Assignment Description

For this assignment, you will write a 6-8 page (1500 – 2000 words) research essay. The objective in developing this inquiry-based research essay is probably not like other research essays with which you may be familiar. In an inquiry-based essay, the development of a research question is the cornerstone of the essay, providing a guideline for you to follow your research wherever the information takes you. The careful formulation of a solid research question about your topic is crucial to ensure your inquiry will be effective. Once you have developed a question–and that question has been approved by your instructor–you’ll conduct research that will help you answer it.

In order to answer that question, we ask you to identify an article to serve as a model for the essay you are writing. Your essay will take on the general shape and contours of that model essay. Since each student’s model essay is unique, the essays each of you write will be different. Some essays will argue for particular positions, some will be explanatory or investigative in nature, and some will be intended to inform. Your genre’s conventions–where the thesis goes and how it’s worded, how the claim/support structure is arranged, its visual presentation, and how it concludes–will determine, but not fully dictate, the arrangement of your own essay. Genres are socially agreed up methods of arrangement, but they’re usually flexible.

Once your research question is finalized, you will look for information that will help you explore and, perhaps, answer your question. Your aim here will be to make use of the research that you discover to help you to shape your essay. To do that, you’ll need to find a variety of sources that are relevant to your topic and read them carefully enough that you’ll be able to summarize their main points for use in your essay. You’ll want to be sure that you’ve included at least one opposing point of view.

The following types of research must be incorporated into your essay:

• At least 4 scholarly sources
• At least 3 popular media sources

Sample Essays

• “A New Perspective on Gun Control” by Aristotle Aung
• “Mistaking Myths For Facts: How Parents Are Killing Their Children With One Decision” by Laura Link
• “How Safe Injection Sites are Preventing Death and Overdose” by Rivka Bar-Chaim

Short Writing Assignments

Throughout the research process, you will write several short writing assignments in various genres. These genre assignments are designed to keep your research focused, to have you reflect on the research process and your sources so that you might better analyze them, and to help you present strong ideas in your essay. Each genre assignment is designed to help you through various stages of your research.

• ESSAY #2 RESEARCH PROPOSAL- This proposal will be based on your topic exploration and initial research question. You’ll reflect on what may have inspired the desire for further inquiry, including how you came up with the question, why it might be important, and how you plan to explore the question in your research. If you can’t decide on a single question at this point, write about the top three you have in mind. We’ll work together on narrowing your focus into one final research question. You will need to include:
  
  • Your research question with some context. What is it about this question that interests you? Why is it relevant to social justice or social action?
  • A timeline; by what point will you have completed research for secondary sources?
  • A description of your audience and the name of a publication and a model essay (with a URL) for which your essay might be appropriate.
  • A bibliography of the work you have so far completed.
• ESSAY #2 REPORT ON RESEARCH IN PROGRESS: In this report, you will provide an update on your research in progress. You should provide the following information:
  • Discuss the sources you have found so far and analyze their credibility
  • Provide details about each source: how was each found, what makes it viable, and how you imagine each one effectively supporting your ideas
  • Identify a source you found while conducting your research but have discarded, and explain why you are excluding it
  • Discuss a source you are considering using, but about which you are still unsure, and explain your uncertainty
  • Identify what’s missing in your research, and speculate about information you are still seeking from additional sources

Submission

Upload a digital copy of your Final Draft as a Word file (.doc or .docx) via Blackboard.

Evaluation Rubric

CONTENT – 30%

• Does your essay follow the genre conventions of your model essay?

• Does your essay effectively answer your research question with insightful synthesis of the source information?

DEVELOPMENT – 25%

• Does your essay include at least four scholarly sources and three popular media sources?

• Are your main points well supported with sufficient (but not excessive) use of evidence?

ORGANIZATION – 20%

• Does your essay have a coherent structure?

• Are your ideas united and logically organized in a way that leads to a thought-provoking conclusion?

• Are your paragraphs focused on distinct units of thought, controlled by specific and detailed topic sentences?

• Do you implement appropriate, clear, and smooth transitions?

RESEARCH QUESTION – 10%

• Is your research question clear, focused, and complex?

  • Can it be answered too easily? Does it require research to answer?

  • Can it be disproved or is it self-evident? Does it prompt development of an argument supported by evidence? 

  • Can it be supported with factual evidence? Does it avoid speculation, subjective responses, or bias? 

  • Are there too many sources on this topic? Is the question focused on a specific topic or issue?

STYLE – 10%

• Are the sentences well-worded and well-constructed? Should some sentences be combined for clarity? Should others be broken into two or more sentences, so ideas receive proper emphasis?

• Do you use quotations citations effectively?

GRAMMAR & MECHANICS – 5%

• Have you proofread and edited your piece for grammatical and punctuation errors?

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