Abortion, gun control, legalization of drugs, immigration, death penalty, welfare reform,

Purpose: The main purpose of the Research Paper is to persuade and inform your audience, or change their perspective regarding a particular issue or problem. Your paper, however, may have other intentions as well – to illustrate, to compare … In the paper, you will present your position and opinions, and provide specific forms of evidence to justify your assertions. Your support can come from your sources as well your own personal experience and observation. In addition to presenting your own position, you should to a certain degree, address opposing arguments, and refute these opposing views with your evidence.
Topic: For this paper, you can choose your own topic; however, your topic must be approved by me, and must be one that conforms to the criteria for the paper. Most importantly, select a topic that you find interesting, say an issue you want to explore or one that concerns you. Select a topic that allows you to incorporate your own insight, knowledge and/or personal experience in the paper. This is a very important part of your paper and is a necessary component of your paper. Your paper should do more than simply summarize and paraphrase source material!!! Some topics are unacceptable, and will be discussed in class. Note: one of your sources must be from one of our text – The Conscious Reader or Animal Factory.
Secondly, focus is crucial – The more focused your topic, the easier it will be for you to write your paper. Avoid general and highly controversial topics such as abortion, gun control, legalization of drugs, immigration, death penalty, welfare reform, tax reform, evolution/creation, sex education … just to name a few … These topics may interest you; however, they do not fit within the page limitations and guidelines for this assignment. In addition, most of these arguments have been rehashed over and over, and thus, are not acceptable topics for the paper. Remember, this is YOUR argument, and should present some fresh insight regarding your topic.
Note: ALL TOPICS MUST BE APPROVED BY ME.—see syllabus for topic deadline.
Sources: You must use a minimum of five sources, but no more than eight. You may use online sources, but no more than two are acceptable; credible magazines and journals such as Newsweek, LA Times, Sports Illustrated, PsychologyToday … that you access online will not be considered internet sources; they will count as regular periodicals. Your sources should include at least one current periodical, and a selection/chapter in one of our texts – The Conscious Reader, Animal Factory or The World is Fat.
Keep in mind that you may use non-textual sources – interviews, documentaries, television programs, surveys, productions – music, art, theater – and lectures; no more than two non-textual sources are acceptable. For each source used with the exception of our text, you should include a photocopy of ALL textual material used as quotes, summary or paraphrase. One of your sources should be one of our main texts as noted above.
Format: All papers must be in MLA Style – See your writing handbook for MLA rules.
Your paper should include both parenthetical documentation and a works cited page.
ALL PROJECTS MUST INLUDE HIGHLIGHTED PHOTOCOPIES OF ALL SOURCE MATERIAL . PROJECTS TURNED IN WITHOUT PHOTOCOPIES WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE – NO EXCEPTIONS.
Length: For 107—6 – 8
Research Paper Proposal: A Proposal must accompany all projects. All students will be given the opportunity to have a personal appointment to discuss the proposal and research project. Due Dates for Thesis Statement Workshop, Proposal and Final Research Project listed on syllabus.
Enclose all papers in a mailing envelope or paper folder. Along with your final draft, include your proposal thesis statement workshop sheets, peer workshop sheets (over RD) and highlighted photocopies of all source material used. Loose papers will not be accepted.
Below is the Research Paper Proposal — 50 points
The Research Paper Proposal is the “blueprint” for your paper that will include
Note: your proposal is due at the time of your conference appointment – See syllabus.
I. Your Thesis Statement – this should clearly state or imply or position on the topic or issue you will address in your paper. Your thesis will be one to two sentences long and will be placed at the end of your introductory paragraph.
Note: your thesis should not be a question or a statement of fact, but a statement of opinion.
II. Outline: This part will define the tentative structure for your paper. Arguments
often fall into one of the following formats: Comparison/Contrast – examining the similarities and differences between your views and those of your opponents; or Problem and Solution – in which you describe the problem and propose a solution to the problem. Select the structure that works best for your paper. We will discuss both organizational patterns in class, and use the selections in our reader to illustrate these patterns.
Length: your outline should be a minimum of one to two pages typed.

III. Briefly identify and define each of the following as they apply to your paper:
Statement of Purpose:
Your Audience:
The Tone:
IV. List each source you will use following the rules for MLA citation.
V. Highlighted Photocopies of all source material used – turn this in
when you turn in your final project.
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