Assignment 2: Argumentative Research Paper

Research Paper Instructions

First year students are very busy adjusting to college life and working on their lower-division courses that they often do not get an opportunity to think about the career or careers they would like to pursue until after their first or second academic year. This research paper will provide students in ENC 1101 an opportunity to explore their career interests. This paper will require students to research two careers in order to determine whether one, both or none of them is worth students investing their money and time in college.

For example, someone interested in art may want to research whether becoming a museum curator or an art professor would be worth a student’s money and time in college. The writer of this paper may want to investigate how factors such as years in college, college costs, starting salary, work environment, and job outlook among others would make one career more appealing than the other or both careers appealing to students. This paper must be written using only the 3rd person point of view.

This is an argumentative research paper. In other words, this means that a student MUST take a position on ONE of the following arguments to determine if:
1. One career is a better investment for students than the other
2. Both careers are great investments for students
3. Both careers are bad investments for students
Again, this is an argumentative paper. The student will use comparison or contrast as a way to structure the paper, not just point out similarities or differences. The research paper must use outside sources to support that position. Thus, the thesis must include a claim (the student’s position) and 2-4 reasons that will then be developed and supported within body paragraphs.

Paper Format:
• The paper must use at least 3 sources: two must be library sources and one can be a non-library source (i.e. personal interview, web source, etc.).
• Failure to use the proper sources will result in the student rewriting the paper for a lower grade.
• Outside sources must be cited according to MLA guidelines.

An MLA works cited is required for this paper: