Conduct academic research drawing from multiple sources in multiple media. ❏ Rea

Conduct academic research drawing from multiple sources in multiple media.
❏ Read texts in a variety of disciplines and genres, using critical reading strategies.
❏ Defend a position in relation to the range of ideas surrounding a topic.
❏ Construct a logically supported argument.
❏ Demonstrate knowledge of writing as a process, including consideration of peer and instructor
feedback, from initial draft to final revision.
❏ Demonstrate control over organization and sentence construction.
Readings & Resources
They Say / I Say
MLA Style Resources from the Purdue Online Writing Lab
Purpose & Task
The culmination of our semester-long reading and discussion of censorship in America is the final research
essay. This writing project will demonstrate your ability to contribute original argumentation, grounded in
research and carefully supported in logical reasoning, to ongoing conversations in academic communities.
Your final research essay should take an arguable position in relation to the topic you’ve selected. Your paper
will present a thesis statement in relation to this topic and body paragraphs that support that position through
logical organization, presentation of evidence, consideration of counterarguments, and thoughtful
argumentation. Your final research paper should be 8-10 pages long and must include the following
components:
1) An introductory paragraph that provides necessary context for a general audience reader to enter the
conversation with you about your topic.
2) A thesis statement that presents a compelling and arguable position in relation to the topic of research.
3) Body paragraphs that further the argument through careful argumentation. These paragraphs should
include clear topic sentences that signal back to the central argument of your essay and concluding
sentences that signal forward to the continuation of your argument.
4) Presentation of evidence that includes a minimum of seven sources over the course of the entire essay.
Each body paragraph must incorporate a minimum of two sources. Each source must be accompanied
by appropriate in-text citation.
5) At least one body paragraph dedicated to considering and responding to sophisticated
counterarguments that might arise in relation to your thesis
6) A concluding paragraph that summarizes and restates the main points of your argument and indicates
the significance of your position and/or the potential need for continued research.
7) A Works Cited page that includes every source referenced in your essay.
Evaluation Criteria
A successful research essay will:
❏ Reflect thoughtful research into a specific topic in relation to the course theme and present an original,
arguable thesis in relation to that topic
❏ Include a minimum of seven reliable sources in support of its thesis, drawing from peer-reviewed
articles, books, and primary sources
❏ Acknowledge the nuance of the topic by considering and responding to counter argumentation
❏ Utilize crystal clear organization through the use of topic sentences and concluding sentences to
further its argumentation
❏ Include an appropriate formatted Works Cited page and in-text citations in MLA format
❏ Demonstrate careful control of language and sentence-level mechanics