sultan final 1
Writing Project #4: Final Research Paper
(10-12 pages)
Due Dates
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Tuesday, 11/5: First Page (HW 13): Post and bring a hard copy to your writing group
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Thursday, 11/7: First 5 Pages (HW 14): Post and bring a hard copy to class.
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Tuesday, 11/21: Complete draft (HW 15) for peer response
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11/25-11/27: Instructor conferences
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Tuesday, 12/3: Revised 10-12 page hard copy to class—at this point, your paper should
be as finished as possible (including References/Works Cited page. Upload to Canvas.
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Thursday, 12/5: Final paper due. Submit to Canvas
Task
The research essay is the culmination of English 102. In writing an effective research essay,
you have an opportunity to implement the critical analysis tools we have discussed and put
into practice throughout the semester—particularly the abilities to summarize, analyze, and
synthesize arguments in an existing discourse. In addition, this project affords you the
opportunity to make a contribution to a larger conversation, bringing to light paths and
avenues that may have been previously overlooked. In this manner, this essay provides an
occasion to develop the effective research skills and critical thinking skills that will serve you
throughout college and beyond.
Having completed your research proposal and thesis statement, you must articulate and
explicate your ideas in a 10 to 12 page research essay. You must present an original and well-
crafted argument that explores a topic related to one of the issues we’ve been exposed to this
semester. Although
your
argument is the focus of your essay, you will enter into a
meaningful exchange with the sources you have found throughout the semester. In other
words, you will
summarize
these sources,
analyze
the efficacy of their arguments, and
synthesize
the work of others in the course of making your claims. Thus, in order to prove
that you are a legitimate participant in this conversation, you must demonstrate a thorough
knowledge of the topic
and
present a critical and unique way of thinking through it.
You should thus write an informative, persuasive paper that are grounded in a specific,
relevant research question derived from your topic of inquiry. The paper should have a clear
thesis/controlling purpose that grows out of your primary and/or secondary research. You
should provide ample research-based evidence to support all points in the essay and should
make sure that your arguments are free of logical fallacies. You should integrate all source
material to the paper with care, using summaries, paraphrases and direct quotations that are
seamlessly integrated to the text and correctly cited using MLA or APA format, including a
Works Cited or References page. You should organize the research paper in a logical manner
that makes reading easy and should make use of basic structural conventions such as a thesis
statement, transitions and topic sentences. You should carefully edit your paper to eliminate
all mechanical and grammatical problems and improve sentence-level clarity in the writing.
