Chapter 4: Research Essay

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Essay 4 Prompt: Research Essay

This is a Research Based Argumentative Essay on a controversial topic of your choice. However, you will be expected to use a counter argument to support your point. Remember, a counterargument is an acknowledgement of the other side's argument, but then the author explains why the other side is wrong and they are right . The counterargument makes your argument stronger because, like a lawyer in a courtroom, you must acknowledge the argument against and explain why you are right and they are wrong.

I will provide several readings that take a position on an arguable issue in our world. You should read these articles to gain a better understanding of the different types of topics. If you don't have a topic in mind, you can choose one article/topic and take a side. After you choose your topic/side, you will begin to do research on this topic in order to find more sources to support your overall argument. Eventually, you will turn in an Annotated Bibliography in order to determine the validity of your sources and to make sure they are all scholarly and peer-reviewed.

Thesis Hints:

Topic + Opinion+ Reasons WHY

Choose an article/topic + Opinion on that topic + Why You Think this is true

(Online education is an effective mode of education that should be given more resources by the College because it widens accessibility, it allows students to take the course at their own pace, and it will save the college and student money.)

Your primary objective for this paper will be to make a well-informed, carefully considered contribution to an on-going conversation or debate about an important topic. Your audience for this essay is comprised of scholars who are interested in your topic and who may be aware of the important texts, thinkers, and arguments frequently cited within your chosen conversation. However, while your readers may be familiar with some of the more influential voices that you will cite, they will expect you to remind them of key words and statements. These academic readers like texts, and they respect well-read participants of the conversation, so you should use textual support as a way of establishing credibility as well.

Your academic readers, though, will not be reading your essay simply to “re-hear” authoritative voices; they want you to bring those voices into your argument ¾ and they want you to prove that you have understood them ¾ but they still expect your voice to predominate. So you must have something definite to contribute, even if it is only a revision, qualification, or correction of an existing belief or idea.

Examples of essay topics: Prison reform, Social Justice Issues, Social media is bad for us, Vocational School vs. College, is Tipping Right?, Organ sales benefit lives, and etc.

DO NOT WRITE ABOUT: Religion, Abortion, Anti-Evolution, Anit-Vaccinations, and Gun-Control.

Remember that academic readers like a calm and methodical consideration of ideas; making an argument is not the same thing as being argumentative. Even though you may criticize another scholar’s position, your readers will not respond favorably to a strident or sarcastic tone. Also, as before, keep in mind that while your evidence provides the foundation for your work, you need to keep your voice and your thinking front-and-center.

Manuscript Notes: This essay should be 5 to 8 double-spaced pages and calls for MLA documentation; you must include a “Works Cited” list at the end of your essay. Additionally, you muse use and refute a counterargument. When you quote key phrases or clauses from your text(s), you must provide parenthetical documentation. Follow the guidelines in your handbook.

Option #2: Satire Essay

In the vein of Jonathon Swift’s “A Modest Proposal,” you have the option of writing a satirical argumentative essay. You might want to extend Swift’s argument or even come up with a ridiculous stance on a hot topic subject of your own(all ideas have to be cleared with me before you start writing). This satirical essay must be cited, logical, and convincing. Respect your fellow classmates; your satirical essay can’t be hateful or insensitive.

Ex. Bringing back debtors prison for people who don’t pay back student loans

Execution T.V.

Requirements:

4-8 pages(@ least 5 full pages)
Need a Counterargument and Refutation.
MLA format/Works Cited
You should be using 3 sources (1 website + 2 academic articles/peer-reviewed articles)