Eng201 Writing and Research
Research Project
Overview:
Research commonly begins with questions, and one of the results (but not the "end") is an essay documenting the research conducted and the findings. In an argument-centered research essay, we make claims about our topics and support those claims with our research.
One common misconception people have is that evidence speaks for itself, i.e. if we present it, our readers will understand the relationships and know what we want them to take away. In reality, it is up to the author to provide direction, to establish interpretation, and to persuade the audience to the author's meaning and proposed course of action. This requires careful consideration of the author's evidence, and explanation of how the evidence supports the author's claims. An argument may include agreement with other sources, but in the end the arguer presents their own stance and their own course of action. Rather than relying on expressing agreement or disagreement with parts of the conversation, an effective arguer adds to the conversation and helps advance it.
Assignment:
Based on the topic and research question you chose for your literature review and proposal, write an argument that adds to or advances the conversation in your field. You may use sources from earlier in the semester, including those from your literature review, but you must contribute new writing about those sources. In other words, you cannot copy part of your review into this essay, although you can use, in new writing and form, analysis, interpretation, and direct quotes.
It is recommended you have a well-developed thesis that goes beyond a one-sentence summary, and a specific outcome. What are you trying to persuade readers to do, think, believe, etc, and what in the end is your proposed action?
Goals and Expectations:
- 8-12 pages typed and double-spaced, with an appropriate heading and descriptive title.
- Identification of a topic from your major that is sufficiently specific and narrow.
- Presentation of a specific and focused argument that is followed through the entire essay.
- Clear and logical organization, including well-developed supporting paragraphs, and effective transitions.
- Clear engagement of others' perspectives through counter-argument, rebuttal, and/or concession.
- Evidence of synthesis of the sources that goes beyond summary.
- Demonstration of thorough research into the topic (i.e. going beyond finding the minimum required sources).
- A minimum of eight scholarly sources appropriate for your topic. You may use sources from your literature review, but it also recommended you use four or more new sources.
- Note: Evidence from the internet will not count toward the minimum number of sources, but you may use the internet in addition to the 8 sources. Evidence from the internet should not, however, be comprise the bulk of your total evidence. In other words: most of your evidence should come from library research.
- Clear use of MLA or APA documentation styles to document all ideas not your own. Drafts without a works cited/reference page will not be accepted; works cited/reference pages do not count toward the page requirement.
- Revised drafts should demonstrate careful proofreading and revision, including but not limited to revising thesis statements, organization, grammar, and sentence mechanics.
Our overall goal is to put together all the elements and skills we have learned and worked on this semester in a comprehensive, source-driven, argument essay. Accurate use of sources, a detailed and self-directed statement of position, consideration of multiple perspectives and discourses, consideration of situational awareness, demonstration of revision and writing as a process, and other factors will be important. Your essay should demonstrate basic competency or better in all five core categories from the Writing Portfolio Rubric, and it may be wise to review the rubric as you write, research, and revise.
You are required to bring a copy to a conference with the instructor on either Monday, November 16, or Wednesday, November 18. A draft is due to the appropriate topic thread in Blackboard for peer evaluation by the start of class on Monday, November 30.
Note: All papers will be randomly checked for plagiarism. Any and all sources may be randomly checked to verify credibility and authenticity.