Honors Projects-Research Papers

Honors research papers, once approved by the Honors Advisory Council, will be bound and housed in the SCC Library and the Honors Room, thereby making the student a published author.

The following instructions assume the student has consulted with both the mentor and Writing Center faculty throughout the research and writing processes. Any source material used in the paper must be acknowledged according to a standard documentation system (usually decided by the field of research). MLA [Modern Language Association] is the “default” system when questions arise. Other citation and documentation formats include APA [American Psychological Association-used in the social sciences] and CBE [Council of Biology Editors-used for the biological sciences], Chicago Manual of Style [used for History], and AMA [American Medical Association]. It is recommended that students confer with mentors about the appropriate format, and that the student becomes familiar with the appropriate system by referring to the handbook used in the college’s English courses.

Kinds of Research Papers

The term “research paper” has many meanings, depending upon the discipline and the audience. In the sciences, a research paper means a report on the results of experiments, the experiments themselves being the “research.” In the humanities, however, the term “research paper” means an exploration of others’ work on a particular topic, with exploration leading to the researcher’s own interpretation or “thesis.” For literary research papers, analysis of literary texts is expected in addition to the synthesis and interpretation of others’ research. To be considered as an acceptable Honors research project, the paper must be a minimum of 10 pages.

The one kind of “research paper” that the Honors Advisory Council does not want to see is a report of previous findings just for the sake of exploration without the students’ own interpretation presented.

Here are some of the kinds of research papers students could consider:

1. In the social sciences, a report on the results of original experiments or surveys/interviews, including:
   1. A preface explaining the students’ interest in the topic and possible outcomes obtained through original research;
   2. A review of the previous literature or research on the topic or issue;
   3. A conclusion where the student provides a critical analysis or interpretation of the value of the research.
       
2. A scientific paper or poster describes an original research project in a format suitable for publication or public presentation and should include the following:
   1. Title
   2. Abstract - Briefly summarize the entire project.
   3. Introduction - Present relevant prior research (including citations) and state the purpose of the current study.
   4. Materials and Methods - Describe the materials and methods used in the current study.
   5. Results - Present the results of the current study, using figures and tables when appropriate.
   6. Discussion/Conclusion - Discuss the importance of new findings, describe any challenges or unexpected results encountered, and present relevant follow-up studies.
   7. References - List appropriate citations.
       
3. An argument paper states a position, or thesis, on a topic or issue and uses credible sources to support the thesis. Evidence to forward the writer’s claim(s) should incorporate logistical or statistical support, as well as other forms of support that may include personal experience, historical examples, individual narratives or anecdotes. In order to demonstrate credibility, outside sources should incorporate appropriately academic literature and the writer should seek to integrate and evaluate gathered research in an organized and clear manner in order to present a well-reasoned argument. In addition, writers of an argumentative essay should address and reasonably refute potential opposing viewpoints in order to successfully validate the thesis. Finally, while the conclusion of the essay may restate the thesis, or summarize other key points, the writer should be sure that the thesis and the conclusion do not simply restate positions of others, but rather contribute an original idea (or ideas) to the ongoing conversations about the issue(s) addressed in the essay.
    
4. A literary analysis paper examines literary texts (or another medium) closely to understand messages, interpret meanings, and appreciate writers’/artists’ techniques. A literary analysis paper includes these key features: an arguable thesis, careful attention to the language of the text, attention to patterns or themes, an a clear interpretation that demonstrates the thesis using evidence from the text, outside sources and relative contextual evidence to explain how the language and patterns support the interpretation.
    
5. A problem-solving paper: explains a problem and gives a detailed plan for remediation of the problem. The paper describes the problem, provides arguments that show the need for solutions to the problem, explains the solution proposal and offers valid arguments that this is the best solution to the problem. It should also refute objections to the proposed solution. The paper should give a detailed plan exploring what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, why the solution will work, and why it is a feasible and reasonable cost-effective solution to the problem.
    
6. A synthesis and application paper presents the thesis or stand and purpose for exploring the topic within the text, summarizes and synthesizes the previous relevant research on the topic, and applies those stated theories to specific scenarios. A critical review of current research and an analysis of the students’ perspectives and interpretation are necessary for this type of paper to be considered as an acceptable Honors Independent Study.

There are more kinds of acceptable research papers than are outlined above. The main point, however, is that Honors research papers must have a stated purpose and must exhibit academic rigor that goes beyond of the kind of essays or papers required in non-Honors coursework. In other words, the purpose in research should go beyond investigation of a topic merely for investigation sake.

Any Honors research paper automatically has an audience of the Honors Advisory Council, other students and appropriate discipline specific professionals. In addition, mentors or the Honors Advisory Council may ask the student to produce a research paper that is publishable for an audience of scholars in that field. Students automatically become published authors when the project has been accepted as a completed Honors Independent Study.

The Honors Advisory Council recommends that the student thoroughly discusses the project with the mentor so that the student can answer the following questions before writing the research paper:

1. Objective: What is the question or problem or topic I wish to explore?
2. Significance: What is my purpose in writing the paper exploring this?
3. Evaluation: What is my own position about the topic I wish to pursue? What will be my original contribution to this subject?
4. Methodology: How are you going to do the project?
5. Audience: Who is my audience for this paper?
6. Resources: Where will I find the resources needed and what documentation format is appropriate?
7. Academic Rigor: How will the research paper go beyond the expectations for a standard paper in this course or discipline?
8. What “pre-research” needs to be completed to ensure that the project is feasible? In other words, are there any permissions needed before the original research can be conducted, or is the topic one which is not suitable for a paper because there is no information available or because the topic is one that has been “researched to death”?

If the student becomes confused about the research paper project, the first step is to confer with the mentor. Other resources include the members of the Honors Advisory Council and the faculty in the Writing Center.

The most important idea to consider is that the Honors Advisory Council wants students to show academic excellence through projects - students are encouraged to ask for assistance whenever needed. These guidelines have been created to ensure that an Honors-quality research paper is produced.

Formatting the Final Draft

1. Provide a title page that includes:
   1. the title of the paper
   2. student’s name
   3. mentor’s name
   4. semester and year
       
2. Use the appropriate system’s guidelines for citing research sources throughout the paper.
    
3. Double-space the manuscript, indenting five spaces for new paragraphs. (Note: To increase the readability of the paper, include headings and page numbers.)
    
4. Follow the appropriate system’s formatting guidelines for setting margins; number all pages at top right or bottom center.
    
5. Label and title all visuals, citing sources in-text where appropriate.
    
6. Provide a List of Works Cited, Bibliography or List of References at the end of the paper, or footnotes within the paper, formatted according to the documentation system appropriate to the project’s discipline.
    

Submitting the Final Draft

1. Prepare two clean copies of the completed paper.
    
2. For copying and binding purposes
   1. Do NOT staple the pages
   2. Make the last page of the research paper a blank sheet of paper.
       
3. If you include pictures in the project, they should be color copies rather than photographs. (Note: using color in projects adds to their overall appearance and is therefore encouraged, but not required. However, the students’ work will be published so color copies are desired for a more professional appearance.)
    
4. Provide a disc or electronic copy of the project in addition to the two paper copies. NOTE: We prefer that you provide your work in Microsoft WORD document format.)
    
5. Abstract.

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