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Research Assignment

In this course, you've learned how to draft proposals, find reliable sources, and compose research papers. For this assignment, you will write a 1500-2000-word research paper based on one of the prompts below. (These are the same prompts you were given for the research proposal assignment. One of your research papers may respond to the same prompt you selected for Assignment 1. Prompts 4, 5, and 6 are in the following lesson - College Composition II: Assignment 3 - Research Paper).

Formatting & Sources

Please write your paper in the MLA format. As part of your research, you may refer to the course material for supporting evidence, but you must also use at least four credible, outside sources and cite them using MLA format as well. Please include a mix of both primary and secondary sources, with at least one source from a scholarly peer-reviewed journal. If you use any Study.com lessons as sources, please also cite them in MLA (including the lesson title and instructor's name).

· Primary sources are first-hand accounts such as interviews, advertisements, speeches, company documents, statements, and press releases published by the company in question.

· Secondary sources come from peer-reviewed scholarly journals, such as the Journal of Management. You may use like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and Social Science Research Network to find articles from these journals. Secondary sources may also come from reputable websites with .gov, .edu, or .org in the domain. (Wikipedia is not a reputable source, though the sources listed in Wikipedia articles may be acceptable.)

If you're unsure about how to use MLA format for your paper and sources, please see the following lessons:

· What is MLA Format?

Prompt 1

The Gender Gap is defined as 'the discrepancies in opportunities and status between men and women.' Many believe the gender gap is still very present in America, saying that women have fewer opportunities in STEM-related fields and make less money than men regardless of time on the job, education, or experience.

However, there are also those who believe the gender gap problem is just a myth. To them, these claims do not consider the type of job, the fact that men may work more hours, and that men are more likely to pursue high-stress advancements.

Is there evidence to suggest that the gender gap still exists today? If so, is there a solution to this problem? If not, what do you think is causing so many to believe that it still exists?

Prompt 2

Since the 1990s, reality television shows have gained popularity in the United States and across the world. These shows range from competition, dating, documentaries, famous people's lives, and even strangers living together.

Most people agree that reality television is far from reality. The cast members are placed in staged settings, yet we accept these lies because these shows are entertaining. But the debate with reality television has moved beyond just the 'reality' of the production and to the message that the shows are sending. Often, people are cast into stereotypical roles, are asked to behave a certain way, and are edited to reinforce these stereotypes. In addition, many have criticized the type of people cast on reality television, believing that their beauty and wealth does not reflect most people.

Consider the impact reality television has had on society since its debut. For instance, what effect has reality television had on stereotypes, expectation of beauty, or competition? Using reputable sources and evidence to support your claims, research an effect that reality television has on society and explain the significance of its impact.

Prompt 3

The emotional aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was immediate and for some, the healing process persists to this day. However, there were other effects of these terrorist attacks. How did these attacks change the security policies in the U.S.? How did they impact U.S. foreign policies and foreign relationships? Other than the loss of many innocent lives that morning, what other losses did the United States experience? How did the country recover, or is it still healing?

Grading Rubric

Your essays will be graded based on the following rubric:

Category	Unacceptable (0-1)	Needs Improvement (2-3)	Good (4)	Excellent (5)	Total Possible Points
Purpose (x2)	Main points are nonexistent or irrelevant to overall purpose	Main points are difficult to identify or under-developed	Main points are clearly related to overall purpose	Main points are developed and well-supported, connecting clearly to overall purpose	10
Structure and Organization (x2)	Disorganized and illogical structure hinders understanding	Somewhat disorganized, but structure does not detract from understanding of main points	Structure is logical; main points are supported by organization; introduction and conclusion are included	Organization is logical; structure enhances clarity and delivery of main ideas; introduction and conclusion are connected well to supporting content	10
Clarity (x2)	Vague or unclear writing; reader is left with several unanswered questions	Writing is ambiguous in a few areas; overall content is either not fully explained, or is too wordy for the content included	Phrasing and word choice are mostly effective; explanations and descriptions are thorough without being wordy	Syntax is very clear and concise. All supporting explanations and descriptions are precise, thorough, and efficient	10
Mechanics (x1)	Incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and use of standard English grammar hinders understanding	Several instances of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar	Few instances of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar	No or very few instances of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar	5
Research (x1)	Fewer than three sources are cited, or all citations are from Study.com only	At least three citations are included, but are not from legitimate/objective sources of information (i.e. Wikipedia)	Citations are included from legitimate sources, but are not entirely appropriate and/or well-integrated with the overall content of the essay	Citations are included from legitimate sources that are both appropriate to the topic and well-integrated within the overall content of the essay	5

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