The final result will be a 6-7 persuasive research paper that argues convincingly for one side of that controversy or issue that you have decided to write about. I allow you to pick your own topic so that you can read and write about something that is of interest to you– papers tend to turn out better when students have enjoyed the writing process. Try to pick something that you are genuinely interested in learning about, and that you are willing to spend several hours reading about.I hope that you will have fun with this assignment by selecting a topic that you are truly interested in pursuing via reading and writing. If you find yourself having difficulty choosing a topic, or narrowing your argument, you should see me during office hours so that we can come up with some possible topics for your paper.You should think of a research paper as an “opinion paper” in which you support your opinion with outside sources–these outside sources can be articles, books, book chapters, documentaries, Ted Talks, etc. We will discuss a variety of sources in the following weeks. Thus, a research paper is ultimately a highly-informed opinion that is presented alongside evidence for support. You should aim to persuade your reader by presenting a well-informed, and methodically presented, argument.This means that your essay will be thesis-driven, and well-supported by evidence that you acquired through a conduction of academic research. You will utilize at least 4 sources that will help you portray your argument. If you are unsure about a source or about how to conduct research for your topic, I encourage you to discuss your concerns with me–or email me if you want me to review a specific source. You can also visit me during office hours for a one-on-one research session. I have now been doing academic research for over ten years, so trust me when I say that I can help you find sources for your topic.The sources you choose to cite must be of quality. Please refer to the CRAAP worksheet when evaluating sources.Please note that at the end of the semester, you will do a PowerPoint presentation about your research paper topic; this presentation will be worth 50 points.
