Persuasive Research Essay Overview and Inspiration: “In the face of deep divides—inequity and injustice; ignorance about US and global cultural traditions; and indifference, polarization, and incivility that block a sense of mutuality—students must acquire a set of critical democratic capacities that allow them to navigate the complexity of differences in their own and people’s lives and forge a sense of shared humanity.” -from the 2013 Bridging Cultures to Form a Nation: Difference, Community, and Democratic Thinking Faculty Workgroup Purpose: The purpose of this project is to challenge students to consider questions of difference, community, and democratic thinking—through this careful consideration and research, students will develop a persuasive essay of exemplary quality that highlights the composition and research skills they have honed over the semester. Each student is encouraged to develop his / her own research questions in order to explore and drill down to a concept of interest and importance. The student’s thesis must relate to a current issue in our community; the student may define his / her scope of community. Parameters: A persuasive essay presenting a thesis about a current issue of concern in a specific community. Additional components include proposal. Throughout the process, topic choice, thesis, and sources must be approved.
