essay4 for xu

2020/11/3 Introducing the Research Paper (Essay #4): Fal20 ENGL 001A #74618 READING AND COMPOSITION-Online

https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1110549/pages/introducing-the-research-paper-essay-number-4?module_item_id=12561869 1/3

Introducing the Research Paper (Essay #4) Getting Started on Essay #4 Even though we are currently still reading to prepare for our 3rd essay in the class, we are going to take the first steps towards starting your research paper this week to give us more time to work on it. The research paper is the biggest project that we do in English 1A, and I know that it can feel challenging. So, right off the bat, I want to assure you that we are going to take this paper step-by-step, breaking the task into manageable chunks. The goal is for you to learn a research process in this class that you will be able to use in your future classes whenever you are assigned a research paper.

Even though the paper might feel a bit daunting, to me, this is one of the most exciting times in the class because you get to choose a topic to write on (as long as it fits the parameters of the prompt), which means that you will be learning about something that matters to you personally. The first step, which we will begin working on this week, is to pick something that you are truly curious about researching.

The Prompt This researched argument will be a persuasive essay that synthesizes (puts together) different points of view based on reading multiple sources and multiple types of sources. The paper should assert an opinion that your research supports. Remember that this is a researched argument—not a book report—hence the need for your OWN opinion.

Because choosing a personally-meaningful project often leads to the most interesting research, I am asking you to research a controversy in an area in which you would like to succeed personally, professionally, or academically. You will argue a specific position on the controversy. To make your argument convincing, you will explore many angles of the controversy, and inform your reader about why different groups hold different positions.

You may explore a controversy in any field that is of interest to you—choosing something that you’re genuinely interested in is key to writing a successful research paper.

What is a Controversy?:

2020/11/3 Introducing the Research Paper (Essay #4): Fal20 ENGL 001A #74618 READING AND COMPOSITION-Online

https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1110549/pages/introducing-the-research-paper-essay-number-4?module_item_id=12561869 2/3

We use the words “controversy” and “controversial” all the time, but for the sake of choosing a topic for this paper, we want to make sure that we take a minute to really consider what a controversy is. We often use the word controversy as synonymous with “problem” or “disagreement,” but it is actually a bit more specific than that. A controversy occurs when there is a public debate or disagreement happening about a topic. This means that the debate is occurring in public forums, like newspapers, on TV, on Twitter or on some other social media, etc. As you are choosing your topic, please keep this in mind.

What Do I mean by “Personally, Professionally, or Academically”? For this paper, you are going to find a topic that has to do with an area in which you want to succeed personally, professionally, or academically. Here are some examples of each:

Professionally:

If you want to be a doctor, you could research the controversy having to do with the fastest, most affordable way to get doctors the Personal Protective Equipment that they need in order to treat COVID-19 patients. If you want to be a director, you would research the controversy about how to increase racial diversity in the TV and film industry, since that industry is currently predominately white both in front of and behind the camera. If you want to be a teacher, you could research the controversy of merit-based pay.

Academically:

If you want to transfer to a private school, you could research the controversy about whether taking on student loans in order to go to a big-name school is ultimately beneficial financially.

Personally:

This category is really broad, and has a lot to do with your identity. For instance, parents might want to research a controversy having to do with parenting techniques. If you are a Dreamer, you might want to research the controversy about whether DACA should be extended. If you are a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, you might want to research the controversy about the best way to defund the police.

As you can see, there are a lot of options, and they will vary depending on who you are and what areas you want to succeed in.

2020/11/3 Introducing the Research Paper (Essay #4): Fal20 ENGL 001A #74618 READING AND COMPOSITION-Online

https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1110549/pages/introducing-the-research-paper-essay-number-4?module_item_id=12561869 3/3

Continue to the next page to see what you're going to do this week...