Assignment 4: Entering Public Debate
Purpose: Writing and research is not isolated to the academic context. Often, we are asked to engage with the world around us to come to a greater understanding of the issues and problems that we face daily. In this public space, we must seek out information and the perspective of others in order to work towards
Assignment: You will write a 5-7 page research paper that addresses an issue that affects your local community. In the paper, you will attempt to articulate the issue in a way that helps members of your community by: proposing solutions to the issue, determining the cause of the issue, or exploring the complexities of the issue.
Proposal in order to begin the project, you will write a 300 word proposal that identifies two choices, so that you and I might dialogue about the project of your choice.
Criteria:
- Thesis addresses topic in interesting and complex way.
- Approach is complicated by two pieces of research
- Possible interviewees are noted.
- Shows the promise of a complex understanding of the topic.
- MLA or APA citation for 2 working sources provided from library database
Annotated Bibliography in order to gain a greater understanding of your argumentation materials, you will complete a 3 source annotated bibliography. These annotations will be in a three paragraph format: one paragraph of summary, one paragraph of evaluation, and one paragraph of relevance.
Criteria:
- Each source contains academic ethos relevant to the topic.
- Write the proper MLA or APA citation
Argumentative Essay: To demonstrate your understanding of, and facility with academic argumentation, you will write a 5-7 page argumentative essay that: offers a solution to an issue, examines the possible cause of the problem, or raises awareness of the importance of the issue. You will need to use at least 3 academic sources to support your thesis.
Criteria:
- Choices reflect an in-depth understanding of the local argument.
- Secondary source materials have been integrated.
- How well the claims you make about your argument are supported.
- How clearly you articulate the material for a particular audience.
- Your ability to integrate and explain quotations.
- Competence in sentence building and variation (i.e. the use of colons, semi-colons, double dashes, and commas, with attention toward appropriate rhetorical structure).
- Complex paragraph structure (i.e. topic sentences, transitions, use of evidence, etc., with attention toward appropriate rhetorical structure).
6.Your demonstration of your understanding of the various aspects of basic essay formation we will discuss (i.e. clarity, complexity, transitions, coherence, and more).
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