English Essay
Description
Write an argumentative research essay, 1750-2000 words in length, focused on a topic of your choosing. The topic you select must be something about which you can find relevant scholarly research, and its focus must be narrow enough to fit within the required length of the paper. Possible topics include (but are by no means limited to) examining an energy issue within Canada, the treatment of mental health within a prison system, the contemporary use of the term “terrorism,” the gendering of children’s toys, and so on. One of the core requirements of this essay is the inclusion of at least three (3) scholarly secondary sources. To be successful, your essay must have an argumentative thesis, and it must engage your research in service to that argument. You will be required to handle your sources responsibly, which means both accurately citing them and taking care not to misrepresent them. Be careful not to allow the voices and ideas of the authors of your research sources to overtake your own voice and the point that you are making (i.e., do not fail to explain the relevance of and analyze the things you cite). Once again, your essay will be marked based on the following criteria: the quality of your thesis, the organization of your essay, the relevance of your evidence, the coherency and detail of your analysis, the technical quality of your writing. In addition, you will be evaluated on the quality and use of your research. You must quote, cite, and provide references following MLA or APA guidelines.
