Reaching Herd Immunity

RESEARCH INFORMATION
RESEARCH PAPER REQUIREMENTS

Purpose:​This is a paper for which you research a subject, small in scope, and then write a report, analyzing and evaluating the subject.  Your style must be objective, not subjective; your sources must be balanced (not just one perspective); and your information must be professional in nature.

Length:​2200 words, approximately 9 pages, plus an illustration placed within the paper. (under 2000 is failing)

Topic:  ​One which allows for analysis and evaluation of an area in which current issues which have significance for the conduct, thought, or actions of mankind. It must NOT be a summary of a topic.

Thesis:  ​One in which you state the approach to and the area of study.

Subtopics:  Use 3 of approximately equal length.  Each one should examine the major areas of your paper.

Sources:  Ten professional sources are required.  They include at least two books, two database articles, and two internet sources (the remaining are free choice).

Documentation within paper:
• Information presented in your own words:  citation of author’s last name or title, plus page number, at end of paragraph.
• Information presented as direct quotations: citation of author’s last name or title, plus page number, at end of quotation

Writing Style:  Formal research style: 3rd person, no slang, no contractions.

Paragraph Length: one-third to one-half page

Illustration:  Placement within body of paper, one-eighth to one-page, with a number (figure 1) and a title.  Use copies of pictures, charts, graphs, or lists.

Examples’ Length:  When using examples to illustrate a point, use no more than one paragraph for each.

RHETORICAL DEVICES

1. Use of authorities
2. Quotations
3. Questions
4. Use of famous people
5. Anecdote
6. Brief history
7. Comparisons
8. Analogies
9. Examples
10. Facts and Statistics

Students are sometimes confused about the proper mix of original work and citations from outside sources that is appropriate in academic writing assignments. This can lead to problems ranging from a bad grade on the assignment to a charge of plagiarism. In the example below, we consider in detail an example of a properly written paragraph from an actual student paper (used with the permission of its author) on technical aspects of HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
The HIPAA rules provide for civil and criminal penalties for misuse or disclosure of protected health information. There may also be a right of individual action if a covered entity fails to comply with its own published notices of information practices (Christiansen 29). As Margret Amatayakul writes, “The healthcare industry will be left to establish its own baseline, and will likely be judged on the basis of ‘common practice’ within the framework of the rules” (8). These common practices establish a standard of care against which health care institutions will likely be measured. Health care institutions must not assume that compliance with the HIPAA security rule will automatically offer the protections needed for compliance with the privacy rule. The privacy rule applies to all protected health information, but the security rule applies only to electronic protected health information (Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP 3).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Works Cited
Amatayakul, Margret. “Security measures required for HIPAA privacy,” Journal of Healthcare Information Management, vol. 44, no. 4, 2000, pp. 5-13.
Christiansen, John. Electronic Health Information: Privacy and Security Compliance under HIPAA. American Health Lawyers Association, 2000.
Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP. “Final HIPAA Security Regulations.”  Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. 20 November 2003. www.himss.org/content/files/FinalHIPAA SecurityRegs.pdf.  Accessed 10 August 2014.
Let’s look at this in some detail and see what the various parts are.

Introductory sentence written by the student:
The HIPAA rules provide for civil and criminal penalties for misuse or disclosure of protected health information.

Sentence containing a specific fact, with the source of the fact cited:
There may also be a right of individual action if a covered entity fails to comply with its own published notices of information practices (Christiansen 29).

Direct quote from another source, marked with quotation marks and with the source cited:
As Margret Amatayakul writes, “The healthcare industry will be left to establish its own baseline, and will likely be judged on the basis of ‘common practice’ within the framework of the rules” (8).

Original work by the student giving an interpretation of the information so far:
These common practices establish a standard of care against which health care institutions will likely be measured. Health care institutions must not assume that compliance with the HIPAA security rule will automatically offer the protections needed for compliance with the privacy rule.

Another sentence containing a specific fact, with the source of the fact cited.
The privacy rule applies to all protected health information, but the security rule applies only to electronic protected health information (Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP 3).

The paragraph of text includes facts and quotes (always explicitly marked) from appropriate external sources, as well as original writing by the student giving a specific interpretation of the material. Both parts are essential. The proper use of external sources indicates that the student has become familiar with the subject and with what other people are saying about it. The contributions by the student demonstrate that this is not just a collection of other people’s ideas, it also contains an element of organization of the outside ideas and an original interpretation of them to support the student’s research thesis.
In summary, a good piece of academic writing should include
• material from external sources, used in enough depth to demonstrate that the student has become familiar with the subject, and with any direct use of another’s words either marked with quotes or offset from the rest of the text;
• original writing and organization of concepts by the student, to demonstrate the student’s organization and interpretation of ideas;
• proper and complete citations to the external sources used, to show their suitability to the topic and allow an interested person to find them for further study.
Table of Contents

Title Page
Table of Contents
Summary
(Two paragraphs: one introduces the purpose, scope, and sections and one briefly describes the results of the research)
Final Outline
(Lists and describes in a sentence outline the three major sections and the subjects matter discussed in each one)
Introduction
Subtopic One
Subtopic Two
Subtopic Three
Illustration​
(A chart, graph, or photograph, placed within the paper (page 2-10)
Conclusion
Works Cited
(A listing of the 10 or more sources used and cited within the paper)
Glossary
(Five words defined which are in the paper)
Index
(Five subjects covered in the paper, listed by page number)

i
ii
iii

iv

1
2
5
7
8

9
10

11

12
Prospectus
This assignment is to be a blueprint for the research project, intended to guide you through development. The purpose of the Prospectus is to demonstrate your understanding of the overall research project, its feasibility, and your commitment to it.  It is intended to set out a plan as to how you will proceed through the research.  Your topic should be one that has both a special interest to you and is feasible, given the limits of your knowledge, time, and resources.
Requirements
250-500 words (approximately ¾ to 1½ pages)
Three (3) internet sources printed and attached to prospectus
1. Defining the Topic
Here you will define the topic you have chosen and outline the three (3) subtopics you have broken it down into.  You need not choose one of the more conventional, academic topics (like the examples shown in your syllabus or discussed in class). My point here is that you can choose to analyze a situation that is close to you. In the past, one student analyzed the idea of adding a stop light in his neighborhood, while another looked at the possible pros and cons of Long Beach City Council re-zoning part of Long Beach Boulevard… You’re welcome to pursue similar issues.
2. Audience
Understanding your audience is essential. For the sake of discussion, let’s think about uniforms for high school students.  Suppose the purpose of your research is to get high school students to understand the issues involved with school uniforms.  Students are mainly concerned about being able to express their individuality, about making themselves distinct from others, and about money.  To them you would focus one set of ideas.  On the other hand, if you were researching for the ABC School Board who was considering adopting a policy of school uniforms, you’d use a different set of arguments, for they would not be as concerned about student individuality as they would about peace on the campus.  You need to have a good grasp of your audience’s concerns and values.  Once you know your audience, you can determine both your tone and your focus. To assess your audience, try to identify your audiences’ values, beliefs, and assumptions as they relate to your topic.
3. + Likely Areas for Research
Where are you going to get your information? If you are analyzing whether or not high school students should wear uniforms, you might go out and talk to some students – and teachers and principals and school board members. You might talk to police or a district attorney. You will also need to explore information on the Internet and in the Library as well.  Consider specifically and creatively where you might go for information. You might even send away for TV or radio transcripts of shows that have addressed your topic.  Be specific as to what sources you intend to seek, and describe the kind of information you hope to gather from each source.  Include a specific reference for the internet sources you have already found and attached as required.
4. Provisional Objective
What do you hope your proposal will achieve.  Why have you chosen this particular topic to explore?  What do you already know and what do you hope to find out by researching this particular subject?