Please complete and use one of the assigned topics.

Writing Assignment 3 (Research) Instructions ENGL 1101

Purpose In this assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to compose a well-organized,

effectively-developed research paper in MLA format and using library and/or GALILEO peer-

reviewed resources. This essay should include a clear thesis statement, topic sentences to

support the thesis statement, major details to expand on the topic sentences, and additional

evidence to reinforce the major details.

Rhetorical Strategy Options • Argumentation/Persuasion

Writing Topics Topic selections below. Use one of these. No others are allowed. Zero grade for any other topic

not listed below.

1. Should the U. S. President have limited emergency powers?

2. Should governments be allowed to spy on citizens?

3. Should social media activity be grounds for losing one’s job? (You should consider both

the employer’s and the employees’ perspectives.

4. Should human traffickers receive life in prison if convicted?

5. Should sports betting be legal everywhere?

6. Should schools have the right to ban unvaccinated students?

7. Should federal income tax be limited to one percent of income?

8. Should students be drug tested?

9. Should all schools require armed guards?

10. Should athletes who dope be required to forfeit their titles and medals?

11. Should schools put tracking devices in students’ id cards?

12. Should gas stoves be banned?

Sources For your final essay, you must incorporate research from the full-text, peer-reviewed journal

articles you have found in GALILEO to defend your position in this essay. Periodicals are not

acceptable for this project.

Requirements Your essay must adhere to the following requirements for ENGL 1101:

• The essay must have at least five well-developed paragraphs

• Five sources are required in the essay.

• Your essay must use six (6) direct quotes correctly with in-text citations.

• It must have 950-1000 words

• The introduction must have an attention-getting hook and effectively introduce your

thesis statement

• The thesis must be the last sentence of the introduction

• Each body paragraph must have an easily identifiable topic sentence, major and minor

details, and transition words and phrases that correspond to the rhetorical strategy that

you are following

• Essay format must adhere to 8th edition MLA Style

• One-inch margins, 12-point font size, Times New Roman font style, page number in

header

• Please see the documents on Blackboard, MLA Websites, the writing tutor, or your

instructor for assistance with MLA formatting if need help.

• If your instructor requires you to use sources, be sure to use quotation marks around the

cited material, and include an in-text citation after the quote.

• The in-text citation should correspond to a full source citation on the Works Cited page.

• Your essay must adhere to all rules of format writing: • No contractions •No slang •No first person (unless narrative essay) or second person unless in direct quotes (Only 2nd person allowed in instructional process essays) •No addressing the reader directly (Only allowed in process essays) •No personal references or examples (unless narrative) •No statistics without proper reference

Thesis Statement • An argumentative thesis must make a claim about which reasonable people can

disagree.

• The thesis statement must include the words “should” or “should not” or “must or

“must not.”

• An argumentative thesis takes a position, asserting the writer’s stance.

Questions, vague statements, or quotations from others are not argumentative

theses because they do not assert the writer’s viewpoint.

• An argumentative thesis must make a claim that is logical and possible. Claims

that are outrageous or impossible are not argumentative theses.

• An argumentative thesis must be able to be supported by evidence. Claims that

presuppose value systems, morals, or religious beliefs cannot be supported with

evidence and therefore are not argumentative theses.

• An argumentative thesis must be focused and narrow. A focused, narrow claim is

clearer, more able to be supported with evidence, and more persuasive than a

broad, general claim.

• Example 1: Rehabilitation programs for individuals serving life sentences

should be funded because these programs reduce violence within prisons.

• Example 2: Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and leads to

a higher prevalence of cancer and heart disease; therefore, smoking in any

public place should be banned.

• Example 3: Organ donors should be financially compensated to increase

the supply of available organs and, at the same time, to decrease

profitable, illegal organ-harvesting activities in the black market.

Plagiarism If you submit someone else’s words or change only a few words or copy someone else’s ideas

without providing a parenthetical citation and quotation marks where applicable and a

corresponding Works Cited page, you will receive a zero for plagiarism, and may be subject to

disciplinary action based on WGTC Academic Integrity standards.

Essay Writing Tips Here are some tips for you to produce a quality essay. Be sure to schedule several days to

complete your essay, and work through the writing process carefully.

1. Choose a topic that interests you from the list provided.

2. Brainstorm and compile your ideas about the topic. (Note: This is your prewriting.)

3. Based on your prewriting, draft a working thesis. Refer to the thesis statement lecture

notes in Blackboard and Chapter 1 of your textbook if you need help. (Note: Avoid

copying statements you find online. Most are average, C-level thesis statements.)

4. Gather all notes and any written assignments done to prepare for this essay, including

secondary research.

5. Outline your main points, compare them to your thesis statement, and modify either your

thesis or outline so they match. Revisit the essay prompt to be sure you are still on track.

6. Fill in the outline with supporting details, and add any relevant information from your

research (Remember to cite all sources!).

7. Finalize and submit your outline based on instructor’s directions.

8. Begin the rough draft of your essay.

9. Submit your rough draft to UpSwing for extra guidance. Feedback can take up to 48

hours. Use feedback from your instructor and UpSwing to revise.

10. Proofread the final draft for grammar and MLA errors before finishing.

11. Submit your essay as instructed.