Research Paper-Education
Purpose: Argumentative analysis.
Audience: Anyone.
Voice: Third person with limited first person if personal experience is applicable.
General Requirements:
*Choose one Prompt option.
*6-8 page essay (1800-2400 words) in MLA format.
*Multiple paragraph organization (see below), with a standard introduction and conclusion.
*Thesis statement that specifically states your topic and opinion (claim) and may include your reasons.
*Body paragraphs that advance the claim (opinion) that you have made, offering reasons and support based upon research.
*Organization-include the following as a minimum: Introduction, Background about the Issue-may include some historical research, Reasons that address the argument that you are making, a Point of concession (and possibly a counterargument/refutation), and Conclusion. You might consider possible solutions to the issue or what is happening regarding the issue.
*Research: 4-8 reliable sources, especially from the library catalog and databases with the requirement that 1 (one) source must be from a scholarly source (journal or scholarly book).
*Point of Concession of a single-sentences up to a full body paragraph, offering an admission to a good point made by the other side of the argument; this point of concession may be followed by a rebuttal/refutation/counterargument to argue against the point of concession.
*MLA in-text citation for all sources used, including quotes, summaries, paraphrases, facts, and statistics.
*MLA end-text citation in the form of a Works Cited page (which does not count toward the page or word count), listing all of the sources used in-text.
Prompt:
Develop a topic based on the following question:
What should American schools (pre-K-12th grade) teach that they do not teach now?
Note: This may be something that was taught in the past or that has not been taught at all (based on your research) that you think students should be learning now.
Consider the following to guide your research:
1) Find out all you can about the topic-do not wait to do this later
2) Consider the historical aspect of -what used to be taught? when? when did things change?
3) Research to find support for your position-look for reports, anecdotes, critics (be sure to recognize possible bias), etc.
4)Consider why you think this should be taught
