Contemporary Issues Research Essay /English
Essay #3: Contemporary Issues Research Essay
Choose a contemporary issue which you can explore in a research essay. The contemporary issue you choose should have appropriate depth and scope.
Supplies: folder in which to submit: (1) printouts of all sources (2) rough draft (3) final draft (see tab above for information on folder)
Length: 5 pages minimum, not including the works cited page
Format: double-space; MLA formatting required (LB Brief pg. 488 or pg. 468)
Point of View: Third person perspective (no first or second person)
Objectives: Identify a topic of appropriate length and scope
Explore databases for academically sound, peer-reviewed journal articles
Construct a well-organized, clear academic essay with a thesis statement
Use of direct quotations (with proper MLA citations) to support the thesis
Sources: 4 peer-reviewed journal articles OR
3 peer-reviewed journal articles and one outside website, which ends in .gov .edu or .org
Resources: You may use articles from the academic databases (located under the blue “Find Articles” tab) available on the WTCC Library website. ProQuest Central and JSTOR are highly recommended. Please see the “Collecting Sources” folder for more information.
Possible approaches to your topic include:
Banned Topics:
Points to consider:
Title (5%)
· Specific to the topic · Previews the content of the essay · Does not contain grammatical errors |
Reflective Writing (5%)
· Completed in class on the essay due date · Responds to all five of the assigned questions · Does not contain glaring grammatical errors |
Introduction (10%)
· Introduce the issue with thoughtful background information · Previews the organization of the essay · Written in the third person · Does not contain critiques/commentary |
Thesis Statement (10%)
· Insightful · Identifies the contemporary issue · Indicates the significance of that issue · Is not an “announcement” statement · Is grammatically sound |
Body Paragraphs (30%)
· Clear organizational pattern following the chosen approach (i.e. problem/solution, cause/effect, two-sided argument) · Sources are introduced as they are used (with full title, author’s names, and journal title) · Use of transitional expressions to navigate the reader through the issue · Topic sentences clearly preview the content of the paragraph · Written in the third person · Contains direct quotations with in-text citations serving as evidence |
Conclusion (10%)
|
Style & Grammar (30%)
· Lapses in academically appropriate language & tone · Diction / word choice · Run-ons/Comma Splices/Fragments · Agreement Problems · Use of first person (I, me, we) · Use of second person (you) · Problems with MLA formatting · Absence of and/or problems with in-text citations and/or works cited entries |
Late Point Deduction (if applicable)
|
Project does not have any attached files