Honors English 11Kimmel1

Current Issues Research Paper

The Rationale:Many college courses require a major research project. Therefore, the knowledge of the research process and paper development can be an invaluable tool for success after high school. Even though you may be grumbling now, you will thank me for this one day.
The Assignment:You will demonstrate your understanding of the research process by submitting a 4-6 page research paper written in MLA format on a current issue of your choice. You will adhere to the MLA style with proper citations and a “Works Cited” page. You will use at least 5 sources.
The Method:We will approach the research process in stages and you must submit evidence at certain stages. Due dates will be announced on Engrade and in class. We will devote time in class to research methods and techniques, citation, plagiarism, and paper formulation and organization. The paper represents a significant grade. Remain on task and submit the required materials on time.

Step 1: Select a topicabout which there is debate.

Possible topics: School Testing, Corrections/Prisons, Carbon Emissions, Pandemic Preparedness, Ridesharing, Congressional Term Limits, Campaign Finance, NSA Domestic Surveillance, Net Neutrality, Patriot Act, Gerrymandering, Police brutality, Urban “food deserts”, Work-life balance, Income inequality, Racial justice, Common core, Early education, Fracking, End of life issues, Mental health concerns, Immigration reform, Military personnel and veterans, School Vouchers and School Choice, Pharmacology and Research, Edward Snowden, Affordable Care Act, Public Pensions, Infrastructure, College tuition, Federal deficit, Poverty, or Unemployment

Step 2: Generate questions:Make a list of at least 10 questions about your topic. Sort the questions into those that have fact-based answers, and those whose answers are a matter of opinion. Ultimately you are to formulate at least three philosophical questions about your topic that you hope to answer for yourself through research. These are big-idea questions that not only prompt opposing opinions and viewpoints but also whose answer has ethical or moral implications.
Evidence:Submit your 10 questions. Highlight or circle the question that you will research.

Step 3: Begin research. Read several articles representing a range of viewpoints about your focus question. (Do not simply find articles that already agree with your opinion.) At first read more than the required 5 texts in order to give yourself an accurate sense of the discourse you are about to enter. From your reading, choose five texts that represent various viewpoints and are worthy of deeper analysis. As you do the analyses, you will begin to discover your own point of view and develop your claim.
Evidence:Complete a Source Analysis on at least five texts. Typed or handwritten notes.

Step 4: Take a position.Based on your research, answer your philosophical question. Articulate your point of view as you might in a thesis statement.Clarify your position such that it will work as a strong thesis statement. Ultimately, your position should be your own, but it should be informed by research. List supporting details that demonstrate how you will prove your thesis.
Evidence:Question and answer with supporting details submitted for approval. This typed statement will serve as the central claim/thesis of your essay and an outline of your argument.
Step 5: Select your evidence.Identify the excerpts and passages that you will use to support your position. Which texts/excerpts will you use as a direct affirmation of your position, and which will you use as indirect affirmation by exposing flaws in counter arguments?
Evidence:Rough draft with in-text citations and a completed works cited page.
Step 6: Write your paper and create the Works Cited page.The paper is to be a 4-6 page argument in which you present and defend your position on the topic. You must use at least five sources in developing your argument. Your argument must present and refute counter arguments found in your sources. Remember your position should be informed by research.
Evidence:Research Paper with in-text citations and a Works Cited Page.

Research:

You will need to identify at least five valid sources. Make sure they meet these requirements:

S – specificDoes it relate to your specifictopic?

O– objectiveDoes it show too much bias?

R – reliableUse scholarly or reliable news sources.

T – timelyCheck the date of the article.

Some good news sources to consider include:

CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox, Washington Post, Huffington Post, The Atlantic NY Times, Time, Newsweek, NPR, PBS, Opposing Viewpoints, website.gov, etc.

Source Analysis: Research
For each of your five sources, provide the following information:
  1. Use easybib.com to properly cite your source.
  2. Summarize the author’s point of view.
  3. List the author’s supporting details.
  4. List quotes that will help you answer your question.

Argument Essay Outline
Introduction:
  • How will you gain the reader's attention?
  • What is your thesis statement? Answer your research question. Remember, it must include 'what is' and 'what ought to be.' --not a rhetorical question.

Background:
  • What background information must you provide, so your readers will contextualize your topic?
  • What information will you need to present to make sure your readers can understand your topic?

Argument: (Can be several paragraphs. This is the bulk of your essay.)
  • Include a topic sentence
  • Incorporate quotes/paraphrases from the research with (in-text citations).
  • Analyze the research. Put it into your own words.
  • Connect the ideas back to your thesis.
  • As you write, ask yourself, “Am I proving my thesis?”

Argument: same as above
Argument: same as above
Opposing Arguments:
  • Briefly summarize the opposing views. (Again, provide expertise from sources in essay.)
  • What are the advantages/disadvantages of these views?
  • Why is your view better?

Conclusion:
  • What is the implication of your thesis?
  • What do you want your readers to think or do?
  • What is your emotional and/or ethical appeal (to logos and/or pathos)?

Your Name

Ms. Kimmel

A/B # English 11

11 December 2015

An Original Title for Your Research Paper

Before you begin typing, go to paragraph and change the spacing to double. Also change the font to 12 point, Times New Roman. Go to “Insert” and add page numbers to the top left of your document. Type your last name in front of the number. It’s also a good idea to copy your Works Cited sources to the final page. (The works cited page does NOT count as one of the pages in the 4-6 page number requirement.)

Remember, you start with a hook: imagery, strong statistics, or a relevant story. Then you include your thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph.

From there, you will include any background that your readers will need to understand the topic of your research. Make sure to include (in-text citations) whenever you include something you learned from your research. You must cite direct quotes AND paraphrases, because you learned the information from someone else.

As you begin to build your argument paragraphs, please include a clear topic sentence. Then you should incorporate a quote or paraphrase from your research (citation). Now clearly explain how that information relates to your topic. Explore the ideas expressed in the quote/paraphrase. Analyze how those ideas support your thesis. The whole time you are writing, ask yourself, “Am I proving my thesis? Does this support my central claim?”

If you get confused, look at the rubric to see how I will be grading your final draft, which is due on March 7. This is worth 600 assessment points.

I will be grading your rough drafts individually. You will earn thirty points for each page you have which contains relevant information and in-text citations. You will earn the final thirty points for including your works cited page.

Category / 20 / 17 / 14 / 10 / 0
Introduction / Intro paragraph successfully gets the reader’s attention, introduces the topic, establishes credibility, and has an effective thesis/claim. / Intro paragraph is missing one of the requirements. / Intro paragraph is missing two of the requirements. / Intro paragraph does not have a central thesis. / There is no intro paragraph.
Background
(In-Text Citation:
___ Yes ___ No) / Background paragraph is well written and contains effective background information. Integratesan in-text citation. / Background paragraph is good and contains some examples of backgroundfeatures. Integratesan in-text citation. / Background paragraph is okay and contains few examples of backgroundfeatures. Integratesan in-text citation. / Background paragraph is poorly written and contains one example of background features. Integratesan in-text citation. / The background paragraph is missing, incoherent, or missing an in-text citation.
Argument
(In-Text Citation:
___ Yes ___ No) / The argument paragraphs arewell written and provides a strong foundation for the position. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs aregood and contains some foundation for the position. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs areokaycontain a few main points. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs arepoorly written and contains insufficient evidence. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs are missing, incoherent, or missing an in-text citation.
Argument
(In-Text Citation:
___ Yes ___ No) / The argument paragraphs arewell written and provides a strong foundation for the position. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs aregood and contains some foundation for the position. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs areokaycontain a few main points. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs arepoorly written and contains insufficient evidence. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs are missing, incoherent, or missing an in-text citation.
Argument
(In-Text Citation:
___ Yes ___ No) / The argument paragraphs arewell written and provides a strong foundation for the position. Integrates an in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs aregood and contains some foundation for the position. Integrates an in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs areokaycontain a few main points. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs arepoorly written and contains insufficient evidence. Integratesan in-text citation. / The argument paragraphs are missing, incoherent, or missing an in-text citation.
Opposing Arguments
(In-Text Citation:
___ Yes ___ No) / Opposing argument paragraph is well written and contains many examples of advantages/ disadvantages. Integrates an in-text citation. / Opposing argument paragraph is good and contains some examples of advantages/ disadvantages. Integratesan in-text citation. / Opposing argumentparagraph is okayand contains few examples of advantages/ disadvantages. Integratesan in-text citation. / Opposing argumentparagraph is poorly written and contains one example of advantages/ disadvantages. Integratesan in-text citation. / Opposing argument paragraph is missing, incoherent, or missing an in-text citation.
Conclusion / Conclusion paragraph providesthe implication of the thesis, summarizes the essay, and an emotional appeal and ethical appeal. / Conclusion paragraph is missing one of the requirements. / Conclusionparagraph is missing two of the requirements. / Conclusionparagraph is missing three of the requirements. / There is noconclusionparagraph.
Formal Language/
Sentence Structure / Effective language, effective progression of ideas, has a wide variety in sentences and, maintains a formal style and objective tone. / Effective language, clear progression of ideas, somevariety in sentences and some precise word choice, and maintains a formal style and objective tone. / Okay use of language and progression of ideas, has some variety in sentences and, maintains a formal style and objective tone. / Some progression of ideas, limited variety in sentences,vague word choice, and may lack a formal style and objective tone. / Ineffective use of language, repetitive, informal, not objective
Works Cited Page / The works cited page is completed properly with no errors. / There are 1-3 errors throughout the works cited page. / There are 4-6 errors throughout the works cited page. / There are 7-9 errors throughout the works cited page. / There are 10 or more errors throughout the works cited page.
CUPS
(capitalization, usage, punctuation, spelling) / There are no CUPS errors throughout the paper. / There are 1-3 errors throughout the paper. / There are 4-6 errors throughout the paper. / There are 7-9 errors throughout the paper. / There are 10 or more errors.

______/200 x 3 = ______/ 600