Argumentative Research Paper

This paper requires you to take a clear stance on a controversial topic and support your thesis with solid research. This paper will be 4-5 pages and will include at least 6 sources.

Consider the following:

· Before you choose a topic, you need to brainstorm several research questions. Consider which research question may be most appropriate for the scope and requirements of this assignment.

· You need to ensure that your topic has at least two distinct, arguable sides/positions/perspectives.

· You must make sure that your argument is not centered on a belief system (religion) or personal bias (prejudice).

· You may NOT choose a topic on the “Forbidden Topics List” or a topic you have previously worked with.

· Who cares most about this issue? How could you appeal especially to them in your research paper?

· Think about your plans for the type of argument you want to make (i.e., purpose, occasion, and kind).

· Think about the support you anticipate using. How might you use the appeals?

· Where will you start your research?

· Why is this issue important to you or society? Why will it be worthwhile for you to research your topic? What will you learn?

The Forbidden Topics List

The following is a list of subjects that have been written about time and again. Your chances of successfully persuading the opposite side to believe as you do (in 4 pages) are practically zero. Strive for some topics that are new and innovative, or things that go beyond the old standbys listed below. Unless an astounding advance has been made, or a wealth of new information uncovered, there isn’t going to be anything new you can say about any of these topics that we haven’t already heard.

· Abortion

· Adoption

· Anorexia/Bulimia/eating disorders in general, or fad diets, etc.

· Racism/Sexism/Ageism

· Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

· Abuse (Domestic, Substance, Child, etc.)

· Steroids

· Global warming

· Capital Punishment/ Death Penalty

· Smoking/Vaping

· Drug Legalization

· Gun Control

· The Driving Age

· Abstinence/Safe Sex/Teenage Pregnancy

· Conspiracy theories

· Texting while driving

· Immigration

· Gay marriage

· Virtually any topic where your primary source of defense rests in 1 main source

· Virtually any topic where your main source of information is only on the Internet

· Virtually any topic where your main evidence is opinion-based

· Any topic that attempts to link two or more of the above

· Any topic you have previously worked with

Note: If you’re finding it impossible to come up with a topic on your own, see https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/200-prompts-for-argumentative-writing/

Your essay should include the following parts:

· Introduction: this is where you tell your readers what the essay is about. It may be necessary to define your topic, give a brief history of the issue, or relate an interesting story. This is also where you need to make sure that you capture readers’ attention.

· Thesis: this is where you establish your claim (What are you trying to prove in this paper?). Make sure that your thesis statement is specific. Your thesis could include a brief outline of your whole paper (think “points”) and should occur within the intro.

· Body:

· Each paragraph in the body of your paper needs to have a main point that you can support with specific evidence and that supports your thesis clearly.

· Support your main points through a close analysis of at least six sources. To support your claims, you will need to quote from the texts and cite your sources.

· Make sure to acknowledge the other side of the argument in some way: by conceding to and/or refuting some points from that side.

· Conclusion: this is where you round up your essay: briefly restate what your essay was about, what you think the ultimate outcome of your issue will be on society, or the future directions for this issue, etc.

· Works Cited Page: This essay must include a works cited page in which you list the correct MLA citations for the each of the sources you use in your essay. Also, remember to have corresponding in-text citations for all of the sources on your works cited page.

Length: 4-5 double-spaced pages

150 pts. possible

Grading Rubric:

Content [10]	Does the essay meet the assignment criteria in terms of subject matter? Are the ideas presented appropriate for the assignment?
	Does the essay avoid repetition? Does it employ tight, polished paragraphs containing one main idea in the correct format or are ideas just thrown together?
Conventions [10]	Does the essay use proper sentence structure, commas, pronouns, etc.? Does it avoid errors: fragments, contractions, tense shifts, spelling mistakes, etc.?
	Did the essay meet the assignment criteria in both format and appearance? Correct MLA formatting? Page length? Proper citations?
Coherence/ Structure [15]	Does the essay have a clear, well-structured thesis?
	Does each body paragraph include one main idea that points the reader back to the thesis? Are there effective transitions? Does every paragraph present a unified argument? (Does it “flow” well?)
	Does the essay contain a strong backbone/ structure? Does it use the intro. well? Does the essay contain a solid conclusion that wraps up the paper?
Critical Thinking [15]	Does the paper provide adequate proof for the argument? (Quotations or paraphrase, research, expert opinions, statistics, examples, details, etc.?)
	How advanced is the essay? Does it explore new ideas that challenge both the writer and reader or simply regurgitate class discussions? Does the essay contain strong, unique ideas that go beyond surface-level?
	Does the argument make a logical connection between the thesis, topic sentences, and examples/proof? (i.e. Does it “connect-the-dots” between claims made in the thesis and examples for that claim?)
Total Pts.	/ 50
	X 3
	= /150

Writing Instructions

· Save your documents with your “Last Name Assignment Title” (EX: Smith Essay 1).

· Assignments must use MLA document formatting and citations, including your full name, the course number, and the assignment title in the upper-left corner; page numbers; and a title. See the following MLA sample essay: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/documents/20180702110400_747-2.pdf

· Assignments must fulfill all requirements and be proofread to be graded.

· Rough and final drafts must have at least 3 pages of double-spaced essay text.

Submission Instructions

· Submission deadlines are by the beginning of class time on Blackboard.

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and other documents. Each citation must be followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph (the annotation). The annotations should each be at least 100 words long. The purpose of these descriptive paragraphs is to ensure the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources you will be using in your research paper. This process is designed to help you determine which sources will be valuable and which are irrelevant to your argument.

· You are required to find three sources for this assignment that approach your topic in a variety of ways. Note: *You may change these sources later if you find stronger sources to use.

· You may only use 1 non-scholarly source.

· For each source you must complete the following tasks:

1. Correct MLA citation for the source.

2. Briefly summarize the article, essay, website, or book.

3. Discuss the limitations of the source such as: What does this author leave out? Does this source tell both sides of the story?

4. Describe how you could use this text in your research paper. Will it be helpful? Will you only use one idea or will you rely on this source heavily? How, specifically, do you plan on using this information? What point will you be supporting with this evidence?

5. Compare or contrast the source with other texts in your annotated bibliography. In other words, put the source in dialogue with another source you have found. For example, if you were writing about abortion, you might find that you have chosen 3 sources about the medical risks of abortion, 2 sources about the history of abortion, and 3 sources about the psychological effects of abortion. Do all 3 sources about the medical risks of abortion cover the exact same facts? Probably not. So…what are the differences? Any important similarities?

6. Place the word count for the paragraph at the end.

7. Make sure your sources are arranged alphabetically.

25 pts. possible

Word count: 600 words minimum. (You need to place a final word count for the entire Annotated Bibliography at the end of the assignment.)

Sites with information on and samples of annotated bibliographies:

· http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm#sample

· http://lib.skidmore.edu/library/index.php/li371-annotated-bib

Rubric	Excellent 5	Good 4	Fair 3	Poor 2-0
MLA Citations for all sources are correct; citations are in alphabetical order
There are 3 sources with at least 2 being scholarly in nature
Annotation paragraphs contain a solid mix of summary and analysis/evaluation of the source and are 100 words minimum
Justification for use of each source is present and convincing
Correct use of spelling/grammar/punctuation

 Example Annotations and Citations (Remember: You should have 3, not 2):

Outline

You will need to have a detailed plan for your researched argument (4-5 pages) essay. Within this outline, you need to provide your introduction and thesis, and provide a summary of what you envision each point you will make to be.

In one document, complete these two parts of the assignment:

A. Create what will become the opening of your paper.

· Begin with your name, the name of the course, the name of the instructor, and the due date in the upper left-hand corner of your paper.

· Center a title before your first paragraph. Short titles for research papers are usually a bad sign that you don’t have a defined and focused topic. Be specific in your title and use enough detail so that the title really tells the reader what the research paper is about. Make it a title about the thesis.

· Write an intro. paragraph with an underlined thesis.

B. Following the introductory paragraph, create an outline of the main points of the rest of your paper after the introduction. Each of these must be a complete sentence, not just phrases. You should have at least four main points for your final essay. These main points will become your topic sentences in your research paper. The main points you write should be clear sentences that elaborate on your thesis and reconnect to your thesis statement directly. You should also provide a bulleted list of specific evidence under each of your points.

Remember, all of this is in ONE document–it is the beginning of your paper, and it should all be double spaced with 12 pt. Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.

25 pts. possible

Rubric	Excellent 5	Good 4	Fair 3	Poor 2-0
Introduction paragraph has all of the following elements done well: hook, overview/background, thesis, and a preview of points; paragraph is well-developed
At least four varied points are provided; all are presented in the form of complete topic sentences
The order of the points is logical and smooth
Solid, specific evidence is bulleted under each main point; enough evidence has been provided
Correct use of spelling/grammar/punctuation

What follows is a shortened example for this assignment. Follow this structure/adapt it for the argumentative structure you plan to use, except double space instead of single space, and remember that you should have at least 4 main points.

Jane Doe

ENG 1252

Professor XXXXXXXXXXXXX

3 April 2019

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder:

Medication Is Key

As of 2007, parents of 2.7 million youth ages 4-17 years (66.3% of those with a current diagnosis) report that their child was receiving medication treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)(“Increasing Prevalence”). There are many factors affiliated with why parents decide whether or not to medicate their child. Some of these include the perception the parent has of the medication, the perception the parent has of the physician, and the stigma associated with the disorder. Nobody wants to medicate his or her child, but it comes down to quality of life. I believe that medication is an effective and safe treatment for ADHD. It is necessary to reflect on the history of ADHD, the factors that influence a parent’s decision to use medication, and the different treatment options for ADHD in order to prove the effectiveness of medication.

A. Although ADHD was not always recognized, diagnosed, or treated as much as it is now, doctors have known about the disorder for hundreds of years.

· I will use statistics on the history of diagnosis here from the Brown source, building my logos and ethos.

· I will use statistics on the rate of diagnosis today from the James source.

B. Some parents resist medicating their child because they fear adverse reactions to medication and stigmatization of the child; however, medication has shown results.

· I will use a short story about a boy diagnosed with ADHD who only got help through medication from the Smith source, which will build my pathos.

· I will provide statistics about medication rates from the James source, building my logos.

· I will bring in the opposing argument here about overmedication from the McDonald and Andrews source.

C. There are many effective treatments for a child diagnosed with ADHD, but medication is most effective.

· I will use pathos in showing how some children don’t get the help they need without medication from The New York Times source.

· I will use logos when I quote medical professionals about the effectiveness of ADHD medication compared to other treatments from the James source.

· I will use the Marcus source here about how ADHD medication has improved over the years to also build logos.