For the research paper, select one issue from the textbook—obesity, steroids and sports, education, the American Dream, etc.  or an issue that is not in the textbook. An issue is something that is debatable-something people are discussing or a problem they are trying to solve, something of public concern.  Issues are complex—that’s why they create controversy and do not have simple solutions. Select an issue that you are interested in learning more about then write a research paper that explains the controversy to your peers.

 

Your audience is first-year college students—basically the people in your classes.  Make sure you take time to evaluate and know your audience; you will be graded on content, mechanics and how well you connect with your audience

 

For a paper that meets minimum expectations, you must use at least three and no more than four sources in the paper; be careful, selective, and cautious when evaluating and selecting sources. Though you may quote any source more than once, you may not quote more than three lines in one quotation from any source.  Instead, use your paraphrasing skills.   Remember the Learning Lab, too.

 

The objectives of this assignment are:

1)  to demonstrate that you have become  well-informed about a particular issue

2)   to demonstrate your ability  to address  a specific  college level audience

3)  to demonstrate your ability  to use a variety of source material,  as well as to integrate  and cite it

correctly with MLA documentation

 

 

Details (these are not optional):

-MAKE SURE YOU GET MY APPROVAL FOR YOUR TOPIC BEFORE YOU BEGIN

-typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins (do not justify the right margin)

-12 point, Times New Roman font, black ink

-use MLA documentation style for the entire document (a Works Cited page is required)

-do not use block style quotations (three or more sentences in one quotation)

-do not use more than three sources without specific permission from me

-put a title on your paper- do not use the assignment’s title as your title

-do use something interesting about or significant to the paper’s topic as your title

-do not use I, me, my our, us, or we

-do not use contractions

-check the syllabus for word count and other specific details about writing assignments

-use classification as your method of organization

-use an informative-referential purpose

-complete Info Game worksheet— submit the form with the paper in your folder

–include copies of all source material that is not in your textbook  

  -check your essay to make sure you have followed the instructions

 

The Info Game is an online tutorial—go to ACC’s Library Services home page.  Find Instructional Programs and click on Online Tutorials; then click on The Info Game for English 1301.  Follow the instructions to complete the game

Or, the URL is:  http://library.austincc.edu/help/infogame

 

 

 

 

 

Sample Possible Outline: (Make changes to the outline to suit your paper.  CAUTION: More body paragraphs usually create papers that rely on sweeping generalizations and vague comments about the issue.

1. Introduction You are not arguing a position—you are required to explain the issue which means the “They Say”.
2. See your textbook template on page 26 for introducing an ongoing debate—leave out the “In my view” part.
3. OR: Write a classification thesis statement. Example thesis statement:

Although the controversy about _____________________ is complex, three of the main concerns are _____________________, ________________________, and ______________________.

1. Write a topic sentence using the first concern you state in the thesis statement—add developing ideas to develop and explain—They Say. Use in-text citations for your sources with MLA style.
   1. Developing idea
   2. Developing idea
   3. Transition

 

• Write a topic sentence using the second concern you state in the thesis statement—add as many subtopics as you need to help develop and explain They Say. Use in-text citations for your sources with MLA style.
  1. Developing idea
  2. Developing idea
  3. Transition

 

1. Write a topic sentence using the third concern you state in the thesis statement—add as many subtopics as you need to help develop and explain They Say. Use in-text citations for your sources with MLA style.
   1. Developing idea
   2. Developing idea
   3. Transition

 

1. Write a conclusion—restate the thesis, but also try to leave some kind of lasting impression on your audience.

Use this sample to create your own outline.  You should make changes to it to suit your own paper, but be careful if you decide to add more body paragraphs—more body paragraphs usually cause students to rely on common knowledge and sweeping generalizations that lead to low scores on the assignment.  Thoroughly developed, carefully constructed paragraphs are always a better choice—three body paragraphs are just about right.

 

 

Get approval on your topic before you begin. Sufficiently narrow your topic to something you can write about in a short, 1000-1100 word essay. Get help from tutors in the Learning Lab and/or from your instructor.