Short Essays (SEs) are short essays or essay related activities designed to develop research, be written for, or added to the papers and research paper through:

1. Supporting learning specific types of paper sections

2. Developing ideas and research of specific types

They can also be assignments that are more creative in order to explore types of writing as well as more analytical for analyzing a historical artifact or pattern.

Specific SE assignments may include:

• Research Proposal

  • Students will develop a research topic and research question through preliminary research

• Theoretical Framework Summary

  • Students will briefly summarize and explain postmodernism as a theoretical framework for research

• Annotated bibliography

  • Students will be evaluated on the comprehensiveness, focus, and format of an annotated bibliography created in the process of constructing the research paper.

• Defining Key Terms

  • Students will identify key terms from their research and explain them appropriately for their audience.

• Significance

  • Using criteria for analyzing news, students will identify a credible news source or data report and use it to explain the significance and implications of their research topic in today’s world.

• Research Abstract

  • Students will be evaluated on the comprehensiveness, focus, format, and cohesion of an abstract created in the process of constructing the research paper.

  • Abstract will be submitted to a research conference for presentation, aligning to the guidelines of the conference proposal requirements.

Research readiness assignments (RRs) are designed to build skills in order to develop research skills that align with course topics:

• Discover varieties of research techniques and sources.

• Document research within current MLA or APA guidelines.

Assignments include activities outside of class, which include (but aren’t limited to): completing library workshops, seeing the reference librarian, seeing the tutors, and using various resources that build informational literacy skills.