What is a Research-Based Proposal Argument?
A research-based proposal argument is an argument that identifies a problem, proposes a solution to that problem, and uses credible evidence to support the writer’s claims and proposals.
For this assignment, you will compose a research-based proposal argument in which you identify and define a problem in your home or school communities and propose a solution to said problem. Your topic should come from your previously approved proposal. Your topic is a problem facing a local community (that you are part of) and how you suggest solving that problem.
The essay should include the context surrounding the topic such as recent news about the issue and what led up to it. You should also explain what repercussions the event had/will have on the community, and, most importantly, your argued opinion.
Objectives
The goals for this assignment are for you to learn
how to recognize the elements of effective argumentation
how to create a compelling, rhetorically effective argument based on credible sources
how to find and evaluate these sources and integrate them into your argument
and how to evaluate arguments you encounter outside of this classroom so that you can become an informed, responsible citizen
Questions to consider:
What is the community that you are researching?
What is the issue, and what led up to it?
How does the issue affect the community?
What are the relevant contexts impacting this issue? For example, what are the important social, political, economic, biological, cultural, environmental, educational contexts of this issue?
Who are the stakeholders (people impacted by the issue) involved?
Who is already speaking about this issue? What arguments do they make? Do you agree or disagree or have a solution somewhere in between?
Are there multiple perspectives that people take on this topic?
What decision-making has already been done regarding this issue?
Do you have a connection to this topic?
What is a nuanced solution to the issue? Who might be left unsatisfied by this solution?
Audience
As with any writing project, you should compose your paper with your audience in mind by using audience-appropriate rhetorical strategies. I will be the audience for the final draft, but because we will use peer review, your peers will be your audience as well.
Details: Sources, Format, and Citation
Your final draft should be eight pages (2000 words) long, plus a Works Cited page. You must include at least eight credible sources to get a sense of what is being said about the issue you are investigating. Every source you use needs to pass the CRAAP test
(Links to an external site.)
(Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose). Three of the sources you use must be peer-reviewed academic articles or academic books. You can use the King Library ENG 111 Course Guide
(Links to an external site.)
for more information on finding journal articles, news, books, and websites as well as the CRAAP test.
The majority of these sources should come from your annotated bibliography, but you may need to add new sources as you write your paper. No matter what type of sources you use, they must be credible as defined in class. Do your sources pass the CRAAP test
(Links to an external site.)
? If not, don’t use them.
At least three scholarly, peer-reviewed sources are required, but some topics may be too contemporary to already have been published in an academic journal. However, there are always larger implications for a local issue. For example, you might be arguing that the arts are important for students at your school in particular, but there are larger studies that show its importance to overall student health and success.
Additionally, you must use 12-point Times New Roman font, double spacing, and MLA format and citation. Your paper must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document.
Writer’s Reflection
This is the cover letter for your research-based proposal argument. It should be on a separate page at the end of your final draft. Date the letter and address it to “Dear Reader.” Then answer the following questions:
Your experience: What was your experience as a writer for this essay? How were your writing activities and process similar or different from your past experiences? Did you try out any new strategies, and with what result?
Your writing process: What important steps did you go through to write this essay? For instance, what changes did you make along the way, what decisions did you face, and how did you make the decisions?
Your revision process: How did feedback from your peers or instructor help you and inform your writing or process?
Challenges: What was challenging about this assignment? How did you overcome these challenges?
Research: How has your understanding of “informational literacy” developed while conducting this project? For instance, what did you learn about locating sources and determining credibility?
Rhetoric: How has this project impacted how you understand and practice rhetoric and argumentation?
Moving Forward: How might you apply what you learned from this project for future assignments or challenges in your major or career? What strategies and knowledge might be useful for you in the future?
Your reflection should be between 300-600 words. After you’ve drafted it, think about whether your letter and essay match up. Does the essay really do what your letter promises? If not, then use the draft of your letter as a revising tool to make a few more adjustments to your essay. Then, when the essay is polished and ready to turn in, polish the letter as well and submit them together.
Criteria for the Final Draft
Contains an introduction paragraph that 1) introduces the problem being solved, 2) identifies clearly the writer’s claim, and 3) examines why this information is important to the specified audience.
Offers solid evidence to support the writer’s claim (statistics, facts, paraphrases, quotations, surveys).
Represents and evaluates the opposing points of view fairly.
Argues reasonably against the opposition and for the writer’s claim.
Maintains a clear focus toward the established audience throughout the paper.
Organizes the material presented in a coherent, logical manner.
Includes evidence of proofreading and editing, ideally no misspellings, no omitted/repeated words, punctuation.
