Assignment

For your research essay, you will choose ONE topic below and write an approximately 1000 word argumentative essay double spaced. Ensure that your essay meets the research and essay guidelines below.

1. Should college campuses avoid expressing ideas and opinions that make students uncomfortable? Yes. No. Explain using evidence from your research.

2. Should women sacrifice their personal life (marriage, motherhood) for their professional goals? Yes. No. Explain using evidence from your research.

3. Should comedy be politically correct to avoid offending audiences? Yes. No. Explain using evidence from your research.

RESEARCH GUIDELINES

• all research used in the development of the essay is cited in-text MLA style and documented in a Works Cited page at the end of the essay in MLA Style

• all research listed in the Works Cited page is used in the essay and cited in the essay in MLA Style

• all sources documented on the Works Cited list contains all the necessary information and is formatted correctly according to the type of source: i.e. newspaper article, journal article, etc.

• the Works Cited contains at least three sources other than the reading in the topic question but no more than five.

• all sources listed in the Works Cited satisfy the CRAAP criteria, whether they be online sources or from the database

• at least two sources on the Works Cited list derive from the library databases.

• direct quotes used in the development of the essay do not dominate the paragraphs: no more than two complete sentences from each source can be used in the essay's development

• ideas used from sources are correctly paraphrased if direct quotations are not used

• no more than one indented quote or one long quotation from one source can be used in the essay. This quote should be no more than 4 sentences.

ESSAY GUIDELINES

Ensure that the essay contains the following criteria:

• an introduction that engages the reader, and builds and transitions well to the thesis statement (the last sentence of the introduction).

• well developed paragraphs (topic sentences, supporting details/examples, analysis)

• examples from reseach are specific, detailed and support the topic sentence (hence thesis)

• an analysis of the examples to demonstrate support to the the topic sentences (hence thesis)

• includes at least one paragraph demonstrating an opposing view to the thesis and is refuted to demonstrate a flaw in the argument (ideally the first paragraph in the development).

• a conclusion that not only summarizes the essay's points or the thesis, but also employs an effective closing strategy

• ideas cohere (connect) between the thesis and development: i.e. the essay stays focus on not just the topic question but the development supports the thesis point and focus

• sentences contains correct usage of punctuation (when required), correct spelling and use of capitals, and are grammatically correct.

• language in the essay is concise and precise.