Write the Research Essay

Your Essay assignment requires you to use ideas from our course readings, some outside sources, and your ethnographic observation to develop a research project that specifically relates to "identity and place." This assignment asks you to take a position on how place or environment affects identity, i.e., how we come to see ourselves over time. For Essay #3, you are required to devise your own argument about your chosen subject and present a clear, informed position. You will identify a specific topic on your own and do extensive research. In doing your research, you will minimally do the following: (1) Choose a topic, (2) Formulate a primary or focusing (research) question, i.e., something you want to know more about, (3) Do some preliminary research using the internet, library databases, books, and reference books, (4) Decide on what key sources that you can utilize in your paper, (5) Decide how you will organize the ideas in your paper, i.e., create an outline, and (5) Write your first draft. Note that doing research does not follow in a certain ‘order', and in fact, you may repeat parts of the process.

Your Range of Places

As you think about what things to write about for your research essay, think of the many aspects concerning place. A place can be physical or geographical location such as a country, region, city, community, village, or town. There are also specific types of spaces (schools, parks, restaurants, theaters) within locales. There are also educational places (university/college, school, community center) and recreational spaces (park, restaurant, dance hall, clubs), etc. There is having a ‘sense of place' or belonging when it comes to certain location or space. The important thing to consider, for this essay, is how a particular place or space impacts an individual's attitude, behavior, or beliefs.

The Essay Format

For this essay, you are to write 5-7 pages double-spaced, with 12 pt. font, and 1-inch margins. Make sure that you include a label with your name, the professor's name, the course title and section number, and the date in the upper-left hand corner on the first page. Next, number your pages (last name and page number, upper-right hand corner), type the title of your paper (centered), skip two lines and begin your essay. Remember to indent the first line of each body paragraph. Final drafts must include direct citations from at least one course text and at least (5) sources from the library databases. You are required to submit a 1-page research proposal describing your research project. Be aware of all due dates as listed on the course calendar.

The Research-Writing Process

This assignment is to be driven largely by your own research and thinking. You should be doing research as you write, not after you have completed your first draft. Remember that research and writing are thoroughly connected. Your research process will involve you reading, thinking, taking notes, and wandering through the databases and other sources until you have figured out what you want to say.
Then, as you continue writing, you should go back into the research process once again to get new ideas or find additional sources. Sometimes your argument shifts or changes as you find new sources, and this is a good sign that you are doing this research-based writing process correctly. Do not be afraid to change direction in writing the first draft-you can always improve or clarify things in your revision process.

We will spend a fair amount of time in class discussing interesting topics, developing research questions, and exploring solid arguments. You will notice that the topics listed below are short and general .That is intentional. For Essay #3, you need to show Temple professors that you can craft a specific topic and construct a successful argument. Remember that you cannot say something meaningful about all environments, nor can you talk about every topic relevant to a place, as it relates to identity, in a short paper; but, you can make an excellent argument about a specific topic related to a type of place and how it affects certain aspects of one's identity, and that should be your goal.

Topics:

1. Develop an argument about international students having a "sense of place". You might ask questions such as: Do U.S. universities and colleges create climates that make international students feel at home? How have U.S. institutions of higher education worked to make international students feel that they belong? Have programs aimed at international students on U.S. college campuses made them feel more at home in the U.S.? How have they been successful?

2. Develop an argument about the impact of different types of spaces on college climate. Questions you may want to consider include: What roles does environment (e.g., green spaces, etc.) play in creating college climate? In what ways does architecture impact campus climate? How is college climate impacted-either negatively or positively-by different spaces on campus? For example, how do student spaces (dorms, lounge areas, study areas) affect campus climate?

3. Develop a specific argument about the relationship between the type of university and students' learning outcomes. You might ask questions such as: What is the difference between an urban campus (Temple U.) and suburban campus? What affects do rural campuses have on students' socialization? Are lower income students more successful at suburban campuses? What is the retention rate of Hispanic students on urban campuses? Does the region or community context (demographic or socioeconomic class) matter?

4. Develop an argument about online social media and having a "sense of place." Questions you may want to consider include: Does being involved in online social media make a person feel more isolated? Do individuals who spend more time online have better relationships with their families? Do online communities make individuals feel as though they are more accepted? Do individuals who spend less time on online social media feel that they have more friends?

5. Develop an argument related to geographical spaces and identity. You might ask questions such as: What role does transnationalism play in shaping one's identity? What is the difference between regionalism and nationalism? Do individuals who are citizens of one country, but work and reside in another, feel that they have multiple identities? Does where we are born really determine who we are?

Research Proposal

You will be required to submit a one-page research proposal describing your research project. Your research proposal must include a working thesis and a brief description of three sources you plan to use in your paper. The due date for the research proposal is on the class schedule-you must submit a hard copy to the instructor on the date when it is due. Your 1-page (typed) research proposal should include the following:

(1) Topic as the title of your proposal
(2) Focusing question
(3) Primary purpose

• Explore: What additional questions do you hope to answer that may help you to answer your primary research question?
• Argue: What is your claim or thesis? What is your position? You may provide some background information from key sources in order to answer this question. Add citations for summaries of course texts or outside sources.
• Analyze: What theory about your topic are you testing? What do you think is going on? What do you think is the answer?

(4) Sources: 3 of your 5 sources, in the correct MLA format (one should be from a course text)

You will give a brief 5 minute presentation concerning the topic that you will research for your paper. For your oral presentation include:

(1) The topic
(2) Primary or focusing (research) question
(3) A description of why/how you became interested in doing this project.
(4) What you hope to learn based on your research.
(5) What sources (course texts or other resources) you intend to use.