Course Project (Quantitative Literacy Paper)
This assignment will cover the principals of quantitative literacy, and it will also incorporate the ideas of Responding to Objection and Alternative Views as described in Chapter 6 of Writing Arguments, and Argument as Inquiry as described in Chapter 8 of Writing Arguments.
The assignment satisfies both the Quantitative Literacy and Course Project requirements, established by The Writing Program for WRC 1023. (The Course Project parameters, integrated into this assignment description, can be found on Page 47 of the Writing Program Student Handbook 2018-19.)
The Game Plan
1. Initiate research, to include a UTSA Library-hosted dataset, upon discussion of the assignment on Thursday, November 21, submit the Course Project Prep by Monday, November 25, and participate in the Computer Lab Research/Writing Session on Tuesday, November 26.
2. Participate in a peer editing session, and submit the Course Project Peer Editing Session Summary by Tuesday, December 3
3. Submit the paper (which must be at least 1250 words) as Course Project via Blackboard by Wednesday, December 4 at 11:59 p.m.
The Quantitative Literacy Elements
Before writing the paper, you should collect data to support your claim (Exploring), determine which data will help your argument (Understanding), explaining the significance of the data collected (Analyzing), create an original pie chart, bar graph, or other visual representation that showcases the data (Visualizing), discuss how the data applies to the argument you’re making (Translating), and then utilize that in the argument you’re making (Expressing).
Essentials
1. The paper must have a title page and an abstract as the first two pages of your paper, per APA Style.
2. The paper must have an opening paragraph that includes a thesis making an arguable claim, that will then be supported through research. It can be forwarded as a basic claim or as a proposal.
Claim Example: I argue that electric cars are currently more cost-effective and energy efficient than cars using fossil fuels, and this cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency will improve as electric car technology improves.
Proposal Thesis Example: I argue that the United States should increase funding to develop alternative fuels, because it would address the increasing energy crisis, it would help curb global warming, and it would create jobs and revenue for the American economy.
3. The paper must have a paragraph, with a header, addressing your research (the Exploring and Understanding steps).
4. The paper must have a paragraph, with a header, detailing an opposing or alternative position (with at least one source utilized) to the one you’re arguing.
5. The paper must explain the significance of the data collected, including any relevant calculations, including the median, mean, mode, and range (the Analyzing step).
6. The paper must include your pie chart, bar graph, or other visual representation of data as an appendix in the paper (the Visualizing step), and refer to that appendix at least once in the body of your paper. That visual representation of the data must include a title, label, and caption.
6. The paper must include one paragraph that covers the translation step, with a header (which should NOT say “Translation,” but could say something like “Application of Data”).
7. The paper should handle the Expressing steps, a.k.a. the rest of your argument, in subsequent sections comprised of one or more paragraphs each. (For instance, for a proposal argument with three outcomes, you might title the sections “Outcomes” and label each one.)
8. The paper must include a conclusion paragraph that follows APA style.
9. The paper must be at least five pages (1250 words), not counting the title page, abstract, or appendix.
Format
The paper should contain the following sections, utilizing APA style:
I. Title Page
II. Abstract
III. Intro Paragraph (with thesis)
IV. Paragraph (with Header) on Research
V. Paragraph (with Header) on Opposition
VI. Paragraph (with Header) on the Analyzing step (referring to the Visualizing step in your Appendix)
VII. Paragraph (with Header) covering the Translate step
VIII. At least one section (of one or more paragraphs) making your argument (and covering the Expressing step)
IX. Conclusion
X. Appendix (with original graphic)
Sources
You are required to use at least five sources, properly documented using APA Style. At least one of these sources must be tabular data (raw data in table form).
Grading
This paper will be graded using the Q Paper rubric.
A paper submitted without citations and a bibliography page and/or not employing the required minimum number of sources will receive a grade of ID, and will not be otherwise assessed or graded.