Writing # 3: Research Paper Guidelines
Learning Objectives:
• To write a persuasive, well documented, argumentative research paper that examines the issues of a particular group in need and proposes a solution (s).
• To evaluate a variety of sources and incorporate them using all three argument appeals of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.
• To construct a well-organized research paper which demonstrates college level academic writing, sophisticated language and clear voice, and well-constructed sentence structure.
Global Topic: Education & Equity: Creating equity in Education
Focus: Your Choice (with approval):
Choose a focus group + a level (ie. Elementary/ Secondary/Higher Ed)
Argument: Choose your stance and persuade your proposal using all three appeals (Ethos/ Pathos/ Logos)
Requirements: use MLA Guidelines: See Purdue Owl Online
1. Sources: minimum 4 / Maximum 5
• A Documentary Film
• 2 Scholarly articles
• 1 other source: Interview, Novel, media or other
• {optional: a 5th source~ sometimes during our research, we encounter an additional source that is beneficial to our paper- this allows for that}
2. Paper Length: 5-8 pages and Works Cited. The paper should adhere to QUALITY before quantity; however, a well-developed essay that uses 4-5 sources will typically be 6-7 pages: this paper must be at least 5 FULL pages to be a passing paper
3. Organization
• Introduction: 2 paragraph introduction:
i. Illustrates the issue and includes facts (logos)
ii. Raises awareness around the issue (ethos and pathos)
iii. Addresses the key question(s) the paper aims to respond to and leads into a THESIS statement with a clear position and proposal/ solution.
• Body: Well developed paragraphs with clear topic sentences followed by analysis and evidence and evaluation: this should include both historical evidence and present day evidence
• Conclusion: Reinforces the importance of this issue and leaves the reader with a strong closing message.
Understanding Research: source: Purdue Online Writing Lab:
The Argumentative Research Paper for this assignment will introduce the topic to your reader, inform the audience of the issues and take a stand on the issue. The primary goal is persuasion: so the topic and/or solutions may be debatable or controversial.
Choosing a TOPIC: Questions to consider:
• What is the concern? Is this a local, national, or global issue?
• Why do I care about this? What are the implications?
• Is this issue a current priority?
• What is the history around this issue?
• What is your proposal or solution to the problem?
• What efforts are currently being made to address this issue?
• How can members of society make an impact or a difference?
When it comes to documentary films on Education, there are many to choose one: a few that come to mind include:
• Waiting for Superman
• The Road to Nowhere
• From Homeless to Harvard: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=O0vbIvUSVaA (only free one)
Your task is to find one that suits your topic and your purpose
Writing Guidelines
Learning Objectives:
- To write a persuasive, well documented, argumentative research paper that examines the issues of a particular group in need and proposes a solution (s).
- To evaluate a variety of sources and incorporate them using all three argument appeals of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos.
- To construct a well-organized research paper which demonstrates college level academic writing, sophisticated language and clear voice, and well-constructed sentence structure.
Global Topic: Education & Equity: Creating equity in Education
Focus: Your Choice:
Choose a focus group + a level (ie. Elementary/ Secondary/ Higher Ed)
Argument: Choose your stance and persuade your proposal using all three appeals (Ethos/ Pathos/ Logos)
Requirements: use MLA Guidelines: SeePurdue Owl Online
- Sources: minimum 4 / Maximum 5
- A Documentary Film
- 2 Scholarly articles
- 1 other source: Interview, Novel, media or other
- {optional: a 5th source~ sometimes during our research, we encounter an additional source that is beneficial to our paper- this allows for that}
- Paper Length: 5-8 pages and Works Cited. The paper should adhere to QUALITY before quantity; however, a well-developed essay that uses 4-5 sources will typically be 6-7 pages: this paper must be at least 5 FULL pages to be a passing paper
- Organization
- Introduction: 2 paragraph introduction:
- Illustrates the issue and includes facts (logos)
- Raises awareness around the issue (ethos and pathos)
- Addresses the key question(s) the paper aims to respond to and leads into a THESIS statement with a clear position and proposal/ solution.
- Body: Well developed paragraphs with clear topic sentences followed by analysis and evidence and evaluation: this should include both historical evidence and present day evidence
- Conclusion: Reinforces the importance of this issue and leaves the reader with a strong closing message.
- Introduction: 2 paragraph introduction:
Understanding Research: source: Purdue Online Writing Lab:
The Argumentative Research Paper for this assignment will introduce the topic to your reader, inform the audience of the issues and take a stand on the issue. The primary goal is persuasion: so the topic and/or solutions may be debatable or controversial.
Choosing a TOPIC: Questions to consider:
- What is the concern? Is this a local, national, or global issue?
- Why do I care about this? What are the implications?
- Is this issue a current priority?
- What is the history around this issue?
- What is your proposal or solution to the problem?
- What efforts are currently being made to address this issue?
- How can members of society make an impact or a difference?
When it comes to documentary films on Education, there are many to choose one: a few that come to mind include:
- Waiting for Superman
- The Road to Nowhere
- From Homeless to Harvard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0vbIvUSVaA (only free one)
Your task is to find one that suits your topic and your purpose