check my work

Writing and Information Literacy Fall Semester 2015

RESEARCHED ARGUMENT - FINAL PAPER (35%)

Your paper should be formatted according to MLA style, as follows:

You should precede the paper with the following information:

Your name

Your ID number

Dr. Rosalind Buckton-Tucker

ENGL 102- (add your section)

Due date (as below)

Instructions

In the final draft of your research-based argument, the culmination of your work this semester, you will be analyzing your chosen topic and presenting your argument. You will be supporting your argument with research based on at least five sources, and will be expected to quote and to give examples from the texts as necessary, demonstrating your skills in summary, analysis and synthesis, and to provide correct citations and a Works Cited list using MLA format. As mentioned, you should include both print and online sources, and at least three should be scholarly in nature. The others may be newspaper or magazine articles, reports, etc. A personal interview can be counted as one of the five sources.

Below, as specified earlier, are guidelines to the expected organization of the paper:

Introduction

This should introduce your topic and the particular issue(s) on which your research focuses, and provide a brief background. Your thesis statement (one sentence, showing your own argument) should be in a prominent position and should be obvious to the reader. You may use an attention-getting opener if you wish.

Body

This will be in at least three sections (a section may be more than one paragraph). You may need to provide more background information, but remember to keep the emphasis on the argument. Each section should begin with a major supporting argument, which you will develop with minor supporting points, adding examples or details to illustrate these as necessary. Try to keep your body sections approximately equal in length. You should use your sources (all those in Works Cited should be mentioned in the body of the paper) to reinforce your arguments. Include a reasonable number of direct quotations. Provide citations in MLA format for both quotations and paraphrases. You should refer to the counter-argument(s) to your thesis, with support from sources if applicable.

Any field work, e.g. a survey, should be described after the theoretical discussion. You may present tables or charts to illustrate your findings, but these should also be analyzed in writing.

Interviews can be used as evidence just like any other source, but if you feel an interview is particularly important you may wish to discuss it in a separate paragraph. If you quote your interviewee’s words, they must be exact; otherwise, use reported speech.

Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize your findings and restate your thesis in different words. If you have recommendations for future action or further research, you should include them here.

Works Cited

Check that you have used the correct MLA format.

Appendix (if applicable)

Include the questionnaire, if you conducted a survey, and the full table of results.

Your paper should be well-written in academic-style English.

Length: 1750-2500 words, excluding the heading, the Works Cited list and Appendix. Enter the word count at the end of the paper but before the Works Cited list.

Due date: Sunday 10th January, 4.30 p.m. (hard copy). Submission to Turnitin by the same evening.

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The paper will be graded according to the following criteria:

Layout & mechanics (5 marks). Correct heading, title, spacing, etc. MLA format: correct use of citations and correct Works Cited list. Quotations in quotation marks if within the text or indented without quotation marks if longer, properly signalled. Accurate information in Appendix, if there is one. Adherence to specified length and inclusion of word count.

Content (10 marks). Good thesis and supporting arguments. Adequate background and related information. Use of supporting detail. Balance of logos, ethos and pathos as appropriate for the topic. Evidence of original thinking. Interest and relevance of topic to the reader.

Organisation (10 marks). Clear introduction, body and conclusion. Field research, if used, after theory. Paragraph division according to ideas; paragraphs of reasonable and consistent length. Coherence and cohesion of content; logical order. Overall smooth flow of ideas with adequate use of transitional words/phrases.

Language (10 marks). Freedom from errors of syntax, word choice, sentence structure, etc. Reasonably complex sentence structure. Varied and academic vocabulary. Persuasive quality of the language. Absence of slang, short forms, abbreviations, etc.