E 309M Computers and Writing

Project 4

Topic Question due 11/16
Draft due 11/28
Final version due 12/7

Your task for the last project for the course is to write a collaborative research paper about a topic of importance to you and your community. This project should be written as a web site. It should not, however, consists of merely a list of links to materials pertaining to your topic. You will need to provide original analysis that reaches the equivalent of four typed pages. You should also make links to relevant materials when appropriate. The first thing you will need to do is choose a partner to work with. I'd like these to be two-person projects.

This research project can take one of two forms.

It can be mainly informational, that is it's purpose will be to inform your readers about something they previously did not know about your topic. This project will lead the reader on a "journey" of discovery, as you demonstrate unusual or complicated aspect(s) about the topic.

It may also take the form of persuasion, that is it can try to sway your readers so that they think a particular way about your topic. This paper will map out it's focus early and hold a more structured form. You will also need to address opposing points of view as you make your argument.

Choose a Topic Question.

Whatever version you decide to do, it will be important for you to focus the way you go about the topic. The very first task should be to refine the larger subject that you begin with (The War on Drugs) into a smaller research question (is the prosecution of crack mothers racist?). In some ways you will need to begin browsing for information about your subject before you refine it into a useful question, but don't begin writing or intense studying of resources until you have a focused question. You will need to send me your topic question by November 16th.

As part of this assignment I'd like you to use either the class listserv (dans309@lists.rh.utexas.edu) or the interclass listserv (netcomp@lists.rh.utexas.edu)to brainstorm about potential research questions. Remember, you will be able to use the dialog that you produce to as part of you informal writing portfolio due at the end of the year. You can also make use of any of the e-mail exchanges that take place between you and your partner.

I'd also like to see you make use of newsgroups to converse about your topic. You might begin thinking about the project by browsing some newsgroups for ideas. Or if you have a topic, look at the groups to see if there are any that might prove useful to you. If you can monitor the discussion on a group for a while, then post an intelligent query, the responses you receive will make excellent research material.

I'd also like you to supplement your net sources with material taken from articles or books. You will also need to document the project, by using either the MLA citation style for traditional sources, or the online citation guide for electronic resources. Use citations within your text develop them fully.

The Requirements.

So, you'll need a partner, a topic and soon after a topic question. You'll need to use sources both from the internet and from traditional print media. You'll need to document those sources. You'll need to provide original analysis and links to related materials. You'll need to have a web draft ready by November 28th and the final done by December 7th.

Good Luck and if you have any questions, let me know.

To complete this project, you should follow

Task One

Task Two

Task Three

Task Four.

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