Your research assignment is to write another argumentative research essay. This time, you will choose a topic that you are curious about. Keeping in mind the characteristics of effective argument presented in class, you will develop a research question and a focused and debatable claim about the subject that you choose. Your goal will be to demonstrate the soundness of your viewpoint to skeptical readers, and to do this, you will need to offer a well-reasoned, well-supported, and effectively organized argument.
Keeping in mind the characteristics of effective argument presented in class and in Good Reasons, you will first develop a research question and, later, a focused and debatable claim about the subject that you choose. Your goal will be to demonstrate the soundness of your viewpoint to skeptical readers, and to do this you will need to offer a well-reasoned, well-supported, and effectively organized argument. You will also need to address and refute counterarguments.
While there is not a particular organizational scheme that you must follow, you are encouraged to use one of the structures presented in class or one of the structures presented in Good Reasons. Regardless of the structure you use, your essay must be carefully organized and clearly presented with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Requirements:
Your essay must be formatted according to MLA page guidelines (see Chapter 20) and will include in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
You must cite a minimum of six sources of at least three different types (review notes from class), and you will need to demonstrate your ability to draw upon these sources in ways that effectively advance your argument.
Your essay must demonstrate that you are able to quote, summarize, and paraphrase sources appropriately and skillfully.
Your essay will be 6 double-spaced pages minimum and submitted to turnitin.com for grading. (The Works Cited page does not count toward the page requirement.)
You must not reuse an essay from another class.
No late papers will be accepted, as the due date is on the last day of class. As such, no revisions will be allowed.
Your essay will earn a failing grade (D or F) if it:
is less than 6 pages long (not including the Works Cited page).
does not include a Works Cited page.
has fewer than six sources.
is plagiarized, whether intentional or not.
Before submitting your final draft to turnitin.com, please use the following checklist:
Checklist for Final Essay Draft:
Did you include a Works Cited page with the corrections I marked on your Annotated Bibliography?
Did you remember to title your Works Cited page appropriately?
Did you delete the annotations from your sources before adding them to the final draft of your essay?
Do the sources listed in your Works Cited match the sources cited in your essay, and vice versa?
Do you have at least 6 pages, double spaced, using a 12-point font and 1-inch margins?
Did you remember to introduce, cite, and explain (ICE) each of your quotations? Do all quotations include an introductory (or signal) phrase?
Did you remember to proofread?
Sonnier – Research Essay 1 – page 2
Annotated Bibliography – Research Essay 2
Before you turn in Research Essay 2, you are required to submit an annotated bibliography containing at least 6 sources (more is better). Your bibliography will be formatted according to MLA requirements. I will not accept Research Essay
