Proposal

Professor Siegel

ENG 122

Essay #2 - 15% of Final Grade

Paper #2 is a unique type of Argument Synthesis Essay in which we explore a new type of medium of argumentation that is common across multiple fields: The Grant Proposal. This unit is based on the Human Spaceflight tab of the ENG 122 LIB Guides. In the last couple of decades, NASA has shifted its priorities from manned to unmanned space exploration via the use of probes and landers. Recently, they revealed that these unmanned missions are all part of a grander scheme of sending human astronauts to Mars in coming decades.

For this essay, you are a researcher in the Space Travel department at MCC, writing to the government requesting funds/funding in support of research and programming for either Manned Space Exploration or Unmanned Space Exploration. The essay will be broken into 4 separate parts:

1. Cover Letter/Needs Description

a. This is essentially your Introduction. In this, you are going to address the Issue, your position, and the general reasoning. Your thesis statement should express that you are requesting specific funding for your position and your general reasoning why. This gets single spaced and should only be 1 page.

2. Your Proposal

a. This is the meat of your Grant Proposal. Mainly, you are describing what the money will be used for. This is where you should synthesize sources, demonstrate critical thinking in both the short and long term (prognosticate), and explain why and how the money will help your position. Lay out your plan for the future here. Be sure to expand on where the funding will go and why this is necessary and beneficial. For example: Will you be researching/developing a new technology? Do this without using I/me/we/us/you language.

3. The Counterargument/Refutation

a. Required for this paper. This should be a strong 1-2 paragraph section in which you address the other side (Manned or Unmanned) and refute it by demonstrating areas where the opposition’s argument is incomplete, weak, or fallacious, explain this, and then close by presenting why your argument is stronger/correct.

4. Conclusion

a. Summarize your findings and re-express your proposal and request.

Remember that this is a request for funding, so you have to successfully argue for your position by implementing the strategies we have explored throughout the semester. Since this is a professional document, formal academic language is important. There is strength in clarity, specificity, and powerful word choice. Be sure to consistently emphasize the monetary aspect of this and explain why funding your position is the correct choice.

Paper Checklist: Be sure you have completed all of the following requirements before submitting the assignment:

· 1000-1250 Words

· MLA Formatting Throughout: Header, Title, Works Cited Page, In-text citations

· Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced, one-inch Margins

· Section headers for each of the required sections

· 5 sources: 2 from the LIB Guide, 2 from the scholarly databases, 1 choice source

Late assignments will be accepted with a penalty of one letter grade per missed class. If the paper was due on Friday and you submit it Saturday, that is a penalty of one letter grade. If you submit it the next Friday, the highest you can achieve is a 70 since it will be 2 classes and the original due-date missed. Papers will not be accepted after a full week from the due date.