COM/156

UNIVERSITY COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION II

The Latest Version A+ Study Guide

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COM 156 Entire Course Link

https://hwsell.com/category/com-156/

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COM 156 Week 1 Research Plan

Select a general topic for your research paper from the following list:

• Animals
• Cancer
• Colonization
• Consumerism
• Culture
• Drugs
• Environment
• Education
• Generation X
• Hate crimes
• Healthy eating
• Literacy
• Media
• Music censorship
• Recycling
• Technology
• Television and children
• Vegetarianism
• War
• Another choice approved by your instructor

Hint. Refer to the narrowing and selecting a topic activity from your COM/155 class.

Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Research Plan.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• The Prewriting Process – Preparing to Write
• Developing the Topic

Research Plan

As part of your research plan, you must first draft a research question for your research paper that will guide the rest of your writing. A research question, which is more specific and focused than a general topic, is the question that your research paper will answer.

For example, if your general area of interest is social security, a possible research question might ask, “How can low-income families save more money if the United States had a reformed social security plan that includes personal retirement accounts?”

As you develop a research question, remember that you need to research sources to support your topic. Do not pick a one-sided question that will limit your research. Instead, develop a research question that lends itself to further exploration and debate—a question you genuinely want to know the answer to.

Try to pick a research question that is neither too broad (covering too much) or too narrow (covering too little). It should be broad enough to be discussed in a short research paper.

Part 1: Complete the Research Plan

Part 2: Summarize Your Research Plan

Write a 250- to 300-word paragraph summarizing your research plan. Include the following:

• The topic you have chosen for your final project
• What you hope to learn from your research
• What aspect of your topic you plan to focus on in your research and writing
• The purpose of research writing and the process you will follow

COM 156 Week 2 Strategies for Gathering and Evaluating Sources

Locate three sources you think you can use to support your final project. At least two of these sources should come from the University Library.

Evaluate each source by answering the questions in the University of Phoenix Material: Strategies for Gathering and Evaluating Sources.

Note. You will use this assignment as the basis for part of your Week Three assignment. Your effort on this assignment will make the Week Three assignment easier to complete.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• Acquiring Information: The Research Process

Strategies for Gathering and Evaluating Sources

Evaluate three sources for your final project by completing this worksheet.

Source 1

Source 2

Source 3

COM 156 Week 3 APA Formatting

Correct the APA formatting in the University of Phoenix Material: What’s Wrong with this Document?

Write a 150- to 250-word summary of the purpose and importance of using a style guide.

Submit both your summary and the corrected paper in one document.

What’s Wrong with This Document?

The document below is the first page in the body of an assignment that must be consistent with APA guidelines. Identify and correct deviations from APA guidelines in the document.

Returning to School                                                             Page 1

Learning new skills and knowledge is something that is required every day in my job. Currently, I am not eligible for promotions because I don’t have the necessary college degree. Also, when I try to compete with others for jobs that don’t require a college degree, the other applicants have some type of formal education on their résumés that outweighs my background. I want this college degree so I can compete with others for the jobs for which I am qualified. Today’s employment market is filled with talented people who have various degrees, speak multiple languages, and have varying experience levels. Without a degree, it will become more difficult as I get older to find a position I not only enjoy but that also provides for my family.

1. MY EDUCATIONAL GOALS

At the end of my degree program, I hope that I gain skills in three areas:  critical thinking, writing, and collaboration. Of these three areas, I think my critical thinking skills need the most attention. I need to work on the following areas:

1. Improve my ability to look at other options
2. Improve my ability to ask open-ended questions
3. Improve my ability to do research

COM 156 Week 4 Thesis Statement

Develop a thesis statement for your research essay using the following equation:

limited topic + controlling idea, point, attitude, or slant = thesis

Post your thesis statement as a Microsoft® Word attachment.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• Thesis

COM 156 Week 5 Outline

Create an outline, using the University of Phoenix Material: Outline and Thesis Statement Guide, with details that support your thesis.

• Outline only the body of your paper.
• Remember to avoid bias to strengthen your writing and present a balanced case for your thesis.
• Include in-text citations in your outline and reference citations at the end.

Explain in a short paragraph, of at least 150 words, why you decided to sequence your paragraphs as you did.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• The Writing Process – Placing Words on Paper
• Developing the Topic

Outline and Thesis Statement Guide

Create an outline that includes details that support your thesis. Identify at least three main points and at least two supporting details per main point.

• Write all supporting details and subdetails in complete sentences.

• Include both in-text citations in the outline and a references page following the outline. Many of your supporting details and subdetails will need in-text citations.

• Outline only the body of your paper (not your introduction or conclusion).
• Avoid bias and present a balanced case for your thesis—this will strengthen your writing.

Your thesis statement:

Outline:

1. Introduction
2. First main point
3. Supporting details
4. Subdetails
5. Subdetails
6. Supporting details
7. Subdetails
8. Subdetails

III. Second main point

1. Supporting details
2. Subdetails
3. Subdetails
4. Supporting details
5. Subdetails
6. Subdetails
7. Third main point
8. Supporting details
9. Subdetails
10. Subdetails
11. Supporting details
12. Subdetails
13. Subdetails
14. Conclusion

Explain in a short paragraph (at least 150 words) why you decided to sequence your paragraphs as you did.

References

[Include your references here]

COM 156 Week 6 Introduction and Conclusion

Review the components of an effective introduction and an effective conclusion outlined in this week’s readings.

Write the introduction for your research paper. Use techniques to draw readers into your thesis.

Write a conclusion for your research paper that effectively summarizes your paper.

COM 156 Week 7 Exercises

View all videos and presentations in the Week Seven MyWritingLab® videos and exercises.

Complete the Comprehension Check at the end of Using Exact Language and the

Using Exact Language Apply Activity.

Post a screen shot of your Comprehension Check results and each page of your Using Exact Language Apply Activity results as a single Microsoft® Word attachment.

1. Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screen shot.
2. Open a blank Microsoft® Word document.
3. Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screen shot into the document.

COM 156 Week 7 Body Paragraphs

Resources: Center for Writing Excellence:

• WritePoint®
• Plagiarism Checker
• Sample Paper (APA and Writing & Style Guidelines)
• Grammar and Writing Guides: APA Reference and Citation Examples

Create the body paragraphs of your research paper by converting your outline into the body of your paper.

• The rough draft must be a minimum of 800 words and must be complete enough for your facilitator to provide constructive feedback.

• Use appropriate sentence variety, sentence clarity, and parallel structure in your writing.

Add the introduction and conclusion paragraphs you wrote in Week Six and modify them as necessary.

Format your paragraphs consistent with APA guidelines.

• Review APA guidelines in the Center for Writing Excellence.
• Use in-text citations where necessary in the body paragraphs.
• Include a correctly formatted References page.

Submit a copy of your paragraphs to WritePoint® and to the Plagiarism Checker for review.

Copy the WritePoint® and Plagiarism Checker feedback into your document (after your body paragraphs).

Post your assignment as a single Microsoft® Word attachment.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• Writing the Essay

COM 156 Week 8 Revision Analysis

Use the University of Phoenix Material: Revision Analysis as a checklist or prewriting tool before you write your response.

Write a 300- to 400-word response to the following in a new Microsoft® Word document:

• Describe, in detail, the feedback you received from WritePoint®, from the Plagiarism Checker report through the Center for Writing Excellence, from your facilitator, and from any peers in a peer-review thread.

• Explain the changes you will make to revise your own paper based on this feedback.

• In your response, explain whether you have met each item listed in the University of Phoenix Material: Revision Analysis. If you answered yes, explain what you have done in your paper to meet these criteria. If you responded no, explain what changes you will make to successfully complete that requirement before submitting your final draft.

• Respond to every item in the checklist.

• Add a correctly formatted title page.

Submit your 300- to 400-word response along with your completed checklist.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• Using Effective Transitions
• Using an Essay Checklist
• Using Peer Review

Revision Analysis

Part 1

In the tables below, list the details provided in your feedback from different sources: your instructor, WritePoint®, Plagiarism Checker, and your peers. In the second column, explain what changes you will make to your paper based on that feedback. Address one specific area of feedback in each row.

Example:

Instructor Feedback

WritePoint® Feedback

Plagiarism Checker

Peer Feedback

Part 2:

In a new Microsoft® Word document, write a 300- to 400-word response to the following:

• Describe, in detail, the feedback you received from WritePoint®, from the Plagiarism Checker report through the Center for Writing Excellence, from your facilitator, and from any peers in a peer-review thread.

• Explain the changes you will make to revise your own paper based on this feedback.

• In your response, explain whether you have met each item listed above. If you answered yes, explain what you have done in your paper to meet these criteria. If you responded no, explain what changes you will make to successfully complete that requirement before submitting your final draft.

• Respond to every item in the checklist.

• Add a correctly formatted title page.

COM 156 Week 9 Research Paper

Writea 1,450- to 1,700-word research paper.

Include the following elements in your research paper:

• Title page
• Introduction with a thesis statement
• Body paragraphs with supporting evidence, including in-text citations
• Conclusion
• Reference list of citations containing at least three to five sources–at least two from the University Library

Review the University of Phoenix Material: Final Project Overview and Timeline to ensure you have completed every step required for the final project.

Use the University of Phoenix Material: Proofreading Checklist to proofread your final draft. If you cannot answer yes to an item in the proofreading checklist, revise your paper accordingly.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Post your final completed research paper as an attachment.

Review the additional resources from the Center for Writing Excellence for further support:

• Applying Critical Thinking Principles to your Writing