Cultural Geography – Research Paper Guidelines
SJSU – Peña

Topic:
Choose any culturally significant world destination to research. Create a 3-day trip itinerary visiting sites, trying the local cuisine, and learning about the culture within that region.
(Example: In Bangkok, Thailand you can visit the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Grand Palace, and cruise on the Chao Phraya River, get a Thai massage, visit the floating market, take a class at a cooking school to learn how to make ‘pad thai’, etc.)

Grading:
Total possible points: 100

Grading Rubric:
Text: 70 points
Map: 10 points
Photo: 10 points
References: 10 points
=100 points possible

Text:
The body of the paper must be 3 full pages of writing (double-spaced) plus a map, photo, and references.

Spelling and grammar count for part of the grade. You should have a logical introductory paragraph and conclusion paragraph.
I recommend having someone you know review your paper for you before you submit it.
Do not copy whole sentences or paragraphs from the web… the paper will automatically be checked for plagiarism through turnitin.com in Canvas. Instead, read your source material, take notes, and then write the paper in your own words.

Map:
You must include a thematic map related to your topic. A thematic map will show the topic you are researching and where it is located within the country you choose. The map will most likely be found on one of the websites you used for research or you can do a Google Images search for one.
For example, if you are writing about Tikal National Park in Guatemala, find a map that shows where the site is located. Do not provide a general/political map of the country. Instead, use Google Images or some other way to find a map that illustrates your specific site.

Photo:
Include a photo of something mentioned within your paper. Be sure to include photo credits (who took it, where you found it, etc.) Cite the source and date retrieved just below the photo.
Example:

Temple 1 in Tikal National Park in Guatemala. Picture courtesy of Raymond Ostertag. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tikal_Temple1_2006_08_11.JPG on September 20, 2012.

References:
Include a list of references (you need at least two) at the end of your document on a separate references page. Also, cite any direct quotes or source material (including websites) within the text of your paper in proper format. References should follow this format. Include the date you visited the website (retrieved on date).

Example of a periodical reference:
Kanfer, F. H., & Busemeyer, J. R. (1982). The use of problem-solving and decision-making in behavior therapy. Clinical Psychology Review, 2, 239-266.

Example of an online document reference:
Van Wagner, K. (2006). Guide to APA format. About Psychology. Retrieved November 16, 2009 from http://psychology.about.com/od/apastyle/guide

More examples here: http://psychology.about.com/od/apastyle/a/apaformatguide.htm

DO NOT use Wikipedia as a text source!! It is editable by anyone, and therefore not a reliable primary source. It is ok to use an image from Wikipedia as long as the copyright allows for the use of it.