Journal entry

What type of research essay am I writing? You are writing an argumentative research essay. You must choose an issue that has two arguable sides, take a stance (choose one side), and find at least three strong points to support your position. You are attempting to persuade your reader that your side of the argument is better than the other side.

Will I need to create a Works Cited page? Absolutely. Use MLA format to layout your essay and to cite and document your sources. Students who do not cite and document their sources or who do so incorrectly are not likely to earn a passing grade on this essay.

Can I Do This? Absolutely! Students have excelled at this assignment. Research essays are a part of the college experience, and one goal of this assignment is to familiarize students with research-based writing (which is an important skill in the workplace). Keep a positive attitude and do your very best work. We will take this assignment step by step.

What is the first step? The first step in writing a research essay is to understand the nature of this genre of writing by completing this week’s required readings. Then, you need to select your topic. Watch the video in this week’s class about the Topic Ideas Worksheet, which is due this week. You cannot choose overused topics including but not limited to abortion, immigration, legalizing marijuana, gay rights, affordable healthcare, vaccines, the death penalty, gun rights/control, and others . And keep in mind that your topic does not need to controversial to be an effective argumentative subject. Have fun with this essay. Think outside the box about a topic that will be sound and interesting for readers.

Are there resources that will help me find a topic and write my essay? Yes. We will use the ENG 101 LibGuide, created by the OCtech Library. The LibGuide will be your source for topic ideas and credible information that you can use in your essay and annotated bibliography.

Essay Guidelines

· 4-7 pages (not including the Works Cited page)

· MLA Format for the essay layout, in-text citations, and the Works Cited page

· Include a title for your essay

· You must select one arguable topic as the basis for your research paper.

· Follow the Writing Process.

Credible Sources:

For this essay, you should be searching for existing research that supports your thesis statement (main point). You must have at least 4 sources for this essay. All of these sources must come from an OC Tech Library Database, which is available through the ENG 101 LibGuide. You can only use online sources that come from the OC Tech Library database.

Sources with little-to-no credibility include Wikipedia, most blogs, general Google/search engine searches, and websites that don’t offer authoritative information (they are based on opinion or they are trying to “sell” you on a product or service).

Essay Help and Writing Support

Reach out to Mrs. Smith if you have questions about the assignment. Visit the OCtech Library or Student Success Center for writing tutoring/support. Other resources are available in the Grammar folder and the MLA Format folder in D2L.