imply put, the Fact-Finding Research Essay requires you to answer a specific question (listed below); however, the question you choose cannot be answered simply and requires thorough research and explanation on your part. Typically, there is more than one possible answer or some ironic twist to the question you choose. Your job is to make a claim for the likeliest answer or a claim that identifies the irony of your question based on your research and then support that answer in the body of your essay by citing outside sources. In order to fully develop your essay, you must look for the question deeper significance, the question within the question, and then provide the necessary context (historical, biographical, informational, etc.) in order for your reader to understand the claim you are making. Dont be fooled by the seemingly simple nature of your question: the answer to every question on the list is much more complex than you know.
In order to answer your question, you must research and find at least six sources. While some of your secondary sources may be non-print sources (an Internet source, a documentary film, etc.), at least two of your six sources MUST BE print sources of some kind (a journal article; a magazine or newspaper article; a book; a report; etc.). Here is a list of sources that CANNOT be used for this assignment:
Encyclopedias of any kind (online or print versions)
Almanacs (online or print versions)
Abstracts (i.e., summaries of longer sources)
Dramatic films (i.e., films that are not documentaries)
Juvenile books (books from the Juvenile or Young Adult section of a library)
NOTE: While you may cite passages from The Bible in your essay, you should do so sparingly and only as a means of providing contextual information rather than concrete historical information. If you choose to cite from The Bible in your essay, you must still cite six other secondary sources. Keep in mind that while the Internet is a convenient way to locate sources, it is not always the best source for credible information.
In order to reach the word count for this assignment, you must include thorough background information, thorough explanations, and thorough support of your answer to your question. This assignment should consist of a developed introduction, a clearly defined thesis, focused paragraphs, and a conclusion. Not only will this assignment encourage you to practice your research skills, it will also hone your skills on MLA format. Remember that each source you use will require in-text citations and documentation.
What I’ll Be Looking For in Your Essay
Ultimately, you will need to find a minimum of six secondary sources that discuss your topic in some way. Of those six sources, at least two must be print sources of some kind (a newspaper/ magazine/journal article, a book, a government report, etc.) and the remaining sources can be any kind of credible sources (Internet sources, print sources, interviews, etc.). Here is a list of criteria I will use when grading your essay:
An interesting and informative title (Blair Handbook 202)
An introductory paragraph that establishes the voice, focus, and a controlling idea (thesis) of your essay (Blair Handbook 523-530, 67-68)
A reflection on how your research has confirmed, enhanced, or lessened your opinion on your thesis
Clear focus and smooth organization in your essay (Blair Handbook 514-517)
Specific examples from your sources and your own experience to support your claim (Blair Handbook 94-111)
Specific Examples from secondary sources (research material) to support, explain, and/or establish context for your claim (Blair Handbook 288-289, 377, 457)
Six secondary sources at least two print sources, and at least three other sources of your choice
A minimum of six direct quotes one from each secondary source
Proper MLA citation
Take the time to look up at least three of these questions. Write at least a paragraph about each topic for your pre writing. Then choose the topic you find most interesting for your essay. If you would like to choose a topic that is not listed, please contact me.
1. Was King Arthur real or a legend?
2. What was the purpose of Stonehenge?
3. Who killed President John F. Kennedy and did he act alone?
4. What happened to DB Cooper?
5. Does the Holy Grail exist?
6. How did Lord Carnarvon die?
7. What is the age of the Shroud of Turin?
8. When did Robert Leroy Parker die?
9. Where is Christopher Columbus buried?
10. What crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in July of 1947?
11. Who murdered Mary Jane Kelly on November 9, 1888?
12. How did ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen die?
13. Why does the Sphinx have no nose?
14. When was Oliver Cromwell hanged and decapitated?
15. Where is Jesse James buried?
16. What is the age of the Sphinx?
17. Who was the first black baseball player in the major leagues?
18. What caused Harry Houdini death?
19. How did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart die?
20. In Leonardo da Vinci famous painting The Last Supper who is seated immediately to Jesus right?
21. Who kidnapped Charles Lindbergh infant son?
22. How did Kurt Cobain die?
23. Who was Mary Magdalene and what was her relationship with Jesus of Nazareth?
24. What is buried on Oak Island, Nova Scotia?
25. What is The Order of Skull and Bones?
26. What was the Philadelphia Experiment that took place during WWII?
27. Where are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid buried?
28. What happened to the crew of the ship named Mary Celeste?
