APA FORMAT

English  DUE DATE: Argument Assignment for College Composition Objectives: ​To brainstorm potential ideas for a large project, to research a topic, to practice the skills learned in the textbook, to write a persuasive argument, to use appropriate in-text citations and quotations, to create a works cited page, to practice the writing and research process. Researching and arguing for change and/or solutions to a problem is an incredibly important skill to have in the professional world. Persuasive skills benefit you no matter what field you are in because wherever you go, arguments will be all around you. Whether you are tasked with finding a solution to a problem within your company, or simply asking for a raise, research and argument will be vital tools for you in your career. For our argument essay, you will seek to answer the broad question: ​Are we in a race against the machine? However, this question is too broad, and will undoubtedly produce broad thesis statements, so your job is to narrow this question into something very specific within the theme of technology and the “race” to “beat” the machine. Pick a narrowed topic that interests you and discover ideas within that topic that need researching and responding to. You can even use the articles in your textbook as a jumping off point. Some examples include: ​Is the internet making us lazy? Does social media affect self-esteem? Are self-driving cars safe for the average consumer? Does social media help the spread of social justice movements? Does artificial intelligence need to be studied further? Are sex robots ethical? Is “screen-time” negatively impacting the development of children? Do smart phones make cheating easier? Is the Youtube algorithm affecting the spread of misinformation on the internet? Your goal will be to produce a persuasive argument that responds to another person’s claim (they say) and clearly states your own claim (I say) while providing a direction for your essay. You will argue to persuade your audience using ​specific evidence​ from articles in the textbook or that you find using the library or Google Scholar. Simply doing a Google search will not be enough. You are required to use ​at least 4 (four) outside sources​ for this argument. You should use ​at least one print source​, meaning you will physically have to go to the library and find a book, magazine, or newspaper to use (your textbook does not count as this print source). ● Argument Essay ​Purdue OWL resource: https://owl.argument_papers/inde x.html This essay should be ​4-7 pages long​, include ​in-text citations​ for all direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries, and include a ​works cited page​ with all sources listed alphabetically. Make sure you proofread your papers for errors before you hit send. Papers with multiple errors in grammar and mechanics that make the ideas unclear or unreadable and/or disregarding MLA format will not be accepted. Projects will be evaluated based on ​Content/Organization​, ​Mechanics/Format​, and ​Adherence to Assignment Specifics​. Stovicek     DUE DATE: Project Tips and Where and How to Begin Good researchers process information efficiently and effectively. They identify what is important—credible, relevant, valid—and what is not. They also know where and how to search. ● Understand the​ who, what, where, when, and why of the source​. Your audience will be skeptical and they ask questions like, “Why should I believe this source?” Find out what you can and in the text provide a professional introduction. ● While you can use ​“general” online information sites​ to get a “general” sense of your topic, ​your research needs to move beyond the general​. Go to the original source to find specific data, studies, examples, and evidence from professional, academic, and credible sources. You should not cite from general sites like eHow or Wikipedia. ● When searching for a book or article through the library (or any) website, ​be creative in your search terms​. Think about names, places, dates, people, and unique search terms. ● Great sources often have ​great bibliographies (references)​ to further your research. ● You can’t read every book/article in the world. Use indexes, headings, abstracts and employ a “modified read,” giving close attention to only relevant, useful material. ● Understand that sources should be synthesized seamlessly (​integrated with that quotation frame!​) into your argument.​ Don’t read and take notes to simply, randomly stick quotes and sources into the paper so it looks good. Quickly pasted one-liners or blocks of raw data often appear unnatural and, moreover, may do nothing to prove your argument. Connect the evidence to the claims you make; transition methodically, rationally from point/source to point/source; analyze information as you present it. Stovicek 

Sent from my iPhone