Persuasive Research Paper Assignment Sheet – Eng101Spring 2016

Directions: Write a 6 to 8page persuasiveresearch paper about a debatable issue relating to pop culture. I expect for your paper to have a well-defined thesis (claim about the issue) and use various persuasive techniques. This essay will use the strategies of argument, and you will be using what you learn in your research to decide on a claim and defend/explain your point of view. You will be choosing aspecific topic and submitting a research proposal to me. Your research proposal will outline the question that your thesis, after you have done your research, will answer. If you are having trouble narrowing your topic, please come and see me.

Format: Your paper should be written in Times New Roman font with one inch margins on all sides. The upper left hand corner of the first page should include your name, the date, the class, the assignment, and your word count. It should have a title, which should be centered above the first line of your paper. Each page after the first should have your last name and the page number in the upper right hand corner. These guidelines are the same as they are for every paper you will write for me. Please consult the format guide that came with your syllabus if you have any questions.

Suggested Topics: If you are having trouble picking a topic, I have two suggestions for you.

Suggestion #1: Pick one genre of film, television, music, or fiction and analyze one significant way that genre has changed over time and how the specific change in the genre you picked is related to or shows how society has changed along with it.

Suggestion #2: Pick a product that is commonly advertised in an intriguing or problematic way. For example, think about fast food commercials that use extremely sexualized images of women. What is the interesting or problematic strategy that you noticed being used to advertise the product? Find some specific examples of this strategy and describe/analyze them in detail. What are some of the broader implications/effects of the specific product being advertised using the specific strategy you have noticed?

Length: Your paper must be at least 2000 words.(This is about six pages not including your Works Cited page.) Please include your word count in the upper left hand corner of the first page along with your heading.

Sources: Your paper must cite as least seven differentreputablesources. It is up to you to convince your reader that your sources are reputable. You may use books, articles from online databases, videos, internet sources, and any other source you believe will increase the credibility of your paper. Your paper must include a Works Cited page that lists your seven (or more) sources in correct MLA format. Your paper must have an originality score of 25% or less when uploaded to turnitin.

Friendly Advice:

If you have never written a research paper before, it may seem like a big task. However, if you follow the steps that we go through in class and keep up with your research, you may find it to be an enjoyable process.

Be sure to turn in all required papers and write required drafts ON TIME. Falling behind is one of the worst things that can happen to a paper during this process. Don't be the student who stays up all night writing his or her first draft.

Write about something you are genuinely curious about. Don't write about a topic simply because you think it will be easy, or you think you should. We will be doing this assignment for a long time, and you don't want to be stuck writing about a topic you don't care about.

If you are feeling lost, or if you are having any problems with this assignment, please let me know as soon as possible. I would be happy to talk to you about any concerns you have.

Research Paper Timeline

Note: All research paper assignments must by typed.

*Tuesday, 5/3 – Research Proposal Due to Turnitin.

Your research proposal must be typed. At the top, write your narrowed research question. Then, in complete paragraphs, you must answer these questions: Who might be affected by or have a vested interest in the issues? What is at stake when it comes to this topic? What will you need to find out before forming an informed opinion on this issue? What are possible sources of information for this issue? (See class website for template.)

Acceptable (Good) Example Research question: "How has the genre of science fiction changed from the 1950's to the present to reflect changing concerns about technology?"

Unacceptable Example Research question: "I'm going to write about science fiction."

  • Too broad – needs to be more specific. This example gives you no direction.
  • Not a question. What is it, specifically, that you want to find out about science fiction?

*Tuesday, 5/10– Annotated Bibliography (worth 50 points) must be uploaded to turnitin by the beginning of class.

List seven sources in MLA formatthat you have chosen for your research paper. Below the MLA citation for each source, write a well-developed paragraph that summarizes the source, including any major claims,argues forthe source's authority and relevance to your question, and explains why you have chosen to use it in your research paper. We will be discussing this at length in class.

Note: Your annotated bibliography will be worth 50 points, and I will be grading for completeness, the quality of your paragraphs, and correctness of MLA formatting.

*Friday, 5/13 at 11:59 PM – Rough Draft of Research Paper due on turnitin for peer review

* Tuesday, 5/17 – In-class peer review. Comments due on peer drafts on turnitin at the beginning of class. Must be complete and constructive.

*Friday, 5/20at 11:59 PM- Revised Rough draft of Research Paper for instructor comments on turnitin

If you participated in peer review, you are eligible for instructor comments, provided your draft meets these requirements. Your rough draft that you turn in to me must be at least three pages long, and it must include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Also, it must quote or paraphrase three different sources and have a rough works cited page attached to the file you upload. If you do not meet these requirements, I will not comment on your draft.

*Thursday, 5/26– FINAL DRAFT of research paper due on turnitinat the beginning of class.

At any time, please feel free to make an appointment with me so we can talk about your draft one on one.