Teaching a research paper requires walking a fine line. The assignment must be challenging but if it is too difficult one runs the risk of losing half the class. Every class has a handful of motivated students who will succeed with a mere directing to academic sources. The challenge is to stimulate the rest of the class.
Just starting out on assignment 2 of the Model Class, I love the series of questions to get the students started: What I know a lot about is: What I’m passionate about is :What I start Googling when I have nothing better to do is :I would go crazy if someone told me I had to stop doing: What makes me really angry is: In the past I hadn’t personalized the research paper to this extent and look forward to seeing some success following these prompts. I like the idea of not disparaging google, but using it as a springboard.

So many students have a preconceived notion that the research paper is just quotes and explanations, not really an extension of their own writing. They have difficulty adding their own point of view. Perhaps having their topic be near to their heart, will allow them to add their style to the paper.