This assignment, the last of the major assignments, brings together what you have learned about constructing arguments and finding and evaluating sources. The objectives of this project are to allow you to explore a topic of interest to you that we won’t cover in class, and to strengthen your research, synthesis, and writing skills. Develop an argument in depth drawing upon outside resources and acknowledging these sources properly. The term paper is meant to be a fun assignment – an opportunity to learn more about a topic which you find particularly interesting.
Argue with research using any of the strategies from our previous research assignments. Whenever possible, choose a topic that you feel passionate about. You may employ any of the techniques we’ve learned throughout the term. An important goal of this final research paper is developing an argument, which means the topic chosen should be debatable or even controversial.
Research all sides of the topic thoroughly. Even if you know which side you want to argue, research can give you ideas for counterarguments and help your paper show balance rather than bias. You may need to revise your position if your research findings do not support it. Your audience may or may not be an expert on your subject, but you may safely envision a reader who is intelligent, fair minded, and interested in finding out what you have to say. Because any sign of bias can undermine your credibility, your tone should be objective. Refrain from choosing a topic where arguments are based on opinion or belief. Don’t confuse facts with truths (a “truth” is a majority-held belief or opinion that is unproven and unsubstantiated by fact).
Scheduling your time is especially important. There is a lot involved in writing a research paper. When you break up any large assignment into manageable and meaningful blocks, you can concentrate on each task and each block without trying to tackle the whole assignment at
English 102: Final Research Paper, page 1 of 4
once.
Keep your schedule flexible. As you write your paper, you may need to return to a part of
the research process that you had already completed. Give yourself extra time in case of unexpected surprises. Remember that things can come up that might throw off your plan. Your computer might crash, you might have to work more hours, or there could be a family emergency. Also, recognize that these suggested process steps are not fixed and some tasks will be repeated over more than one block of time (such as seeing your instructor or tutor, evaluating sources, and making revisions). Each block should roughly take about a week to complete, but tasks and blocks will overlap. If you finish one step early, move on to leave yourself time for later tasks.
An effective argumentative research paper will demonstrate a student’s ability to organize and write clear, well-developed arguments. Remember, one of the purposes of a research paper is to add something new to the academic community.
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