college writing

Research Paper Assignment

For this paper, I am asking that you choose a topic within your chosen field and attempt to persuade your reader to change his/her way of thinking. I want you to think of something that currently is a problem, and then you will offer a solution.

You will have two parts to this paper. The first part will be informative: you will educate your uninformed reader of the issue at hand. The second part will be argumentative: you will try to persuade your reader to your way of thinking.

Topics: Find someone in your field of study and ask for some topics that are contemporary and potentially controversial. For example, an environmental science major arguing why fluoride needs to be eliminated from our water supply.

For anyone without a current field, go to our home page and click on Student Support. Under Libraries, go to Find Articles and click on Database Resources. Scroll down to find Opposing Viewpoints in Context (under O) and click. You will find hundreds and hundreds of articles on a variety of topics.

If you do not have a major, choose a topic that you feel passionate about.

You may choose any topic that interests you except the following: abortion, the death penalty, climate change, national health care, euthanasia, gun control, marijuana laws, war, the drinking age, or prayer in schools. Localized topics, such as what can be done about the zebra mussel infestation in our lakes, usually make the best research topics. I am also very open to topics that address elements of popular culture—reality TV, tennis Hall of Fame inductions (or rock n roll), the influence of certain types of music on the human brain, etc. While I realize that every topic could be made into something political, I want you to avoid political discussions as much as possible. Ideally, think of the field you are going into, and find a controversial topic within that field, educate your audience, and then offer a solution.

Other possible topics: bullying, helicopter parenting, ticket scalping

Should high schools regulate the clothing choices of their students?

Should more emphasis be placed on Head Start or early childhood learning programs?

Should North Dakota schools start after Labor Day?

Should we adopt the metric system in the US?

Should schools be able to ban books from their libraries?

Should we be buying only local or organic foods?

Should certain breed-specific dogs be banned?

Should plastic bags and/or bottles be banned?

Should we implement reintegration programs for veterans?

What should be done about the loss of wetlands in the upper Midwest?

What should be done about elder abuse from caretakers?

Should we eliminate daylight saving time?

You will need to use at least four outside, credible sources to support your argument.

As you are researching, keep track of the sources you use—copy and paste the link on a separate page. You will need to turn in a URL link to every source that you use in your paper. If I find any intentional plagiarism, you will fail the course. **If there is any unintentional plagiarism found in your paper, the highest grade you can receive is a 65.

The following points are guidelines for you to consider when constructing your paper.

Introduction: Your intro should engage your audience and then briefly explain your topic and why it is important—what specifically makes this topic relevant. Your introduction may be more than one paragraph. Feel free to bring in a brief story to try and "hook" your reader.

Body paragraphs: The first 2-3 pages of this paper should be the education portion. You can assume your reader is uninformed about this topic. Explain thoroughly what the uninformed reader needs to know. The second 3-4 pages will be your argument: what should be done about this issue? Your research needs to be integrated throughout your paper. You will need to address your opposition—those who are unaware that a problem exists or those who disagree with your position. Because your reader is either unaware or thinks differently than you, gentle persuasion is best. Insulting your readers lessens your credibility and isolates your readers. Always present the opposition: address the opposite side and then refute it. Facts, statistics, and examples from credible sources are crucial.

Conclusion: Your conclusion should appeal to your audience to do something—either take action or come around to your way of thinking.

Research: All topics will require research. You should be looking for expert outside sources that you can use as support. The most credible sources are ones that have gone through a review process—you can find those sources through our library's databases. AVOID GOOGLE SEARCHES. Look specifically for chapters from books and scholarly journal articles. In addition, you can also search for magazine and newspaper articles. As a last resort, you may go to the internet to conduct your research, but stay away from any source that has an obvious bias. Only ONE of your sources may come from an encyclopedia. You could also consider conducting an interview with an expert in the field. If, for instance, you are writing about elder abuse in nursing homes, you could interview a director or long-time employee at a nursing home.

No more than 15% of your paper should be directly quoted from outside sources, so make sure to use summary and paraphrasing techniques. Work on integrating outside sources smoothly into your sentences by providing a signal phrase or lead-in to introduce the quotation. Do not drop quotations into your paper without a transition or lead-in. (See examples below.) Remember that whenever you use any information from an outside source, whether it is word for word or paraphrased by you, you must give credit to the original source.

*If you do not give credit to an original source, it is plagiarism. Your intent determines whether or not this will fail you for the course.

*If you forget to place quotation marks around direct quotations, it is unintentional plagiarism.

*If you fail to turn in your sources (marked and highlighted), and there is no indication of sources mentioned within the text of the paper, you have plagiarized intentionally and will fail the course.

Giving credit to the original source:

1. Use a signal phrase or lead-in to introduce the quotation or paraphrase (Author Susan Smith writes….)

2. Use quotation marks around any direct, word-for-word quotation (three or more consecutive from the original source. In other words, if you quote, quote exactly.

3. If you paraphrase or summarize, make sure you change the wording significantly. You must use your own language and phrases and sentences without changing the meaning of the original information.

4. Use a parenthetical citation at the end of all borrowed information.

5. Write a Works Cited entry for all of the sources you used in your paper---only cite sources you have actually used. A Works Consulted page is not necessary.

To avoid monotony, try to vary both the language and the placement of your signal phrases:

In the words of author Susan Snyder, "…."

As Susan Snyder notes, "…."

Susan Snyder points out that "…."

Try also to vary your verbs according to their purpose. Is your source stating a fact?

Refuting a claim? Drawing a conclusion? Stating a belief? Choosing the appropriate verb makes your source's stance clear.

acknowledges comments endorses reasons

adds compares grants refutes

admits confirms illustrates rejects

agrees contends implies reports

argues declares insists responds

asserts denies notes suggests

believes disputes observes thinks

claims emphasizes points out writes

Your paper must be 5-7 pages (5 pages minimum!) using correct MLA format. You also must include a Works Cited page. As always, avoid using 2nd person "you."

You will be evaluated on having a strong thesis, clear claims, solid grounds using evidence from at least four sources (only one encyclopedia), correct parenthetical citations and Works Cited page, and an overall focused and organized essay that contains varied sentence structure and few errors.

Pages 89-101 in Hacker/Sommers

Choose

Collapse Choose

Decide on a topic early in the week, so you can submit it to me and begin your research.

Choose a topic for your research paper

Decide on a topic early in the week, so you can submit it to me and begin your research.

Choose a topic for your research paper

Think about your course of study. Ask experts for any issues within that field. Use our databases to find "Opposing Views in Context" for many topics.

https://www.minnesota.edu/student-support/libraries

Research proposal – 10 points

1. Topic (one or two words):

2. Working thesis (it doesn't need to be finalized here….your thesis might change in the course of your research):

3. Any main points you might be thinking about:

4. Some solutions for the issue at hand (this will eventually become part of your thesis):

5. Any sources you would like to use or are thinking about using (write URLs):