Research Paper Value: 200 points Overview prepare a final research paper based on the theme of geographical connections. The aim of the overall project is to consider the ways the contemporary world is constituted through a dense web of connections among people and things. The project will focus on Indians and Philipinos in GCC and specifically QATAR, and will investigate the connectivities that lie behind them. For this assignment, produce a 5-6 page final paper that presents their findings and addresses the ˜geography of connection’ for Indians and Philipinos in GCC and specifically QATAR. The geography of connections at a minimum must address the following points/questions: 1. A thorough description of the people or thing that is the focus of the project 2. How the people came to be in the place they currently live; where the thing is made or cultivated or assembled 3. What the living conditions are like for the people where they currently live, and what it’s like in the place they left; how the thing is made, extracted, or produced 4. How the people or thing have changed the places in which they live or are used 5. How the people or thing connect the places in which they occupy to other places, especially to their places/sites of origin 6. And, most importantly: how the people or thing you have chosen to explore illustrates the conditions (technological, political, economic, environmental, cultural, etc.) that make these connectivities possible. In other words, you must develop a coherent argument that takes a position on explaining how and why the people or thing is illustrative of geographic interconnections. The final paper builds on two previous assignments: the research topic (attached) and the annotated bibliography (ATTACHED ). Format guidelines This assignment should be typed at double-spacing using 12-point font. Please do not include a title page. The length for this assignment is between 5-6 pages (excluding the references section or any appendices) with 1 margins. Remember quality is better than quantity for written portions of this assignment. You must include a thesis statement (or argument) that clearly states your position on how your chosen topic illustrates geographical connections. You are required to conduct research for this assignment. You are responsible for employing *high-quality* sources in completing this assignment. Remember, Wikipedia is not considered a high-quality source in this class. Present quotes and paraphrasing appropriately. If it is not your own personal thought or widely recognized as common knowledge, you must cite the original source of the information. A ˜references’ section should be submitted with your assignment. The references should be formatted using the guidelines provided by the Modern Language Association (MLA) (keep citation styles consistent, please) If you would like to use maps, photographs, web screen shots, tables, figures, images, or other similar materials in your paper, please place these in an appendix section after the main text and references. Label each figure or table ˜Figure 1?, ˜Figure 2?, ˜Table 1?, ˜Table 2?, and so on. Be sure to reference figures and tables within the main text (e.g., œsee Figure 1). If the figures or tables are not your own, make sure to cite your sources! Assessment In order to help you understand how this assignment will be assessed, we have included (below) a grading rubric. Use the rubric as a ˜roadmap’ to make sure that that all relevant components are included within your paper. Research Paper Grading Rubric Superior/A Very Good/B Good/C Acceptable/D Poor/E Main Argument and Overall Effectiveness (80 points maximum) Introduction “ clarity & effectiveness An introduction is provided & clearly identifiable; the introduction clearly & effectively sets up what is to follow in the paper by outlining the author’s argument, a brief structure/overview, AND provides some sense of what s/he concludes in the paper 20pts An introduction is provided & clearly identifiable; the introduction achieves most of what is listed at left (e.g., 2 out of 3 goals) & is thereby a little less clear or effective than others you’ve read 16pts An introduction is provided but is more brief (& thereby less effective); the introduction is a little off topic and does not clearly address the 3 items listed at far left, therefore the introduction is not very effective in signaling what’s to come 12pts Little, if any, introduction is provided; introduction has little to do with topic and/or argument to be presented, therefore is not an effective start to the paper 8pts No introduction provided, therefore its clarity & effectiveness cannot be assessed 0pts Main argument or thesis statement “ quality & assertion of position Clear & concise thesis statement provided that directly addresses topic 10pts Clear & concise thesis statement provided that is a little off topic 8pts Thesis statement provided that addresses topic, but is poorly written/delivered 6pts Thesis statement provided that is off topic & poorly written 4pts No thesis statement provided, therefore its quality cannot be assed 0pts Logic and Effectiveness of Argument An organized and substantiated argument is presented that directly answers the question: In what ways do the people or thing illustrate the conditions that make these connectivities possible?; argument follows a logical order and is well-supported by evidence (see criteria below), allowing you to feel convinced by that argument (more so than by others you have read) 50pts An organized and substantiated argument is presented that directly answers the question: In what ways do the people or thing illustrate the conditions that make these connectivities possible; the order of the argument is basically logical but suggests some underdevelopment of this particular argument based on the facts at hand (thus the argument is slightly less effective than others you have read) 40pts An argument is identifiable but lacks some direction and/or does not directly address the question at left; the order of the argument is less logical and/or is unevenly supported by evidence and remains moderately under-developed (thus the argument is much less effective than others you have read) 35pts Argument is barely identifiable or fails to address the question at left; the argument is not logical because it too underdeveloped to be fully addressed 30pts No clear argument made, therefore its logic cannot be assessed 0pts Writing Quality & Mechanics Paper is logically organized and flows well; grammatically sound & without spelling errors and/or typos; Within page limits; double-spacing 20pts Logically organized and flows well; only minor grammatical, spelling errors, and/or typos; Below or above page limits by page; double-spacing 16pts Decent organization; Moderate grammatical, spelling errors, and/or typos; Below or above page limits by ½ page; Spacing is incorrect 12pts Decent organization; Three or more major grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and/or typos; Below or above page limits by ¾ page; Spacing is incorrect 8pts Poorly organized; unclear delivery of ideas; numerous grammatical, spelling errors, and/or typos; Below or above page limits by 1 page; Spacing is incorrect 0pts Superior/A Very Good/B Good/C Acceptable/D Poor/E Supporting Evidence “Quality and Use (100 points maximum) What is the chosen people or thing? Paper gives thorough and sophisticated description of people/thing; paper makes NO major or minor misstatements regarding the basic facts, context, and characteristics of people/thing 20pts Paper offers a thorough description of people/thing; paper makes 1-2 minor misstatements regarding the basic facts, context, and characteristics of people/thing 16pts Paper offers an average description of people/thing relative to other papers you’ve read; paper makes 1 or more major OR 3 or more minor misstatements 12pts Paper demonstrates a fairly mixed/misled understanding of people/thing; paper makes numerous major and minor mistakes regarding the basic facts, context, and characteristics of people/thing 8pts Virtually no understanding of the chosen people/thing; paper makes numerous major mistakes regarding the basic facts, context, and characteristics of people/thing 0pts Where do the people live; where is the thing assembled? See above criteria 20pts See above criteria 16pts See above criteria 12pts See above criteria 8pts See above criteria 0pts What are the living conditions of the people? How is the thing produced? See above criteria 20pts See above criteria 16pts See above criteria 12pts See above criteria 8pts See above criteria 0pts How have the people/thing changed the places they occupy? In addition to above criteria, paper gives sophisticated and persuasive evidence that people/thing have changed their current locale 20pts In addition to above criteria, paper gives persuasive evidence that people/thing have changed their current locale 16pts In addition to above criteria, paper gives moderately persuasive evidence that people/thing have changed their current locale 12pts In addition to above criteria, paper gives mixed, weak or no evidence that people/thing have changed their current locale 8pts Paper fails to provide evidence that people/thing have changed their current locale 0pts How do the people/thing connect places, particular their sites of origin with current locales? In addition to above criteria, paper gives sophisticated and persuasive evidence that people/thing connect their sites of origin with current locales 20pts In addition to above criteria, paper gives persuasive evidence that people/thing connect their sites of origin with current locales 16pts In addition to above criteria, paper gives moderately persuasive evidence that people/thing connect their sites of origin with current locales 12pts In addition to above criteria, paper gives mixed, weak, or no evidence that people/thing connect their sites of origin with current locales 8pts Paper fails to provide evidence that people/thing connect their sites of origin with current locales 0pts Superior/A Very Good/B Good/C Acceptable/D Poor/E References (20 points maximum) Quality and Diversity of Sources Minimum of 12 sources presented and all are from peer-reviewed (e.g. scientific journals) and high-quality outlets that present original research; overall, sources are diverse (e.g., from a mix of publication or information venues/outlets) and balanced (e.g., not all from the same publication outlet) 10pts Minimum of 12 sources presented AND/OR the majority are from peer-reviewed and high-quality outlets that present original research; overall, most sources are diverse and balanced 8pts Minimum of 12 sources presented; over half are from peer-reviewed and high-quality outlets that present original research; overall, sources are somewhat diverse but tend to skew towards fewer outlets 6pts Less than 12 sources presented; over half are from peer-reviewed and high-quality outlets that present original research; overall, sources are less diverse and tend to skew towards fewer outlets 4pts Less than of 12 sources presented; less than half are from peer-reviewed and high-quality outlets that present original research; overall, sources are imbalanced 0pts References and In-text citations Follows APA or MLA guidelines for references and in-text citations; with a maximum of 1 mistake 10pts Follows APA or MLA guidelines for references and in-text citations; with two or fewer minor mistakes 8pts Follows APA or MLA guidelines for references and in-text citations; with three or more major mistakes 6pts Mostly follows APA or MLA guidelines but includes many major mistakes 4pts None provided 0pts