1. The paper must be documented in the MLA style. This is covered in The Prentice Hall Reference Guide, chs. 47 and 52. Remember that MLA documentation includes three things: a) a signal phrase to show where source use starts; b) a parenthetical citation to show where the source use stops; and c) a Works Cited page with complete references for all sources used. You are expected to have read "The Correct Use of Borrowed Information" on the class web page (http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj/gned101.htm) and to document all source material used properly. If you have any questions about documentation, ask me before you turn the paper in. If you cannot find a form for an electronic source or have trouble getting the little carets to print in URLs for MLA forms, go to www.mla.org or and follow the orange links for "MLA Style—Frequently Asked Questions" to find your answers. There is also information available in the Writing Center, 242 Bancroft, 323-2138, and on its website, http://www.winthrop.edu/wcenter.

2. The paper should have four parts:

a. A description of the problem you are trying to solve and the context in which it occurs (for instance, if you’re working on a hometown problem, give a little background about your hometown). Maps, graphics, and tables can be used.

b. A description of the various barriers to a solution—they could be thinking barriers, community barriers, environmental barriers, practical barriers like funding, etc.

c. A discussion of the possible solutions (note that this is plural) to your problem, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each. Again, graphic information can be used if it is appropriate.

d. A recommendation for the solution you choose, with your explanation of why it is best and how (if it were implemented) it would be evaluated to see if it has worked. (See the suggestions in Thinking ch.12).

You should type this as a typical research paper (see the model in Prentice-Hall, p. 275 ff). You may use subheadings if you wish.

3. The organization of the paper will be most important in sections b and c, where we’ll need to be able to perceive why you have arranged the barriers the way you did (for example, most to least obvious, easiest to hardest to overcome, etc.) and why you present the solutions in the order you do (for example, cheapest to most expensive, the first one suggested to the most recent, etc.). The material in Thinking ch. 8 will be very helpful as you organize.

4. We will have conferences Weds. Nov. 14-Fri. Nov. 16 to discuss an outline and, if possible, an early draft of your paper. You will sign up for these in class on Nov. 12. Bring your date books! And of course you’re welcome to e-mail me and come by during office hours as you develop the body of the paper to discuss its evolution.

5. Don’t forget to use some of the most effective sources in your paper: interviews with people who know about the problem or possible solutions, archives, the local newspaper, and of course the reference librarians (remember: they have graduate degrees in looking things up!). They will be much more useful than a haphazard Yahoo! search or just looking at books in the library. Do some critical thinking about your research process to come up with the best possible sources.