Final Assignment: Oral Presentation & Research Paper

The Final Assignment for this course is a two-part Oral Presentation (Part 1: in-class on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 and Part 2: in early May, 2025) and a Final Research Paper (Due: Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024).

Oral Presentation
Part 1 of the oral presentation is a brief presentation (5-7 minutes) on your learning, internship experience, reflections, and fellowship take-aways for the Fall 2024 semester. You are asked to create slides for your December 10 oral presentation and to upload them to a course Google Drive (instructions forthcoming) by December 5.  
Some tips:

• Use Google Slides instead of PowerPoint.
  
• SlidesGo is a great source for free templates to use.
  
• We recommend more visuals and less words on your slides if possible. Please include an introduction slide.

Part 2 of the oral presentation is a brief public presentation (5-7 minutes) on your learning, internship experience, reflections, and fellowship take-aways for the entire (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025) academic year. Final public presentations will take place in early May 2025 at a location TBD. Invitations to attend will be extended to prospective Fall '25 ChesterSemester Fellows, Lang Center staff, Chester partners, select faculty members, etc.

Research Paper (Due: Wednesday, Dec 18th)

In this research paper students are asked to critically analyze an issue of their choosing that has relevance to the ChesterSemester course (i.e., course topics, themes, community engagement issues and experiences working with your Chester-based organization). The assignment calls for a research-based essay that critically analyzes complex issues, past responses to such issues, and contemporary solutions. It is designed to help readers understand a particular problem, how past responses to this problem have worked or not, and the value of a proposed set of steps toward addressing the problem in real time. The research paper should integrate both critical analysis and solutions mapping – a skill set that will serve professional development as a ChesterSemester fellow.

The Research Paper should be approximately 8-9 single-spaced pages (including notes and bibliography). Structure your paper with an introductory thesis, a development of your thesis in the paper’s main body and concluding recommendations at the end of your paper. Carefully proof-read your work. 

Use the following to organize and structure your paper:

• Abstract: single paragraph overview
• Key words: list 7-9 keywords that underlie your analysis; this should go under the abstract paragraph
• Introduction: approximately ½ page summary of your paper’s major points of analysis and overall contribution
• Challenges: approximately 2-3 pages of your analysis of (1) civic challenges you set out to address as a fellow this term, and (2) past or current gaps you perceive in addressing these challenges. What is happening on the ground you find most troubling? What is missing in collective approaches to addressing this troubling situation?
• Case study: approximately 2-3 pages of thick description of the particular issues you are investigating. Oftentimes students shift into a different mode of discourse in this section. Consider writing autobiographically or ethnographically in this section, using your weekly reflection postings.
• Recommendations: approximately 2-3 pages of proposed solutions to the challenges you’ve identified. What models and resources do you think are positively addressing – or could positively address – the challenges on which your paper has focused?
• Bibliography: ½ page. Cite and list upwards of 7-9 or so bibliographical sources in your research; this list can include course readings and materials. Use whatever citation and bibliography style you prefer.

ChesterSemester earns credit in both Environmental Studies and Black Studies. Use both of these areas of study to provide your paper's academic framing in order for readers to understand how you address the intersectional disadvantages and harms communities of color face in the wider society.

Here are other resource recommendations:

• At college libraries, meet with Roberto Vargas “Humanities,” Simon Elichko "Social Sciences and History," or Andrea Baruzzi "Sciences and Engineering" for research support for your paper. Review the Writing Associates Program resources for writing different papers. And consider meeting with a Writing Associate (WA) at the Writing Center to review your working draft.

Please do not hesitate to contact any of us for guidance and support!