English Essay

Your argumentative research paper should include a cover page if you are using APA and proper headers if you are using MLA. The paper must include a minimum of five scholarly sources such as eBooks, books, journals, or web pages that end in .edu, .org, or .gov.

As you prepare this paper, ask yourself the following questions:

· Have I established the context and purpose of my paper?

· Have I clearly stated my thesis and established the central theme?

· Have I defined the scope of my thesis and determined key concepts?

· Have I selected information sources that relate to these concepts?

· Have I used a variety of search strategies and appropriate information sources to access information?

· Have I chosen sources based on multiple criteria such as relevance to the research question, currency, and authority?

· Is my content appropriate and relevant?

· Have I made reference to readings as appropriate?

· Have I communicated, organized, and synthesized information as appropriate?

· Is my paper organized logically? Does my writing display focus and structure?

· Have I correctly applied information use strategies concerning citations/references; choices among paraphrasing, summary, or quoting; use of information in the proper context; and choices about whether ideas are common knowledge or require attribution?

· Have I considered the ethical and legal restrictions on the use of published, confidential, and proprietary information?

· Have I fulfilled the length requirement for the writing assignment and sufficiently addressed assignment criteria?

· Have I properly documented sources of information?

Letter

Write a letter that answers the following questions as you move into English Composition II:

What did you learn from constructing the final project that will be relevant for you as you move into English Composition II? What do you still need to learn about related to academic writing that you hope to encounter? What is the single greatest skill you are taking away from this course related to academic writing? What skill(s) do you look forward to building more as you go into English Composition II?

· Your letter should be no less than half of a page and no more than one page. (Include some appropriate images in the letter that help the reader visualize what you learned.)

Note: This assignment corresponds to or addresses the following Undergraduate Institutional Learning Outcomes on Written Communication and Information Literacy:

· Students communicate their ideas effectively in writing using text, data, and images as appropriate and in different genres and styles.

· Students identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share information for the problem at hand.

· Establish the context and purpose of the writing assignment or paper; the thesis is identified and central theme is indicated. (Purpose for writing)

· Use appropriate and relevant content that demonstrates sufficient command of the subject; provides a germane analysis of ideas; and includes references to readings wherever necessary. (Content development)

· Logically organize material into well-formed paragraphs; writing has focus and structure. (Organization)

· Fulfill the length requirement for the writing assignment and sufficiently address assignment criteria and explore concepts. (Expectations/completeness)

· Support points and subpoints with sufficient detail, attribute sources as necessary, and link ideas; evidence relates to the purpose/thesis of the writing assignment or paper. (Evidence)

· Properly document sources of information with in-text citations linking to Works Cited or References at the end of the paper; format may include a few minor errors. (Sources and documentation)

· Write in complete sentences with mostly correct grammar, word choice, punctuation, and spelling; minor errors may exist but do not compromise meaning. (Mechanics)

· Define the scope of the research question or thesis and determine key concepts; types of information (sources) selected relate to concepts or answers the research question. (Determining extent of information needed)

· Access information using a variety of search strategies and appropriate information sources. (Accessing needed information)

· Choose a variety of information sources appropriate to the scope and discipline of the research question, after considering the importance of multiple criteria such as relevance to the research question, currency, and authority. (Evaluating information and its sources critically)

· Communicate, organize, and synthesize information and achieve intended purpose. (Using information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose)

· Correctly apply three of the following information use strategies: (1) citations and references; (2) choice of paraphrasing, summary, or quoting; (3) using information in ways that are true to the original context; and (4) distinguishing between common knowledge and ideas requiring attribution. Demonstrate in the process a sound understanding of the ethical and legal restrictions on the use of published, confidential, and proprietary information. (Accessing and using information ethically and legally)

The following links provide online writing and research aids to help you with your paper assignments.