Research Essay
Your final essay assignment is an 8-10-page argumentative research essay in which you incorporate the opinions of 9 sources.
Your argument can focus on the benefits of something, causes of something, effects or consequences of something or a solution to a problem.
You have four options of responding to an author or organization: you may agree with one and disagree with another; agree with some but not all, or disagree with some but not all, or you may agree/disagree with some points from each author/organization.
Essay structure
Your essay should have the following structure:
- A title that reflects your stance on the issue
- An introduction of about three-quarters of a page. You can start your introduction with a hook if you like. It is not required. You also can with a summary of what one author or organization is arguing, their name and title, his or her reasons, and some of their evidence. Or, you can start off with summarizing an event that presents an argument. Give the name of the event, date, location and who organized the event. This summary should be about 4 sentences. The introduction should end with your hypothesis or thesis statement and reasons.
- Background (no more than two pages):
- Discuss the history of your topic:
- What are highlights of its history? Be detailed. Give dates, names of events and names of people and organizations who were instrumental in creating the history.
- When did your topic become controversial?
- Discuss the debate:
- Who agrees with you and why? Who disagrees with you and why? Be detailed give the names of the organizations, people, their roles, their argument, reasons and evidence.
- Your argument (the bulk of your paper or 7 pages)
- Each key point should take about 2-2 1/2 pages; Each key point should have several sources discussing it. For example, here is a paragraph from Michaela Cullington’s article “Does Texting Affect Writing?”
Supporters of texting also argue that it not only teaches elements of writing but provides extra
practice to those who struggle with the conventions of writing. As Crystal points out, children who
struggle with literacy will not choose to use a technology that requires them to do something that
is difficult for them. However, if they do choose to text, the experience will help them learn to
write. Through this experience, teenagers can “overcome their awkwardness and develop their
social and communication skills” (Txtng 171). Shirley Holm, a junior high school teacher,
describes texting as a “comfortable form of communication” (Walsh). Teenagers are used to texting, enjoy doing so, and as a result are always writing. Through this experience of writing in ways they enjoy, they can learn to take pleasure in writing formally. As Derek Anderson, a composition and literature teacher, explains, “[A]ny writing is good writing, as long as you get your point across” (Walsh). Writing skills improve with time and practice. If students are continually writing in some form, they will eventually develop better skills.
- (You should have at least 3-4 body paragraphs; paragraphs should be at least 7-10 sentences).
- You should have a couple of stand-alone quote sandwiches as paragraphs, if the quote is longer than a couple of sentences. This can be followed by another paragraph where you start with your reason for agreeing or disagreeing and provide your evidence.
Note: Make sure the quote is related to what you are discussing. If you are unclear about a passage, do not use it.
- A counterargument (1 page): A counterargument in which you acknowledge a weakness of your argument that your opposition is likely to attack. Your counterargument should start with what your opposition would likely say or their criticism. Then, you end with your comeback response.
- A conclusion (at least ½ page to 1 page) where you restate your thesis statement and either issue a call to action for a certain group of people, predict future trends, or offer a substantive comment.
- A separate MLA Works Cited list of your sources.
Formatting your essay:
- Your essay should be in 12 pt. Times New Roman in Microsoft Word; no pdfs or Pages documents will be graded. You can get a free copy of Microsoft Word through the City Colleges by going to this Web address: http://www.ccc.edu/services/Pages/Get-a-Copy-of-Microsoft-Office-for-Students.aspx
- Your essay should be typed double-spaced with one-inch margins around and page numbers.
- In the top left corner on the first page, you can list your name, English 102A, Spring 2017, Gray, Research Essay
Grading criteria: You will be graded on the strength of your analysis, accurate portrayal of the controversy, clarity, organization, citation, grammar, and punctuation.