Overview and Project Objectives
Length: 7-8 pages
Project Due Date: Thursday 8 May, 1:00pm.
Overview | For your fourth assignment in this course, you will develop an argument-based research project on some issue related to an area of your academic knowledge or interest (or both). This means that you will have to think about your knowledge and interests in disciplined academic ways in order to succeed.
Your original argument should be informed by and result from the research you have begun on your topic; your goal will be to maintain this unity of argument and research throughout the paper. For this project, you should employ the sources you gathered for the annotated bibliography on your topic, as well as build upon and make more sophisticated the proposal you wrote for Assignment #3.
In this project, you will be expected make a claim with which people may reasonably disagree. A claim alone is not sufficient, for an argument consists of a writer providing reasons that the claim is worthy of serious consideration. Evidence supporting your reasons may take the form of facts, statistics, textual evidence, or personal experience. A good argument may also appeal to readers’ values and emotions and always establishes a trustworthy tone. Additionally, a good argument refutes counterarguments.
Sources | Your research paper should use 5-7 sources, and should include a mixture of sources such as books, book chapters, web articles, and research from library databases. At least 3 of your sources should be academic. In this essay, you will use what others have said to not only support your ideas, but also to frame your argument in a new and different way. At least one of your sources should act as a “naysayer,” providing a platform upon which you can refute counterarguments against your claim.
Paper Criteria
- A clear, well-stated argument that is made in response to research and that outlines what the paper will address and why the argument is significant. This controlling idea/argument should be maintained throughout the text.
- Good quantity of relevant evidence (5-7 sources). Thorough analysis of almost all evidence. All evidence is discussed specifically, ethically, and accurately. Research is used to develop and support the writer’s argument.
- All sources are documented clearly, completely, and ethically. Reader always understands where the writer’s content is coming from. (APA style)
- The writing is logically organized and the ideas progress in a coherent and natural manner.
- Ideas are stated clearly and at a level of concision appropriate to the essay. Fluid transitions within and between paragraphs. On the whole, the writing is clear and engaging.
- The reader learns something new through some combination of specificity, critical analysis, and/or creative thinking on the part of the writer.
Welcome to a Seminar on Academic Writing 