Research essay

Essay 4: Final Research Paper

For your final research paper, you should choose one of the debatable topics voted on in class that relates to "Children at War," and argue your position on the issue. You can incorporate ethos into your paper. (Remember, first-hand experience and knowledge can be valuable sources.) You should also try to incorporate logos through the use of facts, statistics, data and/or credible authority, and don’t forget that pathos (emotional evidence) is very persuasive as well, if used fairly and not as a sole means of persuasion. Your essay should not be a collection of quotes and paraphrases; it should be mostly your own voice, with sources to back up and prove your sub-claims. Some other elements to think about are:

* Avoiding fallacies: Make sure your sub-claims are logical, reasonable, and accurate.

* Addressing the opposition: One way to establish ethos is through acknowledgement and rebuttal of opposing points; to create a fair and balanced argument, you must refute the opposition’s main claim(s). You must incorporate a counterargument and rebuttal in your essay.

* Using different rhetorical patterns: Remember that academic arguments are often composed of different patterns; don’t be afraid to use definition, compare/contrast, cause/effect, narration, description, and any other mode that will help develop and prove your main claim.

* Evaluating your Sources: Use the CRAAP test to evaluate your sources for credibility and/or use library databases whenever possible.

* Citing your Sources: Make sure you use proper MLA citation throughout your paper to avoid plagiarism; introducing your sources with their credentials can also boost the validity of your argument. Your use of sources should be a mix of quotes and paraphrases. Keep in mind that ANYTHING that is not your original thought needs a citation! Your final draft will be submitted electronically and run through turnitin.com. I would strongly advise you to use a plagiarism checker before submitting your final draft (there are many free sites online).

* Structuring your Essay: Your introduction should include a hook, necessary background information and context for your topic, and should end with your main claim stated clearly and precisely. Your body paragraphs should begin with sub-claims and contain evidence from valid sources and to fully develop and prove your argument (as always!). Remember that the conclusion is often the part your readers remember: what do you want their final thought about your argument to be? In class, we will be looking at definition, causal, proposal, and evaluation arguments to help you decide which type of argument you will be making. The structure of your essay will vary, depending on the type of claim you are making.

* Properly formatting your Works-Cited Page: Use Purdue Owl!

Remember

· Final draft must be 7-10 full pages in length, not including Works-Cited page (No title page!)

· You must use a minimum of 6-8 sources and one must be an opposing source for your counterargument.

· Total: 200 points