
3. conducted a thorough research into the pros and cons, as well as examples and real-world incidents, on both sides
4. correctly and convincingly compared and argued the possibilities and come to a logical conclusion as to the correct path to follow.
An inability to compose an introduction that presents all the material above may indicate that you have failed to address a topic in a way necessary to produce an acceptable paper. In general, this may lead to an obscure, unstructured, and confused term paper that does not make any clear argument and fails to reach a logical conclusion based on relevant evidence. This in turn would result in a less than satisfactory evaluation of the term paper.

This section is worth 9 of the paper's 100 points.

III. Discussion of Research

It is this section that will comprise the bulk of the term paper. Here is where you would present the actual research and analysis you have performed. You must clearly present all sides of the issue being discussed, and convincingly evaluate and argue each side, offering both evidence and examples of your claims. This section should at a minimum include the following:
1. Detailed description of the debate and current views of it, including at least eight (8) different citations of those authorities within the field who hold these views (see bibliography guide).
2. Explanation of the positive and negative effects of the issue on society, as well as examples of these effects.
3. An organized structure of description and evaluation so that the debate is clearly explained and convincingly argued.
4. Valid argument in support of one view along with reasonable refutation of opposing views.
Anything else in the way of information (such as statistics) or arguments that help to expound on the nature of the controversy being addressed should also be included. However, be sure to adhere to the particular topic in your writing. Presenting information that strays off the topic, or that does not address the debatable aspects of the subject is detrimental to your overall argument, and will result in a lowered score. Be sure you are accurately and completely addressing the topic as it appears in your approved topic sheet. Papers addressing un-approved topics will not be graded, and you will not be allowed to submit another.

As a side note, how convincing your overall argument is can be significantly affected by the paper's quality of grammar and spelling. Poor spelling, incorrect usage of words, and awkward sentences are not only comical, but suggest incompetence and incorrectness of thought, both of which lead to disbelief in an argument on the part of the reader. Try to ensure that you are saying what you want to say in a paper, and that any reader can easily understand your argument. The use of ten-dollar words can be a detriment when used incorrectly and in such a way that your ignorance is readily apparent.

This section accounts for 20 (10 + 2*5 quality points) of the paper's 100 points.

IV. Conclusion

You should present here a summary of the arguments you have made, as well as your final statement as to the solution to the debate and the proper "side" to take. Describe briefly (do not go into a lengthy re-hash) how the evidence, examples, and arguments previously presented work to support this final claim.

Back in the history of the United States, in the very beginnings of Congress, statesmen would passionately argue issues and laws in an attempt to justly shape the future of the nation. There were, however, those senators and congressmen that would merely walk on both sides of a controversy and never come down on one side or the other. These fence-straddlers came to be known as mugwumps. Do NOT Mugwump. Clearly state your conclusion by choosing a side of the debate that you have supported with argument and evidence. You may present an analysis and criticism of existing views, and even come up with a new one, but you must make a decision. It is of course, quite possible that someone could just as easily argue the opposing view of the topic. However, the idea of the term paper is that you have performed enough research, and have adequately addressed and refuted the opposing view so that your conclusion is not just simply "your opinion", but in fact is the reasonable choice derived from logical analysis. In truth, if the topic addressed by the term paper is one in which there is a concrete answer, then the term paper has been incorrectly written and has addressed an unacceptable topic.

V. Bibliography

The paper must contain a bibliography at the end. See the bibliography guide for specific instructions concerning how to write the bibliography and the method you are to use to cite sources within the paper. You must adhere to MLA format for both the bibliography page and the parenthetical citations. In general your bibliography should do the following:
• Start on a new page.
• Have the word Bibliography centered and at the top.
• Have at least 8 sources
• Be alphabetized
• Contain a variety of sources from different types and titles of sources
• Reflect research into a wide range of areas (not just "Time" magazine)
• Contain recent sources(the majority should be less than three years old)
• Only contain entries that are cited within the text (and you should only cite those listed in the bibliography)
You must cite all new evidence as well as every quotation. All evidence that can not be considered "common knowledge" must be cited. If you have any questions, come see a TA

Your research can affect research points as well as any credit given for persuasiveness and bibliography.

Margins, Paragraph Spacing, Fonts, and Other Graphical Items

Your paper should have 1 inch margins on all sides. Note that on some word processing programs the default margin setting is 1.2 inches. Be sure to adjust the default accordingly.

No additional lines should be skipped between paragraphs, and the first line of the paragraph is indented one tab space (roughly 5 spaces).

Many word processing programs and printers allow the user to choose from many fonts (print styles) and font sizes. Some fonts can be attractive and add life to a paper; however, some fonts are far too fancy and make the paper difficult to read. If you have the ability to choose a font, please choose one that is readable. Times New Roman and Universal are common and easy to read fonts.

Font size allows the user to adjust the amount of text there is on a page. Sizes that are too big require more space, and sizes that are too small are hard to read. If you have the option, please choose a font size that is between 11pt and 12pt (around the size of the text on this paper).

Graphical figures can be included in your paper if you feel that they are required. Since these items are not text, there must be enough extra text to replace the space that the figures displace.

Clip art can be fun, but it is not appropriate in the body of a formal paper. If you wish to use it, do so only on the title page.

Not following the above guidelines can result in a loss of points related to your ability to follow directions.

Style

Quotes: Quotations are an invaluable tool for research papers. They allow you to substantiate your ideas with the exact words of an expert or otherwise knowledgeable person. Following is a list of rules regarding the use of quotations:
• Quotations that require 3 lines or fewer should be enclosed in quotation marks and included in the paragraph in which they are referenced.
• Quotations that are longer than 3 lines should begin on a fresh line and the entire quotation should be indented one tab space. Do not enclose with quotation marks, and the text should only be single-spaced.
• Since no one else should be summarizing your paper, quotations are not appropriate in the thesis statement.
• The quantity of quotations should be limited such that the bulk of the text is written by the author.
Lists: Lists are seldom necessary in this type of paper. They should be treated the same as the long quotes (3+ lines) described above, and each item should be on its own line.

Personal Pronouns: All formal papers should be written solely in the third person (he, she, it). The only section of the paper in which you may do otherwise is the conclusion where first person (I) is allowed. The use of second person (you) should never be used because you (the writer) would be making assumptions about the reader that may not be true.

Contractions: Contractions (can't, doesn't, etc.) are a form of informal speech that should never be used in a formal paper. Please be aware that it's is a contraction of it is , and is not acceptable. Its is a possessive pronoun.

Conjecture: We are assuming that you are not an expert on the topic that you choose to write about. For this reason your personal opinions, conjecture, or any other forms of editorialization do not belong in the Discussion of Research section. Your opinions should be withheld until the conclusion in which they will be backed by evidence brought up in the Discussion of Research section.

Conversational Wording: The paper should be written in a formal style. Conversational text is not appropriate. Examples:

• Well, the reason is .......Well is not appropriate.
• The answer is, you see ...You see is not appropriate.
• So, computers are ..........So is not appropriate.
The style items affect multiple areas of the paper.

GRADING PHILOSOPHY

Papers will be graded on a 100-point scale. Factors that will be considered in the grading will include, but not be limited to:
• Quality, quantity, & thoroughness of research
• Adherence to topic
• Thoroughness of coverage of the topic issues
• Relevancy and clarity of argument
• Persuasiveness and accuracy of conclusions
• Clarity of thesis
• Novelty of approach
• Difficulty of subject matter
• Correctness and quality of works cited
• Grammar and spelling
• Adherence to instructions
A good source for ideas on how a term paper will be graded is the term paper evaluation sheet. Grading criteria as well as associated points are explicitly described, and you are encouraged use this form to evaluate your own paper - or have someone else evaluate it - before turning it in.

DUE DATES

You MUST submit both a hardcopy (paper) and complete the online submission program. A termpaper will not be considered submitted until we have the hardcopy AND you have completed the online submission program. (Do NOT email your termpaper to us, we can't read it that way). The paper copy and the electronic copy must contain the same words (for example, don't try to fool the word count by repeating pages, we consider that cheating).

Students who turn in their papers early will receive extra credit according to the schedule shown under "TIMELINESS POINTS" on the "Term Paper Evaluation" sheet. These points can make a considerable difference in your final grade, or may help to offset a lower-than-expected term paper grade. You must turn your paper in to the Computer and Information Sciences department office (CSE E301), during regular business hours (8 am to 5 pm)- be sure to obtain a time stamp from the clerk on duty. Do not slide term papers under anyone's door, as we can not verify the time at which time the paper was turned in, nor can we ensure that the paper will not be lost. Do not give your paper to a TA or to the instructor in class.

We will try to post on Webgrades the "date received" for your paper as soon as possible. We will post the TA grader and grade for your paper as soon as we can. Please be aware that it often takes us a couple of weeks to grade the term papers. Please do not send emails like, "Is my paper graded?" as we will post the grade as soon as it is done.

WARNING: Turning your paper in late (even 1 minute) results in a loss of 25 of the paper's 100 points. This is equivalent to almost a letter grade (on your semester average). This deadline is final and non-negotiable. Since you know about this paper from day one last minute problems (computer crashes, sickness, vacations, other tests/projects, weddings, athletic events, etc) will not give you an extension.

*** WARNINGS ***

1. Sometimes computers go down. Sometimes printers can fail. If for some reason these occurrences cause your paper to be turned in late, you will be assessed late points. You have several weeks to complete this paper. If something causes problems at the last minute, it's your own problem. We will, however, be happy to help with problems that happen during the semester, just not at the last minute.
2. Make a "backup" copy of your paper before turning it in, for two reasons. First, WE DO NOT RETURN PAPERS TO STUDENTS. Once your paper has been graded, however, you are welcome to see your paper and review the basis of your grade with the TA who graded your paper during their office hours. Second, because of the large number of students enrolled in this course, infrequently a paper is lost in the shuffle. It is your responsibility to make sure we get your paper.
3. Do not fall into the trap of expecting that a paper which merely follows these instructions receives an automatic "A". Rather, a paper which merely meets the minimum standards set forth above is a "C" paper. In order to receive a higher grade, the paper must distinguish itself as being substantially above these minimum requirements. Generally, this must be done through earning "quality" points or "timeliness" points as set forth in the term paper evaluation sheet.
4. Every effort is made to be fair and consistent in the grading of papers. As a general rule, we do NOT regrade term papers. If you believe that something significant was overlooked in the grading of your paper, you may request, in writing, a formal regrade as set forth elsewhere in this document.
5. Do not write about a topic unless it has been approved by a TA or professor. If in doubt, ask. If you are having a problem coming up with a topic drop by the office.

TERM PAPER REGRADING POLICY

Guidelines

Initial Review

Any student wishing to review her term paper may come to the instructor or a teaching assistant. At that time we will discuss the basis on which the different criteria are judged. We will be able to directly address the more algorithmic elements of the grade. As much as possible, we will also address the overall evaluation factors based on the cover sheet and any comments.

Formal Regrade

The student should then review her term paper in light of the information presented. If they are not satisfied with the outcome of the informal review, and instead feels that they satisfied one or more of the questioned criteria, they may request that a formal regrading be conducted.

Steps to Perform

In order to request a formal regrade, the student must submit in writing a list of the specific area in which she believes her grade to be improper. For each area, a description of the reason why and identification of the portion of the paper that supports the claim must also be supplied.

EX: If there is a objection to a average score in the persuasiveness of arguments area, the student must give specific justification of the passage in the paper which demonstrate "excellence" in that area.

GENERAL REGRADING RESULTS

1. Regrades will be performed after all regular grading has been completed.
2. If the regraded paper does not receive a higher score, an additional ten (10) points will be deducted from the regrade, as a penalty for frivolous complaints.
3. No papers will be regraded after final grades are submitted to the registrar.
4. Regrades are extremely rare, do not depend on having one granted.

Term Paper Topics

It is the responsibility of each student to select a term paper topic early in the term. The following is a list of sample term paper topics. You should be certain of your interest in the topic you select, as well as the availability of materials, before you commit yourself to a particular topic. Do not procrastinate. Toward the end of the term, there will be a substantial demand on library resources, and materials may become difficult to find. With this in mind, strive to be considerate of your classmates, keeping library materials for only as long as necessary and refraining from removing materials from magazines or books. Your topic must be controversial, current, and related to computers.

Sample topics:

1. Are computer-mediated forms of communication allowing faster, better communication between humans, or are they the cause of social and psychological problems that isolate humans from each other and damage traditional communication?
2. Have computers reduced society's total workload and thereby made life more enjoyable, or have they instead created work and made life more stressful?
3. Is the popular media helping to ease society into a new high tech way of life, or is it helping to build a general "technophobia"?
4. Are software patents and copyrights truly necessary for protection from piracy and theft, or are they hindering progress and development in the software industry?
5. Do "dive computers" promote enhanced safety, or do they invite unjustified, and dangerous, over-reliance on the machine?
6. Should the development (and control) of the National Information Infrastructure (NII) be regulated by the Federal government, or should it be exclusively controlled by private industry?
7. Does the recent feeding-frenzy of takeovers and mergers in the communications industry presage an unacceptable concentration of electronic power?
8. Should hardware and software manufacturers be held financially liable for losses caused by bugs that were known about prior to the public release of their products?
9. Are the parallels between the Patriot Act (I & II) and George Orwell's "1984" inescapable?
10. Is the computer age increasing the gap between knowledge "haves" and knowledge "have nots"?
11. Should internet communication content be subject to federal regulation?
12. Should individuals who download copyrighted music be prosecuted for copyright violations?
13. Given that computers can be used to alter photographs, should the use of photographs in criminal cases be prohibited or otherwise strictly limited?
14. Will the proliferation of literature on the internet make copyright laws unenforceable or meaningless?
15. Does the use of computers in implementing electronic open government improve our democracy, or does it actually result in discrimination against non-computer users?
16. Has blogging changed American politics?
17. Is a "high degree of reliability" standard acceptable for software used in applications which pose a risk to human life, or are the error levels and probabilities of these systems unacceptable for use in society? Are these systems accurate enough to be relied upon?
18. Should colleges be allowed to require student ID cards - magnetically encoded with personal information - for entrance to dorms and buildings around campus, or does this pose potential problems in the way of misuse of the information collected?
19. Computer games such as "MUD"s, in which participants create a character for themselves and act out roles in a real-time, virtual environment, attract worldwide participation. Recently, a character "sexually assaulted" (in a virtual sense) the characters of other participants. Should there be limits set for such digital deviance, or should the users be free to express themselves in any way they feel necessary?
20. Will computers ever be able to produce poetry with emotional impact? If so, what approach do you foresee being used to create programs to do this? If not, why not?
21. Is the sale of computer mailing lists an invasion of privacy or is it the legitimate exercise of the capitalist system? Does the information being sold actually belong to the individual subject, or is it public knowledge, which is the property of the information collecting agency by virtue of the work performed in collecting it?
22. Should the use of internet be granted without cost to provide access to the public libraries and research materials available, or should there be user fees imposed to pay for connection costs and the services available?
23. Does management have the unrestricted right to monitor an employee's use of office computers, - including the employee's "private" communications on his/her account - in an effort to optimize productivity?
24. Should the federal Drug Enforcement Agency have the right to decode all encrypted messages sent by American citizens?
25. Should an employer have the unconditional right to monitor any employee's e-mail sent on a personal company-issued account?
26. Should your doctor have unrestricted access to your computerized medical records (including records accrued outside of his/her practice), so long as his/her motivation is to provide you with better medical services?
27. Will reliance on computers eventually stifle the creativity of graphic artists?
28. Is the search for computer-based artificial intelligence an appropriate pursuit for science; that is, is it in the best interest of mankind to build a human machine?
29. The computer has given us the ability to diagnose fetal defects. Is this an appropriate use of technology?
30. DNA testing presents a statistical probability that a person on trial has in fact committed the crime. Should such evidence be admissible in court?
31. In criminal cases, rich defendants can afford to use computers to gather dossiers on all prospective jurors. Should such information gathering be prohibited on the grounds that it creates a playing field more level for some defendants than for others? Or should a defendant have the right to all the justice he can afford?
32. Cable television networks and telephone networks are based on completely different philosophies, as well as governed by completely different rules and regulations. With merging technology, will their philosophies, rules, and regulations also be forced to merge?
33. The introduction of complex, expensive new technology in medicine will present incredibly tough choices as to who gets access to these technologies and how we pay for them. Are computers lending a helping hand in making advanced medical treatments available, or are they causing problems of their own in creating gaps between socio-economic groups?
34. Hyperintelligence - a dramatic expansion of the power of the brain - is made possible by global computer networks. Will Hyperintelligence help to create a new and better global society, or will it result in a new, priesthood?
35. With a sufficiently human-like appearance, the "super-robot" might become a sexual surrogate? Does this pose unacceptable possibilities for abuse, such as enslavement, and the necessity for "robot-abuse" clinics (just as we have drug/sexual abuse clinics)?
36. Should there be limits to the connection between computers and the human body? Are bio-implants a violation of privacy?
37. Is the "information revolution" a new phenomenon or do past revolutions provide clues as to what a total "information society" might look like?
38. Is technology broadening or narrowing the generation gap?
39. Does high technology make religion irrelevant?
40. Is there a world-wide conspiracy which is using technology to concentrate power in the hands of a few people?
41. Could Europe use technology to become a superpower, supplanting the United States?
42. Does technology free us to explore our cultural diversity, or does it rob us of our heritage by forcing us to adopt a new, generic culture?
43. Since multimedia will make it possible for people to conference from home, do you predict that humans will eventually not go to offices at all but work at home instead? If so, what sorts of problems might this create?
44. The Human Genome Project is a multibillion dollar effort to analyze the entire human genetic system. The project has already helped scientists identify genetic cause of some diseases. Will this project ultimately benefit humanity or is it instead an unconscionable threat to privacy?
45. Should the use of computers be prohibited as used by large stock traders to trigger sell or buy orders?
46. Do the system operators of electronic bulletin boards have the right to censor obscene messages or would such censorship be a violation of freedom of speech?
47. What should be the "community" used to determine a "community standard" in a test for bulletin board pornography?
48. Should government or industry use technology to track the behavior of every American citizen?
49. Assuming a need for heightened security from terrorist attacks, how much intrusion into personal affairs should the Government be allowed in order to protect us?
50. Is the Bush "Total Information Acquisition" program justified?

These are merely samples to assist you in formulating your own topic, you do not have to write on these topics. This paper is wide open, past topics have involved economics, art, education, and many other areas. Check the topics page for instructions on how to submit your topic.




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