Semester-Long MLA Research Class for College-Bound Learners

Not all essays in college are research papers, but when it is time to write a research paper, the stakes can feel really high!

This class is all about preparing students for the research writing process. Participants will be more prepared for their composition courses AND the classes within their major.

This class introduces how to find and analyze scholarly sources, how to cite sources using MLA style, and how to create a Works Cited page. 

Here is a simplified overview of the course contents we will cover each week. Please note that this class does not focus on mechanics or grammar. Although we will have discussions about those things, they are not the focus. That said, feedback will include notes on how to improve in these areas. We WILL discuss mechanics when it comes to in-text citations and the MLA Works Cited page. 

Unlike my course Semester-Long English Composition Course for College-Bound Learners (link: https://outschool.com/classes/Ifp4XB58?utm_source=transactional&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=organizer-activity-published#usqjxLQ4Ou), this class only meets once per week instead of two times a week.

Week 1: What is a research paper?
Week 2: Asking a Good Research Question
Week 3: Finding Good Sources
Week 4: Analyzing Sources for Currency, Relevance, Accuracy, Authority, and Purpose
Week 5: Quoting & Summarizing
Week 6: Using the Quote Sandwich Strategy
Week 7: MLA In-Text Citations, Part 1 
Week 8: MLA In-Text Citations, Part 2
Week 9: Writing a Strong Research-Based Thesis & Forecast
Week 10: MLA Works Cited Page
Week 11: Review of Course Concepts; Putting Together the Essay
Week 12: Turn in Research Paper

For eleven years, I taught Rhetoric & Composition and Rhetoric & Research at the university level. After earning tenure, I decided to leave higher ed in order to teach independently and write full time. I am excited to bring my subject expertise to Outschool, where I have been teaching since February 2020. 

Most of the coursework for this class will be completed during class time. We will frequently use class time to work on our writing or complete independent activities. The only homework is to conduct research independently and then write the paper, which is due on the final week of class. Late work is accepted, but comments may be limited if the work comes in very late. No work will be accepted more than one week after the course ends. 

I will use Google Slides to present material and students will be encouraged to participate, either with cameras and mics on or via the chat. (Students must follow Outschool's rules on verifying via camera for the first class.) After all students have been verified, videos from each class will be made available to all participants to review.