Your task is to compose an essay that makes a researched argument about a current social issue. Your argument should be original, timely, and persuasive. Your research should be relevant and of high quality. The sources you incorporate should help you to explain and support your argument, and they should indicate what has already been said about the topic by others.
The essay should explain the nature of the problem and provide some background relating to various ways that the problem has been addressed. It should then present a solution of some sort and address which changes you believe are most pressing and what obstacles stand in the way of implementing them. You should conduct original research to develop your perspective and to provide evidence to support your thinking.
For this paper, you should use at least 10 sources from academic books, academic journals, and professional websites. Do not cite Wikipedia as a source.
The Library homepage is a very rich source of easily accessible information. Use these databases as well as other Internet search engines to collect your information. If you have any questions about using these tools, ask the librarians or me.
Your research paper must be double-spaced and typed in Times New Roman 12-pt font, and you should use correct margins and include a Works Cited page. A title is required for your paper, but no title pages or cover pages are necessary. Be sure to put your name, the name of the class, the name of your teacher, and the date in the upper-left hand corner. Your title for the paper should be centered and capitalized (but not in all caps) and should reflect the point of the essay.
We will complete this paper in the following stages: research paper topics and rough outlines; short research proposals; an annotated bibliography of at least five sources; formal outlines; a typed rough draft of 7 pages for peer review; and a final draft of 14 to 15 pages. Each assignment leading up to the final paper must be completed by the due date, or the final draft will not be accepted.
Papers that do not have the minimum number of sources will receive 0 points as will papers that do not meet the minimum page requirement.
