cloning

Argumentation – A Research Paper

Due dates: Topic, with detailed notes and organizational plan (rough outline MINIMUM), and a minimum of FOUR printed outside sources due
APRIL 22. We will develop MLA sources and outlines in
class on this date. No topic changes after this date!
Draft, 4 pages typed, with all MLA components in place due April 29
Final paper, 5 pages typed (see below), due May 6 end of class. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Note: If you are not prepared for the topic consultation on April 22 with the required notes, sources and organizational plan, ten percent (15 points) will be deducted from the final grade of the essay. If you do not have the complete assignment at the beginning of class April 29, an additional 10 percent (15 points) will be deducted. If you MUST miss class, please contact your professor via MCC email as early as possible, submit all documents and assignments by the deadline via email, and be caught up with reviews and exercises before the start of the next class period in order to avoid the penalties above.

To successfully complete this assignment, you must

• Think critically about one of the topics discussed in the following essays in The College Writer: animal rights (p. 267), racial profiling (p. 295), or cloning (p. 309). If you wish, you may choose another controversial topic on which you hold an opinion and which you would enjoy researching – graduation requirements, movie ratings, school prayer, fraternities and sororities, or dress codes, etc. You may NOT choose the topic of abortion. If you want to choose a topic not taken from the text above (animal rights, racial profiling, cloning), you must be submit your proposed topic via email to the professor’s MCC address no later than Monday evening April 19. Approval or comments on this proposal will be sent back via email as quickly as possible. If you choose to use one of the topics above from College Writer, you may count the essay in the text as one of your sources. Keep in mind that this essay is a research paper and you will be expected to give sources appropriate credit and document them according to MLA guidelines as set forth in Easy Writer.

• Collect evidence from your own observations and experiences and research outside sources (NOTE: Wikipedia, answers.com, askjeeves.com and similar self-generated websites do not count as sources. When in doubt, send me a link so that I can approve of your internet source!!).

• Write a well-organized essay explaining and arguing your point of view on this topic so that you and your audience understand the subject more clearly and your audience feels better prepared to form an educated opinion on your topic. While the length should be not a syllable longer or shorter than necessary, a paper of this nature generally extends for 5-7 pages in double-spaced 12 point type. It should have a title (no title page), MLA style in-text citations, and a Works Cited page at the end. Formal, academic tone (as discussed in class and noted on previous essay feedback) is required.

Audience: You, your classmates and your professor

Purpose: Your primary purpose is to PERSUADE through the power of your argument, use of evidence and your organizational structure. Since you will become an expert of sorts, the tone – defined as the attitude you convey about the subject you are writing about – should be serious, academic, and knowledgeable. The paper should be carefully – no, obsessively – edited so that you present yourself as a college-level, educated writer.

Note: It is strongly suggested that you utilize the resources of the Writing Center and the opportunity to consult with your professor via email and during office hours as you move through the process of writing this challenging paper.

Grading: Your grade (which is 15% of your grade in this course) will be based
on how well you:
• Introduce your topic in an intriguing introductory paragraph that explains the issue, demonstrates the tone and shows audience awareness
• Articulate a thesis statement – clearly state the main point of your essay, state a claim, and map out (“blueprint”) the essay’s parts in a logical order at the end of the introductory paragraph (this is a CRUCIAL skill in this course!!!).
• Include specific evidence from your research as well as your own observations and reasoning in each body paragraph to support the paragraph’s topic sentence. Remember to maintain academic standards of formality and appropriateness – no “you,” contractions, jargon, etc.
• Address the opposing viewpoint and briefly refute it (with evidence and reasoning) in a professional, academic tone.
• Organize your ideas – arrange paragraphs in a thoughtful, logical order and connect them with transitional sentences, phrases or words.
• Conclude with a synthesis that pulls elements of the discussion together in support of the initial claim/thesis.
• Incorporate and document a minimum of four sources through properly formatted in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
• Edit, using your grammar book and the handout passed out in class