This paper is a 2000-word minimum academic argument in which you develop, research, and compose an authoritative essay about your choosing. The topic must be controversial and have an opposing side.
Research Paper:
Minimum 2000 words. Academic essays differ from other types of essays in their style and intended audience-more so than their topic. The issue is how the topic is treated, to what degree of specificity and to what end. Your paper will be graded on the following criteria:
- Is the topic clearly defined and narrow enough to explore in the limited length of the paper?
- Is the essay clearly organized around a central thesis (your argument-claim plus reasons) and does it logically progress from one point to the next?
- Is there a minimum of eight sources cited from scholarly research in the Works Cited page and an In-text citation for each?
- Are the sources utilized well? Does the author place the sources in conversation with each other in order to enhance his/her own position?
- Does the essay answer the “so what” question? Why is the research conducted important? What questions does it answer?
- Is the essay free from mechanical errors (grammar, spelling, and punctuation) that distract the reader from the author’s purpose and compromise the author’s credibility?
- Is there a title on the first page and a Works Cited page at the end of the essay? Is the Works Cited page in proper MLA form? Is the paper written in proper MLA format and pages are numbered with last name before the number?
- Is there a counter argument?
- Is there a separate conclusion that provides a call to action or recalls the importance of the findings? Does it tie up the essay neatly with the major point?
MUST BE IN MLA FORMAT! BOTH WORKS CITED AND IN-TEXT CITATIONS !