7 pages deadline 18 hours

Research Paper Instructions and Rubric

EGL- 102

What is this paper about?

This paper should be one that shows your understanding of argument and composition.

Beginning in Week Eight you will start compiling research and composing an argumentative

paper using one of the prompts below. You may choose a prompt from either the MLA section or

the APA section. Your choice of prompt will decide the style you will be writing your essay in.

APA and MLA papers must be written in the correct format discussed in class. This paper should

show a mastery of professional writing mechanics and be free from spelling and grammatical

errors.

You should have a clear opinion or stance on your argument that is concisely communicated

through your thesis sentence. The argument should be supported by scholarly sources and

address any arguments that might refute your own stance.

Requirements

This paper is to be typed in 12pt Times New Roman font, with one inch margins, and double

spaced. The proper heading for MLA or APA is to be used and the paper should have a title. The

paper must be 10-12 pages in length, points will be deducted for papers that are over or under

this page restriction.

This paper should be supported by six sources. Five of these sources must be scholarly (review

p. 350-352). These sources must be documented with in-text citations and properly cited on your

references/works cited page.

MLA Style Prompts:

1. Create an argument concerning the use of products in the US that are exported from countries that use child labor. Should consumers buy items from countries who endorse

child labor? Do industries have an ethical responsibility to avoid products that come

from countries who utilize child labor? Is there any instance in which child labor is

acceptable?

2. Write an argument concerning breast feeding in public. Should mothers be allowed to nurse their children in public places? Should there be restrictions to where mothers are

allowed to nurse? A restaurant? Church? Should women in the service be allowed to

nurse their children while in uniform?

3. Create an argument concerning the sport of hunting and the environment. Is hunting good or bad for the environment? Does hunting lead to the extinction of animals important to

our ecosystem? Does hunting help with the overpopulation of specific animals? Do the

current hunting regulations help or hinder your view on hunting’s impact on the

environment?

4. Create an argument concerning romantic movies and real relationships. Do romantic movies influence expectations in real relationships? Do these movies influence men and

woman alike? How are romantic movies healthy for or detrimental to the modern day

relationship?

5. Read the short story Araby by James Joyce (Available under the “Reading Assignments” tab on Blackboard). Create an argument concerning the narrator. Why did he not buy

anything for Mangan’s sister? Why is going to the bazaar so important to him? What

values and attitudes does he represent? What was Joyce trying to communicate to the

reader?

APA Style Prompts:

6. Create an argument for the legality of tobacco products in the United States. Should tobacco products be outlawed? Why or why not? What would be the

advantages/disadvantages of criminalizing tobacco products? How would a tobacco-free

America influence the country as a whole?

7. Write an argument in which you argue the value or risks of a specific video or computer games or category of games. Do computer/video games play an important role in

socialization? Do computer/video games have a place in the classroom? Are

computer/video games detrimental to young children? Do computer/video games cause

psychological illnesses like social anxiety?

8. Create an argument concerning the causes of childhood obesity. Are parents to blame for obese children? Should obesity in children be considered child abuse? Should schools

play a role in regulating student’s diet?

9. Create an argument concerning the ethics of assisted death. Should assisted suicide be an option for American citizens? In what circumstances (if any) would assisted suicide be

deemed ethical? Should assisted suicide be restricted to patients of a certain age? Should

a person’s power of attorney have the right to make a decision regarding assisted

suicide?

10. Write an argument concerning the high turnover rate in the field of nursing. Does the nursing profession have a high turnover rate? What influences turnover rates in nursing?

What can a medical facility do to retain their nursing staff? Does education play a role in

this high turnover rate?

***The questions in italics are a jumping off point. You do not have to address all these

questions in your paper.

Final Paper Proposal (10pt Assignment)

Due:

Select which prompt you would like to explore in your paper. Type the prompt as the title of

your proposal. In a one page paper explain why you chose this prompt. What is your current

opinion on this topic? What do you already know about this topic? What do you need to learn to

further develop your argument? What are the arguments against your stance on this topic and

how will you refute them?

If you do not want to use any of the prompts above, use this assignment as an opportunity to

propose your own topic. Your instructor will approve or redirect your topic.

This proposal should be one page, typed in 12pt Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins,

double spaced, and with the proper heading for MLA or APA.

Annotated Bibliography (10 pt. Assignment)

DUE:

Create an annotated bibliography for two of the scholarly sources you have found for your

research paper. The annotated bibliography should consist of a APA or MLA citation as it would

appear on your References/ Works Cited Page. The bibliography must be followed by one

paragraph explaining who the author (s) is/are and what the article is about. A second paragraph

should follow that explains how this source relates to your stance. For more information on

annotated bibliographies please see the “Resources for Research Paper” folder under the

“Resources” tab on Blackboard.

Typed in 12pt Times New Roman font, with one inch margins, double spaced, and with the

proper heading for MLA or APA.

Thesis and Outline (10 pt. Assignment)

DUE:

Establish your thesis and draw an outline of your research paper’s main ideas. This outline

should reflect the research you have been compiling over the last few weeks. Evidence of main

ideas, sources, and original thought should be present in the outline. The outline can take any

form you like, but must show the progress you have made since week eight. A total of 4 sources

must be present in this outline.

Typed in 12pt Times New Roman font, with one inch margins, double spaced, and with the

proper heading for MLA or APA.

Rough Draft (Not Graded)

Due:

A rough draft is due in class week 15 for peer review. You MUST have a printed copy of your

rough draft for class this week. If you do not have a rough draft you will not be able to

participate in class and you will lose your participation point for the day.

Your rough draft must be at least five pages in length with a working Works Cited/ Reference

page and properly cited sources.

Final Draft of Research Paper (200 pts)

Due:

Fails to Meet Meets Exceeds

Quality of Thinking (60pts)

▪ Comprehensible ▪ Has a clearly stated

central idea

▪ Fully developed ideas ▪ Shows originality ▪ Supports ideas/claims

with details

Organization (60pts)

▪ Coherent ▪ Ideas logically

sequenced

▪ Paragraphs articulate and do not just list

information

▪ Has a well-define introduction, body,

and conclusion

▪ References are cited correctly

▪ Reference/Works Cited page

Style and Technique

(60pts)

▪ Makes exact/ clear word choices

▪ Varies sentences ▪ Avoids vague

language

▪ Incorporates sources correctly

Grammar and Mechanics

(20 pts)

▪ Little to no grammatical or

mechanical errors

TOTAL POINTS

EARNED:

GRADE: