Essay 4 –Argument
Length – 4.5-6 Pages
Font – 12pt Times New Roman
Format – Double spaced, 1-inch margins, MLA citations (p.246)
Heading – Name, Course Title, Original Title of Essay

Any alterations to the format guide will result in grade penalties.

For this first argument, you are free to choose your own topic. This research paper will be an argumentative essay that intelligently incorporates material from at least four sources. For this research argument, avoid using the Opposing Viewpoints database. You must use Academic Search Complete to find supporting research.

An argument has the power to persuade. Your goal is to use evidence and research to back up your case. You want to convince your audience to take your position by providing a solid argument, good research/evidence, and help them understand both the topic and your own position. Make sure you have reliable information, that you utilize some combination of ethos/pathos/logos to present your position. (Do not announce sections of your paper, ex: Don’t say “In conclusion”, or “I will discuss”) Be clear and avoid fallacies. We’ve gone over many different ways to present an argument, utilize this information!

A successful, and thus passing, research argument will illustrate all of the following qualities:
• It will be a persuasive essay, following all of the techniques of persuasion.
• It will exhibit perceptive interaction with a variety of sources.  In other words, it will not be simply a list of four summaries, closing with a few words about the writer’s opinion of the topic. Should you simply summarize your sources, you will fail the paper. You need to use your sources as EVIDENCE to back up your own position/thoughts/opinions.
• It will exhibit the writer’s curiosity and openness about the topic.
• It will apply the skills of critique to the selected sources.
• It will follow the rules of MLA citation and formatting.
• It will use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries accurately.
• It will not be plagiarized (purposely, or accidently –it is up to you to cite your source correctly.)

Be sure to include a works cited page which lists the sources you used and in-text citations.  In addition, remind yourself of Morton College’s Academic Honesty policy.  Plagiarism will result in disciplinary action.  Before turning it in, be sure to upload your essay to turnitin.com.

We will peer edit this in class on April 13th and it will be due on APRIL 18th via turnitin.com.

Annotated Bibliography

Before you turn in this assignment, you are required to submit an annotated bibliography containing at least 6 sources (more is better).  Your bibliography will be formatted according to MLA requirements.

This bibliography will list, in alphabetical order, all of the sources you’ve found, followed by a brief annotation/summary of each source.  Your purpose in writing these annotations is to identify for yourself
1) what each source is about.
2) how you plan to use each source (e.g., as backup for your argument, to present a counter argument, or to provide background data).
3) the strengths/weaknesses of each writer’s argument.

This will be due April 13th, via turnitin.com