1. Length – minimum 4 pages; maximum 5-7 ½ pages.

2. Title – includes a) name of career choice; b) subtitle (challenging). Follow the sample:

“Engineering: Waste and Corruption in Boston’s Big Dig Project”

3. Resources to Gather and Read:

a. Two or more books** (read valuable chapters).
b. Academic/career-related journals** (at least 6 or more journal articles: half “pro” and half “con”. Read more if needed.
c. Newspapers (New York Times, Washington Post, etc.).
d. Documentaries/Films.
e. Interviews.
f. Government Sites
g. Reference Books: Biographical Dictionaries, Dictionaries (various types).
h. Specialized Encyclopedias: e.g., Encyclopedia of Chemistry, Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice, Encyclopedia of World Art.
i. Asterisks ** indicate sources that must be used; other resources are optional.

4. Take careful notes on all readings (author, title, place of publication, date of publication, page numbers, credentials/titles of authors, etc.)

5. Make sure all resources have a recent publication date (no further back than 2010).

6. Develop a tentative thesis/argument, similar to the following example:

“The costliest consequence of Boston’s Big Dig Project was not the astronomical financial drain but rather the lack of oversight—from start to finish–from the engineering company of McMillan, Stowich, and Burnam.”

7. Continue examining both sides of the issue and then return to your tentative thesis/argument. With more knowledge and understanding of the problem, you will likely revise your thesis/argument:

“The costliest public construction project in history, Boston’s Big Dig Project, failed because the construction firm of McMillan, Stowich, and Burnam deliberately ignored complaints about cheap, flimsy materials and a disorganized construction time table.”

Introduction (1-3 paragraphs):

a. Place thesis/argument appropriately in Introduction.
b. Briefly discuss the importance of this controversy in your chosen field.
c. Optional: strategically place a direct quote in the introduction. Discuss it briefly.

Refutation (1 paragraph):

Discuss why one or two claims from the opposing side are flawed, weak, unsustainable.
The refutation shows the audience you have approached this controversy objectively.

Body of Proof (Evidence):

Explore in detail several examples that effectively support your argument. Include, at
intervals, several in-text citations (summary, paraphrase, direct quote; no more than
three) that give additional strength to your evidence. (Remember a direct quote must
be discussed). Length of Body of Proof: minimum 1-1 ½ – 2 pages.

Conclusion (options):

a. Expand on a previous point.
b. Ask the audience a question or two.
c. Briefly discuss one more direct quote.
d. Use one or more of the above.

Works Cited Page:

a. The entries must be in alphabetical order.
b. List only the most important resources used.
c. See the sample “Works Cited” page in Rules for Writers, page 532