FINAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY PROJECT (due end of week 11) Instructions for Final Reflective Essay Project. (Submit assignment at bottom of the page.) Thus far you have been introduced to the diversity of Africa, its citizens, and its culture. More specifically, you have looked at contradictions facing Africa as a result of indigenous African social transformation, African-European connections through history, the impact of Islam and Christianity, colonialism and decolonization, gender and African society, political, economic and cultural conflict. Countries and Regions of Africa: You should be familiar with the 53 (or 54) countries of Africa by this time -- if not, review the AFRICA FOCUS DATABASE. 1. Central Africa 2. East Africa 3. Northern Africa 4. Southern Africa 5. West Africa Developing the Final Reflective Essay Project What is a Research Paper? This is the expanded version of your Final Reflective Essay Proposal. You will develop afinal reflective essay, 5 pages in length and should cite at least5 sources, from the course as well as outside sources. This paper should reflect on what you have learned this term, what you didn't know about Africa, what drew your interest, and what you have considered going forward. In keeping with technological advancements and also to encourage different ways of learning and presenting a final document, the student is encouraged to develop an internet-based presentation, that can be paired with the sound, well-researched and written 5 page narrative. The paper must be in MLA format. (Please do NOT use the APA format.) The paper must be your own work. To avoid unintentional plagiarism, link to "Plagiarism and How to Avoid It" and learn more about Academic Integrity. SPECIAL NOTE: All of the guidelines on structure and content as described below are to be strictly adhered to in this option. Make sure your research topic is sufficiently specific and detailed - otherwise, your paper or project will lack an adequate focus (i.e., be much too broad). You should avoid a purely descriptive research paper or project where you only restate facts from your research without any analysis. Be sure to argue a particular point of view in your thesis and then support that argument (or refute it) with your research sources. Finally, be sure to provide a summary of whether your research proved or refuted the argument you set out to make in your paper. Use the following format for the research paper or project as your "guide". Note the word "guide" because you may find a need, given the specific topic you have selected, to modify. Remember that this is a research paper or project - not a longer version of an essay. The research paper or project should contain the following format: Title page, Purpose of Study, Opening Statement, Assumption or Hypothesis, Discussion of Findings, Recommendations, Conclusion/Summary, and Reference Page. Developing a Thesis Statement/Argument For Your Paper An upper/advanced level course research p ...

1. FINAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY PROJECT (due end of week 11)
Instructions for Final Reflective Essay Project. (Submit
assignment at bottom of the page.)
Thus far you have been introduced to the diversity of Africa, its
citizens, and its culture. More specifically, you have looked at
contradictions facing Africa as a result of indigenous African
social transformation, African-European connections through
history, the impact of Islam and Christianity, colonialism and
decolonization, gender and African society, political, economic
and cultural conflict.
Countries and Regions of Africa:
You should be familiar with the 53 (or 54) countries of Africa
by this time -- if not, review the AFRICA FOCUS DATABASE.
1. Central Africa
2. East Africa
3. Northern Africa
4. Southern Africa
5. West Africa
Developing the Final Reflective Essay Project
What is a Research Paper?
This is the expanded version of your Final Reflective Essay
Proposal.
You will develop afinal reflective essay, 5 pages in length and
should cite at least5 sources, from the course as well as outside
sources. This paper should reflect on what you have learned this
term, what you didn't know about Africa, what drew your
interest, and what you have considered going forward. In
keeping with technological advancements and also to encourage
different ways of learning and presenting a final document, the
student is encouraged to develop an internet-based presentation,
that can be paired with the sound, well-researched and written 5
page narrative.
The paper must be in MLA format. (Please do NOT use the APA
format.) The paper must be your own work. To avoid

2. unintentional plagiarism, link to "Plagiarism and How to Avoid
It" and learn more about Academic Integrity.
SPECIAL NOTE: All of the guidelines on structure and content
as described below are to be strictly adhered to in this option.
Make sure your research topic is sufficiently specific and
detailed - otherwise, your paper or project will lack an adequate
focus (i.e., be much too broad). You should avoid a purely
descriptive research paper or project where you only restate
facts from your research without any analysis. Be sure to argue
a particular point of view in your thesis and then support that
argument (or refute it) with your research sources. Finally, be
sure to provide a summary of whether your research proved or
refuted the argument you set out to make in your paper.
Use the following format for the research paper or project as
your "guide". Note the word "guide" because you may find a
need, given the specific topic you have selected, to modify.
Remember that this is a research paper or project - not a longer
version of an essay. The research paper or project should
contain the following format: Title page, Purpose of Study,
Opening Statement, Assumption or Hypothesis, Discussion of
Findings, Recommendations, Conclusion/Summary, and
Reference Page.
Developing a Thesis Statement/Argument For Your Paper
An upper/advanced level course research paper or project
should AVOID mere description. It should instead be more
analytical in nature. "Description" is when you simply restate
the information you have found in your source materials. You
might provide a wealth of information in your research paper,
but if you don't "take it to the next level" -- that of critical
analysis and comparison of that source material, your thesis is
not fully developed at an advanced level of study. Proceeding
from the descriptive to the analytical within one's writing is a
long and tedious process, but one that is essential for advanced
critical analysis of a chosen topic.
What allows for the most in-depth analysis is the argument that

3. you outline in your thesis -- the more compelling (or sometimes
even controversial) the argument, the easier it is for you to
demonstrate more of an analytical component in your paper.
Such analysis might include debating the actual sources you are
using. So, for example, in addition to citing a particular fact or
statistic, etc., you might actually argue with that fact or
statistic, etc., using your own knowledge or perhaps a
contradictory fact or statistic from another source. You may or
may not have found that sometimes two-three differing sources
on the same topic may provide two-three differing
interpretations or perceptions of an issue. Your own analysis
(over and above description) comes in as you debate (with
yourself and your sources) which source, fact or statistic is
most accurate and why.
Another way to setup up an analytical component to your
research project/paper is to undertake a comparison/contrast.
Providing a comparison and contrast between two individuals or
events, for example, allows for an analysis of competing
thoughts and ideas.
These are just a couple of examples of the type of analysis of
your sources/topic that you might employ in order to avoid the
"descriptive" syndrome that is common to the average research
paper. While a descriptive overview of your topic/sources may
equate to an average evaluation/grade, what distinguishes the
"A" grade from all others is advanced level critical analysis. If
you feel you need more assistance with developing your critical
analytical skills, contact an ESC librarian for more assistance.
You might also consider enrolling in the ESC-CDL course
entitled, "Introduction to Critical Thinking." (This course also
fulfills 2 of the 4 credits of required educational/degree
planning coursework.)
IMPORTANT
In addition, the project proposal as well as the final research
paper or project must be submitted to smarthinking prior to
final SUBMISSION.

4. Visit the ESC/Smarthinking home page
at http://www.esc.edu/smarthinking. Click the “Sign Up Now”
to create your user name and password Once you have created
your account, just go to www.smarthinking.com whenever your
are in need of tutoring or assistance with writing your papers.
There is no limit to how often you use this service, so take full
advantage of the assistance that Smarthinking can offer!
Research Project Format
Title Page
It should be concise and descriptive. Your name, course name
and number, college and term should be listed.
Purpose of Study
The final paper or project should include a succinct statement
that explains why you selected the particular area of interest
and why it lends itself to a research paper. State the purpose of
your research and why it interests you. You should also identify
the audience for your work.
Opening Statement, Assumptions or Hypothesis
The paper or project is a rigorous academic exercise and should
be carefully thought out from beginning to end. It is imperative
that you resist presentation of opinion as fact, and instead
develop assumptions or hypotheses without reaching
conclusions before you investigate the topic. The opening
statement, argument or hypothesis focuses your ideas for the
paper; it's your argument, insight or viewpoint summarized into
a sentence or two that gives the reader your main idea. It
presents the rationale for your paper and clearly indicates why
it is worth exploring. If you are not sure about how to refine,
narrow or broaden your thesis, please go to our online Library
for assistance
athttp://www1.esc.edu/personalfac/hshapiro/writing_program/st
udents/Handouts/main/thesis_intro.htm.
Discussion of Findings
You must demonstrate that you have expanded your knowledge
of the subject. This is where you must cite between 10-12
sources using the MLA or Turabian formats. (Please do NOT

5. use the APA format.) This section should discuss and offer an
interpretation of the sources you cite. Choose the sources
carefully. They should demonstrate your understanding of the
research issues related to your topic and show your ability to
critically evaluate/integrate the literary sources.
Citation Format (Footnotes)
You are required to use the MLA or Turabian format for citing
sources. Please do NOT use the APA format.
Recommendations
Given your findings, what do you recommend be done? Use
your findings to support your recommendations.
Conclusion/Summary
In these sections, the emphasis should be on what has been
learned about the assumptions, the limits of this particular
inquiry, and the implications of the findings.
Reference Page ("Bibliography" or "Works Cited")
Documenting sources at the end of the research paper consists
of listing all of the sources from which you quoted,
paraphrased, or summarized. You are required to use the MLA
or Turabian format for citing sources. Please do NOT use the
APA format.
Library Resources
1) Research: Locating Information on Your Potential Topic
You can use the resources of the Empire State College online
Library at http://www.esc.edu/library. If you are new to doing
research using online resources, you may want to explore the
following links located in the Library's
website: http://www.esc.edu/library.
Quick Tips for New Users
A Six Step Approach to Doing Research.
2) Defining and Narrowing Your Topic
For help in narrowing your research topic, follow this link to a
list of readings on "Research Writing" at the College's Online
Library's Writing Resource Center.
Some research websites that may be helpful as you begin your
research can be found at:

6. Go to ESC's Online Library Research Sites for additional
information:http://www.esc.edu/library
Topic - Final Reflective Essay Project
The topic for your Final Reflective Essay Project, which you
identified within your Proposal, related a topical issue to a
country or region of Africa.
Topical Issues may include but are not limited to:
1. African Kingdoms
2. Family and Kinship
3. Culture
4. Literature or the Arts
5. Education
6. Political Development
7. African Traditional Belief System
8. Women & Development (Co-ops)
9. Nation Building and Education
10. AIDS
11. Economic Development
12. Environment
13. Ethnic Conflict
Required Research Resources
You are required to utilize the following specific research
resources, in addition to the general guidelines and resources
provided above, when finalizing your Research Project:
Academic Journal Articles
A minimum of 3 citations/works used (use the Library resources
and helpful information provided above as well as elsewhere in
this course).
Current Affairs Articles or news clippings
A minimum of 3 citations/works used (Washington Post, NY
Times, Boston Globe, Newsweek, CNN, etc.).
Internet Sources
A maximum of 3 credible Internet sources. As a general rule of
thumb, any source with an ".org" domain is likely to be a
reputable source. (http://allafrica.com; http:www.frontline.org)

7. Monologues (Books)
A minimum of 3 citations/works used.
Refer also to the COURSE READINGS & RESEARCH
RESOURCES document.
Evaluation Reminder
Click HERE to review criteria for course evaluations, including
% worth of this assignment toward your final grade.
Assignment Submission
Research
Room (http://www.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex
.nsf/wholeshortlinks2/Research+Room+Menu)
GUIDELINES: A research paper or project is more than the sum
of your sources, more than a collection of different pieces of
information about a topic, more than a review of literature in a
field and is more than an opinion based piece of work. A
research paper or project analyzes a perspective or argues a
point. In an analytical research paper or project, you do
research to become an expert on a topic so that you can
restructure and present the parts of the topic from your own
perspective. An argumentative research paper or project needs
to support your stand on an issue. An argumentative research
paper or project uses information as evidence to support a point.
Instructions: Enter or paste your written work and/or click
"Attachments" to upload your files.