English 300C, Spring 2002

Essay Three Assignment -- Researched, Argumentative Essay

Due Dates:

Have thesis ready for lab April 4
Bring incomplete draft, notes and questions to Lab April 11
Bring printed draft to class April 16
First draft due in lab, April 18
Bring list of questions and problem areas to your conference, week of April 22-26
Second draft due April 30

Topic:

We will be using the strategies found in The Curious Researcher for choosing, developing, researching, and writing about a topic .  Please be sure to do the reading in The Curious Researcher and work through the exercises we don't do in class on your own.

I hope that each of you has developed some interests in a variety of issues related to education.  Although in a course devoted to advanced essay composition, we might focus on how students learn to write, I don't want limit our topics to the point where you feel forced to write on an area in which you have little interest.  Thus I will allow you to choose any area of education, but I caution you to narrow your topic appropriately to one that can be examined in some detail, with appropriate quotations and citations, in an eight to ten page paper.

The topic should be related to education, should be specific and interesting, and needs to be approved by me. I reserve the right to reject a topic that is based too much on faith or opinion, one for which you would have few or no sources, or a topic that has been written about too much.

If you are unsure what to research and write about, think of a topic loosely related to the themes we have discussed in class, such as the use of computers in education, tracking, labeling, methods to reach out to all students, learning disabilities, standardized tests, the literary canon, the value of any kind of assignment or activity in English classes, etc.


Some definitions:

By "researched," I mean that you must find evidence to support your thesis from at least six outside sources, of which at least three must be from print (not Internet) publications . The paper must use quotes and paraphrase effectively, cite all sources parenthetically in MLA format, and contain a Works Cited page in MLA format. Be sure to read the appropriate sections on research, quotation, MLA citation, and paraphrase in your handbook and The Curious Researcher.

By "argumentative," I mean that you must make a controversial claim in the thesis statement and provide evidence to back up that claim in the body. Oddly enough, effective argumentation also involves understanding and dealing with opposing and contending views in your writing. Therefore, keep your ears and eyes open in class discussions and readings for opinions that conflict with your own or add new perspectives. It will be important for you to demonstrate that you are aware of differing opinions and conflicting evidence in the final draft of your paper.


Hint:

If you find it helpful, you may decide to work in teams, pro and con, on a single issue. Your partner's evidence may help you recognize the contending claims you must address in your argument.  Even if you don't work in teams, run your claims by a classmate or helpful friend to get a sense of what others may think.


Sources:

If you wish, you may use Lives on the Boundary as a required outside source. This means that you must find the other sources through your own research. At least THREE outside source must be print sources, which you will find by going to the library. You may not use all webbed sources.


Length and Format: 8-10 pages, typed, double-spaced, size 12 Times New Roman font, MLA style. Your essay will have an introduction, body, and conclusion, and should have a clear argumentative thesis. It should then use the outside sources, combined with your explanation and analysis, to support and argue that thesis. Use direct quotations and paraphrases from your sources, but be sure to explain how they support the thesis and cite your sources properly (MLA format).

Audience: Consider your teacher and the other members of the class to be your interested readers.

Evaluation: I will read your essay looking for material that develops and argues a point beyond simple description, unexplained quotes, and unsupported opinion. I want to see you using the ideas of others at the service of your own argument. All papers should reflect a genuine effort, meet the length requirement, and be free from surface errors. Excessive errors will affect your grade.
Last updated on January 24, 2002
by Michael Day
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