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Final Research Argument Essay Assignment Sheet English 101
Final Research Argument Paper
The purpose of your final essay is to develop a persuasive argument about an issue of social, political, or historical significance. You will apply critical thought and research skills in support of your argument to substantiate the claims that you are making. You want to show your audience that you are knowledgeable about your subject and have done the necessary research to support your claims. *NOTE*: The topic of tlris essav must be different from the topic you chose for your previous argumentative essay. Choose a topic that both interests you AND that you feel passionate about. If you do not care about the subject, it will be difficult to produce a thoughtful essay. Think of this assignment as similar to your argumentative essay, but with a new topic and more involved research.
Consider this information when formulating your essay:
Thesis
Your thesis will introduce the main claim yoll are making as your argument. A clear thesis is so in-rporlant because it sen,es as the foundation on u'hich you r.r,ill build the rest of youi paper. A strong thesis is one that has a stroilg. artictilate^ and li,ell-developed claim. This can be difficult to do. You have to find a ''happy rnedium" between hyper- specify and generalness. You will rnake your case u.ithin the body of the essay, so don't go into extreme detail in your thesis. At the salne tirne. avoid vague language that off-ers no real direction.
In providing this concise, not-too-specific and not-too-vague statement of your argument, you also provide a qr-rick summary of the scope ol yor-rr paper, the ground it will cover. In this capacity, the thesis staternent is a roaclnrcLp that te1ls youl reader not only the points that you will rnake, but also the ordel in
"r,'hich 1'ou will make them. You must also
identify youl target audience-who you are dilectly arguing to, and so trying to persuade-in the thesis.
Research and Supporting Paragraphs
I(eep one idea to one paragraph. If yor-r begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new paraEaph. There are solne sirnple ways to tell if you a1'e on the same topic or a new one. You can have one idea and several bits of supporting evidence within a single paragraph. You can also have several points in a single paragraph as long as they relate to the overall topic of the paraEapli. If the.single points staft to get 1ong, then perhaps elaborating on each of them and placing thern in their own palaEaphs is the ror-rte to go. Make sure you explain how your resealch supports your clairn. If you present data to
Sror-rr audience without explaining horv it supporls your thesis your readers may not make
a connection between the two or they rnay draw different conclusions.
Don't avoid the opposing side of an argument. Insteacl. include the opposing side as a counterclairn. Find out what the other side is saying and respond to it within your own argument. This is imporlant so that the audience is not srvayed by weak, but unrefuted, argutnents. Including counterclaims allor,vs you to find cornmon ground rvith more of your readers. It also makes you look more credible because you appear to be knorvledgeable about the entilety of the debate rather than just being biasecl or unitbrmed. You may want to include several counterclaims to show that you have thoroughly researched the topic.
Conclusion
An effbctive conclusion goes beyond siraply lestating cr sulnlrlarizing the argument. The goal is to s,r"nthesize. rathel than repeat. an insight that derir'es fiom tiie poinis 1,ou rnade and the suppol-t and examples you used that fits evervthing toeether. you shor-rid indicate r'rrhat the broader ilnplications of 1,oul argument a1'e. or in u.hat u'ar s the problem your argutnent seeks to adciless can,'strou1diwi11/rvil1 not change. Dourg tliis can be tr.ickr,. so don't be afi'aid to tirrker ri'ith a couple of dratts of 1.or-rr inclr,rsioii before making a flla1 decision.
Fina111,'. niake sure youi.paper has:
o 2 PAGES NIINUNIUN{ o Proper MLA citation fonlat c d vn,orks cited page rvith at least ,{ (FOUR) sources o Sufticient use of each of your sollrces in the paper e N4LA citations used properly for both qu.tes and surnmaries e d cornplete h-rtroductio, and a con-rplete Corclr:sion e { clear thesis statement o Well-r'easoned suppoi't and jr-rstification at e\.ery step of the rvay o Proper page fonnatting. 12 point Times Neu, Roman. 1 inch margins,
double spaced.
Works Cited Page is due Tuesdar'. November 20tl'. I will closely look at it ald retum to you to revise.
Researcir Paper'(including final works cited page) is dr-re Thursday. Nor€mber 29r,. No late papers will be accepted. ;