Why are core curriculum classes required at the collegiate level?Subject: the topic you explored in project 2
Purpose: in this project you will make a complex argument about the topic you have engaged with all semester, supporting your argument through academic research, analysis, and synthesis of ideas (yours and others).
As a member of an academic discourse community, you will often be asked to write research papers. Such essays require synthesis of your own thinking with perspectives from multiple credible sources. In this project, you will offer a clearly stated, thoughtful thesis that is supported by research and which highlights the insights you develop from your familiarity with the subject. Additionally, you will offer background on what is at issue in the topic, put the topic and issues in context, and then support your own position while fairly and thoroughly taking other positions into account (using the variety of stances and models provided in They Say, I Say).
Audience: Your audience is our class: an academic discourse community from a variety of fields and disciplines. Thus, you know that your audience is interested group who expects to encounter a thoughtful, informed, and persuasive essay.
Genre: You can see a sample of this genre on page 222 of TSIS (“Roe Butt, Cy Borg, Ann Droid: Hint, They’re Not Taking Your Job”) and page 201 of AWR (“What’s for Dinner? Personal Choice vs. Public Health”). The academic research genre requires builds on the formal essay we introduced in English 105:
Begin with introductory material that provide context and background, ending with your own main claim (thesis)
In the body of your work, make claims (assertions) that address the conversations that surround and define your issue
analyze evidence that supports your claims
support your claims with evidence synthesized from multiple sources
provide and refute counter arguments
In the conclusion, discuss the impact and consequences of your argument, setting the stage for future discussions.
Conventions: For this project, you are required to have a Works Cited list of at least 8 sources: this number will give you the minimal depth of knowledge you require, and more sources are encouraged. Of the 8, two of these sources must be scholarly. Note that you will need to find, vet, and incorporate source/s beyond those required for Project 2. Remember to find and use your sources ethically: find credible academic and non-academic sources, keep careful records of the information you find, and account for all information you provide in your paper–quoted, paraphrased or summarized–with both in-text citations and Works Cited entries. You should submit 8-10+ pages, conforming to MLA 9 formatting and citation style.
