This will be a thesis-driven writing assignment. The purpose of this assignment is not to summarize; instead, you will strive to explain, examine, challenge, and/or suggest possible solutions to a particular topic. Think of yourself as a sociologist—you want to say something interesting about the world that we live in and the people that we live with.
Ideally, you will choose a topic that you find passionate, as it will make writing this paper a more enjoyable, more profitable experience. For this assignment, you will include 2-3 outside scholarly sources in your paper to further analyze your chosen topic.
Do not waste much time summarizing what your sources are about; rather, you will aim to use your sources as a means to study your chosen topic. You will conduct outside research using the Opposing Viewpoints library database—I will demonstrate how to navigate this database during class. Direct quotes from this research will then be used to support your claims, provide context to your point of view, and add credibility to your argument. Your paper should strive to help readers better understand and appreciate your topic.
Your paper must be 1,500 total words in length.
Abstract
* An abstract is simply a brief 200-250 word summary of your paper’s argument.
* Ideally, a complete stranger can read your abstract and have a confident grasp on what your paper is looking to accomplish and how it plans on doing that.*
* Although the abstract appears on the second page, it would make most sense to write your abstract after you complete your paper. You obviously cannot summarize something that you haven’t written yet.
* Another important note: starting on the second page onward, the phrase “Running head:” is eliminated.