investigation essay
E N G L I S H 1 3 0 2 E S S A Y 1 : T H E I N V E S T I G A T I V E E S S A Y
PURPOSE
An investigative essay is the writer’s attempt to share newly discovered information with his or her readers. Because the writer is sharing new information, the introduction and statement of purpose in an investigative essay needs to reflect this intention. Rather than "inform" or "teach" readers, the essay sets out to let readers know what information has been discovered and uncovered that is useful and applicable to the topic.
For this essay, you will investigate a career with the ultimate goal of discovering information that is personally useful. Your approach to the topic will depend on what you need to find out. If you are new to college and still working on your "basics," you may not know which career you will pursue in the future. This essay can help you identify a viable career path. If you have already selected a career, your investigation should focus on aspects of your career that have changed since your initial investigation. If you already have a career, perhaps this essay will help you understand your current career, and all of its possibilities, more fully.
Remember: this is a brief essay that requires a narrow, focused subject that is at once useful and practical. Begin by perusing the following resource, which lists the "100 Best Jobs" according to U.S. News and World Report: (http://money.usnews.com/careers/best- jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs). Your career topic doesn't have to come from this list, but it is a good place to start.
LENGTH
The final draft of this essay should be 500–750 words, or 2–3 double-spaced pages.
ACADEMIC AUDIENCE
Direct this essay to a diverse audience of classmates. Assume various ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds, and assume your reader is both curious and reasonably educated.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
Use Internet search engine(s) to locate three reliable and authoritative sources. These three sources may not include Wikipedia, as this interesting web encyclopedia does not control authorship and is therefore not recognized as a viable academic source. You will need to find three sources and evaluate them using the guidelines studied earlier to ensure their reliability and authenticity. Having three sources will allow you an opportunity to cross reference details and information. You must list the U.S. News and World Report website in your Works Cited if you choose a career from the list provided;; however, you must still find three additional sources for your essay.
When incorporating information from sources into your essay, use Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation Style. This requires that a source be cited parenthetically
ENGL 1302 Essay 1 Instructions
2
within the essay at the point of use, if not already identified within the context of the sentence, and then listed as a source on a Works Cited Page following the essay.
Format both the working and final copies of your essay according to MLA Paper Format.
When saving your essay file, be sure to save it as .doc or .docx. This step will allow the file to be opened by your instructor and by readers in your Writer's Circle.
Working Drafts of Essay 1 must be uploaded to the File Exchange area of your Writer's Circle by the due date specified in the Class Outline in order to receive comments and feedback from your fellow group members. Working Drafts of Essay 1 must also be uploaded to the assignment link within Lesson 2 by the same due date in order to garner credit and comments from your instructor.
Grammatical inaccuracies and careless errors of spelling also undermine a reader’s trust, so your final draft of Essay 1, like any final copy of a multi-draft essay, must be scrupulously proofread.