Research Ess@y

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English 1121: College Writing and Critical Reading Paper #3

Persuasive Research & Proposal Paper

The assignment: All of us are members of different communities—our home town community, our college community, our statewide community, and communities related to our faith, our hobbies, and our interests, and more. Choose a current controversial topic within a community in which you belong. You must be undecided about the issue/controversy. You must also not write about a topic you have previously or are currently writing about for another class. You will research the issue, determine your stance, and write a persuasive paper where you convince the reader of your stance. The paper must also include a proposal that offers a solution to the problem.

The assignment requires that you

1. conduct thorough academic research to educate yourself about the controversy;

2. in clear writing, explain the controversy; 3. take a stand on the issue and write persuasively; 4. demonstrate critical thinking in your arguments with support from

reputable, academic sources; 5. refute the best arguments from those who hold an opposing point

of view; 6. offer a solution in a clear and reasonable proposal; 7. use and cite sources appropriately according to MLA 8th edition

format.

Specifics about what to do in the paper: 1. The title and introduction should grab a reader’s attention. 2. In the first page, give an overview of the issue, explain its importance, and clearly state your thesis. 3. The paper must have a narrow focus and remain persuasive and focused on the controversy. 4. The body of the paper must be organized and use strong transitions. Each paragraph must address

one of the controversy’s points and begin with a claim that directly supports/relates to your thesis. 5. You must address both the points you agree with and refute the opposition’s primary points with

solid research and critical thinking. 6. Each paragraph must show a depth of research by using and citing information from at least three

academic sources per paragraph. 7. You must correctly and appropriately integrate enough research/source material using all three

methods—summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation. (Keep direct quotations to a minimum—no more than 15-20% of the paper should be direct quotations.)

a. Summary & Paraphrase: When you use any information/evidence from a source (words or ideas) and integrate those facts, examples, ideas, etc. using summary or paraphrase, you must follow the information you’ve used with proper in-text citations. The sources must also be listed on the Works Cited page.

b. Direct Quotations: When you use three or more words in a row from any source, you must both put those words in quotation marks and follow them with the proper in-text citations. The sources must also be listed on the Works Cited page.

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8. You must integrate your own analysis and critical thinking. (Each paragraph should be 50% research and 50% your own analysis/critical thinking.)

9. Maintain academic language and tone, and write in third person for the majority of the paper. 10. Make your personal connection to the controversy clear, and in those parts of the paper, it is fine

to use first person “I.” (Your own experience is a form of evidence.) 11. Your paper must end with a specific, clear proposal that offers a logical and compelling solution. 12. Your paper must use varied, stylistic sentences and be free of grammar and punctuation error. 13. You must use MLA 8th edition in-text citations after all use of source/research material in each

paragraph. 14. You must have a corresponding Works Cited page that cites all sources used and cited with in-text

citations in the paper.

Research guidelines: You must find the best and most recent sources available to effectively argue your position—a minimum of six different, credible, and effective sources.

• The majority of your sources must be from the library databases (Library Search, Ebsco, Proquest, CQ Researcher, etc.).

• You may not use only Internet sources. (Online database sources like Ebsco, Proquest, etc. are not considered Internet sources.) If you do use a couple of sources found via Google searches, they must come from credible sources.

• Your paper must include correct in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Papers without a Works Cited page and/or in-text citations will receive a 0.

• Do not plagiarize. Length: A minimum of seven complete pages, not including the Works Cited page. Audience/Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is a) for you to educate yourself about a current controversy that is important to you and is part of a community in which you belong, b) for you to take a stand after conducting your research, and for you to persuade your audience. The audience for this paper is, of course, me, but it’s also a group of undecided individuals as well as your particular community.

Choosing a Research Paper Topic Below is a list of broad topics. You may not use these topics or any related topics:

Abortion or fetal tissue for research Welfare Climate change Human cloning Death penalty Euthanasia Gun control/the NRA Lowering the Drinking Age Juveniles being punished as adults for crime Legalizing Marijuana for medical or Homosexual right to marry/adopt children/ recreational purposes

serve in the military Alaskan Wildlife Refuge Creationism vs. Evolution Violence in Video Games

Animals used for cosmetic or medical testing Homework (whether it should be assigned)

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Why can’t you write your paper on these topics?

1. Some of these topics have been discussed for years; opponents have offered and dissected almost every argument, leaving little that’s new to say.

2. For some of these topics, it is difficult to write a persuasive paper that would be convincing to the other side because of opposing religious beliefs or conflict regarding a primary point that is crucial to the argument. (For example, on the subject of abortion, Pro Life advocates and Pro Choice advocates disagree as to when life actually begins.)

3. Some of these issues are too big to discuss in a paper of this length. (For example, to do a thorough paper on euthanasia, a student would have to examine both active and passive euthanasia and the arguments that accompany both, which could be a book-length manuscript.)

What topic should you choose?

• One that is interesting to you and one that is current to one of your personal communities.

• One about which you have not yet made up your mind. (This is crucial!)

• Narrow your topic as much as possible. Keep in mind the length of your paper.

• One that is controversial and is not just a matter of opinion.

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