English 102 Researched Argumentative Essay Assignment Description Now that you’ve researched your topic and prepared an annotated bibliography, you must take what you’ve learned about your topic and write a 1000–1200 word formal researched argumentative essay that makes an argument about that same topic. You may argue for, against, or somewhere in-between—but make sure to take a clear position on the topic. A strong researched argumentative essay must include a supportable and specific thesis statement with supportable and specific subpoints as well as high-quality supporting evidence. This is your argument essay and that means that the focus should be on your ideas, commentary, and arguments. The sources should support your claims, but they should not “overwhelm” the essay. This is a short essay, so avoid block quoting. An essay that is mostly someone else’s ideas is more like a summary or literature review than an argumentative essay. The essay must include at least four sources, but should not exceed more than 10 sources altogether. Two of the sources must be scholarly, peer-reviewed, high-quality, and relevant. The remaining sources must be high-quality, credible, and relevant, though they do not necessarily have to be peer-reviewed. For instance, you may use sources from respected magazines, student theses/dissertations, and government websites. Remember, this essay is Canadian focused: you must include at least two sources that are Canadian focused. The other sources you use may have general information that support your argument. You may use the same sources you used for the annotated bibliography as long as they meet the research requirements. It’s also acceptable and encouraged to use sources that argue both for and against your perspective. The strongest argumentative essays acknowledge and rebut counterarguments. This assignment is a lot of work, so it’s best to start well before the deadline. If you run into trouble, please consider meeting with me during office hours. Please also note that MacEwan offers editing support through the Writing Centre. Please follow the link for more information: https://libguides.macewan.ca/WLS. Assignment Requirements For this essay, you must do the following: Write a 1000-1200 word argumentative essay on the same topic you selected for the annotated bibliography assignment; Organize your essay in a format that makes sense for your thesis and your essay; Cite your sources correctly in MLA format, including in-text citations and a works cited page; Meet the research requirements; Page 2 of 2 Submit your completed essay via Mêskanâs. Grading This essay is graded holistically according to the guidelines outlined on the Essay Grading Guide. Please refer to the Essay Grading Guide available under Assignments, Instructions, Rubrics on Mêskanâs. Please note that the word count requirement for this assignment excludes the title and works cited information. That is, you must write at least 1000-1200 words not including the works cited page and title information. ***By submitting this assignment, you agree that you have adhered to MacEwan’s Academic Integrity Policy.***
