Why is this assignment important?

This assignment gives you experience in writing an essay that proposes solutions to a problem. It also gives you experience documenting sources following MLA guidelines. Finally, this assignment gives you experience writing a longer, more detailed essay compared to previous writing assignments. (See the “How should you format the essay?” section for more details.)

What should you do before writing the essay?

• Read Chapter 18 “‘Here’s What I Recommend:’ Making a Proposal’” (pages 370-404 in Everyone’s an Author with Readings, 4^th edition). The “Writing a Proposal/A Roadmap” section of this chapter (391-95) may be helpful.
  
  

• Choose a specific problem to write about for this essay. In the essay, you need to explain this problem, and you also need to propose solutions to the problem.
  
  Use the Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints Database available through the Lone Star College Library website to find a problem to write about. This database helps you find topics you might be interested in writing about. (You will also be assigned to use this database for a daily assignment.)
  
  Click on the following link to go directly to the Opposing Viewpoints database: Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints

(https://go-gale-com.lscsproxy2.lonestar.edu/ps/start.do?p=OVIC&u=nhmccd_main).

(You can also access this database and other research databases by going to the Lone Star College Library home page at the following address: LSCS Libraries (https://www.lonestar.edu/library/index.htm). Then, click on “Research Databases,” choose “Current Issues and News,” and then click on “Articles” to find Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints.)

*Note: to enter the database, you either need to type the barcode on the back of your student ID card or enter your Lone Star College username and password (the same username and password you use to log into D2L).

• Read as much as you can about the topic you have chosen for this essay. Find sources by searching databases. Do not find your sources in the regular Google search engine!

What is the topic for this essay?

Write a Proposal Essay that

1.) explains the problem you have chosen to write about,

2.) recommends a solution or solutions to this problem, and

3.) quotes from and/or uses evidence from at least four (4) sources you have found through academic research databases. Do not use the regular Google search engine to find sources!

(See the “What Are Appropriate Sources. . .” and “Citing the Sources. . .” sections below for help.)

What Are Appropriate Sources to Use in This Research Paper?

• Articles or essays written by experts in the subject area you are writing about. (These experts are usually professors or scientists at universities, but where the experts work can vary depending on the topic you are writing about.)
  
  

• The most reliable sources are “peer reviewed.” Peer-reviewed articles are checked by a committee of experts to ensure the information is correct and effectively researched. (If a database provides the option to refine your search, it is usually possible to limit your search results to only receive peer-reviewed articles.)
  
  

• Books are also acceptable (and databases sometimes provide eBooks). However, we have limited time for this assignment. If you find a book you think may be helpful, browse through the chapters that appear to focus on your topic. Do not feel obligated to read the entire book!
  
  

• Use sources found by searching in academic research databases, not Google.com. (Databases do a better job providing you with sources written by experts and sources that are peer reviewed.)

• You can access academic research databases by going to the Lone Star College Library home page at the following address: LSCS Libraries (https://www.lonestar.edu/library/index.htm). Then, click on “Research Databases” and begin searching through the broad subject categories.
  
  

*Remember, to enter the database, you either need to type the barcode on the back of your student ID card or enter your Lone Star College username and password (the same username and password you use to log into D2L).

• The Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints Database is a research database that can provide useful sources, so it is more than just a place to find your topic.

• Academic Search Complete is an excellent database that focuses on all major subject areas. You can find it near the top of the full list of databases Lone Star College subscribes to.
  
  

• Google Scholar is another good option. This research database was created by Google, but it is not the regular Internet search engine. This Google product focuses on providing sources written by experts in all major subject areas. Google Scholar can be accessed at the following address: scholar.google.com. (No login is required to search in this database.)

Citing the Sources in Your Research Paper

• Once again, your essay should contain in-text citations whenever you quote or use information from the sources. See “In-text Documentation” in Chapter 30 starting on page 573.
  
  Examples #1-4 in this section of Chapter 30 should cover most of the situations you might encounter as you find sources. If a source does not have page numbers, see Example #16 “Work Without Page Numbers,” in the “In-text Documentation” section (page 578).
  
  

• Your essay also needs to have a works cited page containing the full details about the sources you quote from or refer to in your paper. For an explanation of the core elements of a works cited page, see “List of Works Cited” in Chapter 30 beginning on page 579 of the textbook. For a sample works cited, see the sample research paper provided near the end of this chapter.
  
  

  • For articles you find in databases, follow Example #11 “Article Accessed Through a Database,” page 589 in the “List of Works Cited” section of Chapter 30.

  • Don’t forget to use the citation tool available in most research databases! (You can usually find a citation link or icon when you open a source within a database. The citation link typically provides the citation for the source in different research paper formats. Highlight and copy the MLA citation provided within the tool.)

  • Have you found a source written by more than one author? See examples #2 “Two Authors” and #3 “Three or More Authors,” pages 583-584 in the “List of Works Cited” section in Chapter 30 for guidance on how to handle multiple author names.

Who is your pretend audience for this essay? (Who are you writing for?)

Write this essay for someone who knows nothing about this problem. Provide plenty of explanations for this kind of reader!

Please do not use slang words (y’all, coz, nowadays, etc.) because some readers may not be familiar with these words. (If you decide it is necessary to use a slang word, you may need to explain to your reader what the word means.)

Also, do not use inappropriate language or words that might offend someone within your audience.

How should you turn in the essay?

By the deadline, turn in your essay using the designated drop box that will be available on the Content page of the course.

How should you format the essay? What is the length requirement?

• Your essay should follow the MLA format guidelines. (See the information above.)

• The font (or letter size and style) should be set to Times New Roman and size 12.

• The entire essay (even the heading on the first page) should be double-spaced.

• The essay should be at least six pages long, not counting the works cited page. It may, of course, be longer. (In other words, if your essay meets the minimum length requirement, the essay itself will end at the bottom of page 6 and the works cited will be on page 7.)

How will this essay be graded?

See the “How will I grade your essays?” section of the course syllabus for information on what I look for when I grade essays.