Research Essay

  Topic- Growth and Positive Outcomes from Marijuana

Essay 2: Research Essay 

· Write an essay and not a report.

o Don’t give me a “data dump.”

o Explore the topic organizing the essay around your own questions/ideas about the topic.

· Your essay is your opinion backed up with research.

· Your essay should be 4 or 5 pages in length plus a Works Cited page. (total of 5-6 pages)

· You should have a central thesis(make thesis bold in font). (A thesis is not a question. The answer to your question could be a thesis.)

· Use at least 4 sources.

o At least one of these sources should be a peer-reviewed source.

· Use MLA conventions. These include the following:

o Document formatting

o Works Cited page in MLA format

o In-text parenthetical citations

· Write for an audience of peers rather than experts on the topic.

o Don’t expect that your audience knows anything about your topic.