Researched Argument and Revised Researched Argument Assignments

English 1A, Fall 2004, sections #30023 and #30025 with Professor Decker

 

Part I: Researched Argument Assignment

 

Topic Approval Due Date: All research paper topics must be approved in writing by me, Professor Decker,

prior to 11/10/04. This means you need to give me a piece of paper with your planned thesis

statement and topic. I will sign it to indicate my approval of the topic and make a photocopy of the signed paper for my records. I will not accept papers on unapproved topics (0 grade).

 

Peer Review: This must be done in class on November 16, 2004. You need to bring a complete outline of

your researched argument and a typed draft to class this day. Please note the penalty for not

turning in the peer-evaluation form.

 

Writing-Center Tutorial Session: Take a draft of your researched argument to the writing Center and get

feedback from one of the tutors. You need to do this before November 18 to avoid the late

penalty. Be aware no papers will be accepted after November 30, 2004.

 

Assignment due date: November 18, 2004

 

The highest possible score for this essay is 110. The researched argument is worth 5 points of the final grade. To determine how many points towards the final grade you have earned, multiple your grade by .05; this is the number of points you have earned. Please note the following bonus and penalties apply.

 

 

Directions

            Read pages 483 to 495 and pages 569 to 576. Your assignment is to produce a researched argument paper of at least six-pages in length. The paper must use at least 6 sources, each of which you need to paraphrase, summarize, or quote in the text. Note that the paper must be between 1500 and 2250 words to avoid a penalty. In addition to these words, you will have to produce an MLA-style "Works Cited" page on which all you have entries for all the sources you paraphrase, summarize, or quote.

 

Please note: the words of the MLA-style "Works Cited" page does not count towards the required minimum of 1500 words.

 

            The first thing you need to do is work on developing a narrowed topic and some potential these statements. Please note that you must use the essay genre with formal MLA documentation, so that you cannot use the other genres recommended on page 483. Once you decided on a general topic, you need to chose a type of argument: claim of fact, claim about cause or effect, claim about value, or claim about a solution or policy. Note that because of the rather short length of this paper, it is very important that you narrow down your topic to a manageable size.

            On November 4, 2004, we will do a variation on the exercise on page 486. It would be helpful if you already had done this exercise with your topic before you arrived at class. If you have, please bring a copy of the exercise to class.

            As you prepare your outline to work from (which also must be turned in with the final version), pick on of the five basic outline forms given on pages 487 and 488 to use as the basis for your outline. I highly recommend you formulate your argument using because statements as is recommended on page 488.

On November 11, 2004, we will work on fully developing/polishing the outline and drafting up some of the paraphrases or summaries for the argument. You need to bring two sources to class that day. It is important to read these sources before class and highlight passages you might want to quote, paraphrase, or summarize. It would helpful to use three different color highlighters to indicate which one you are thinking of doing, but you could also just put a "Q," "P," or "S" next to the highlighting if that is easier for you.

The tips in the green box on page 489 are helpful to remember as you work in your source material to the outline/draft. Please carefully reread the first paragraph under "Drafting" on page 489—this is an excellent point about how to insure you write a passing paper. Time management is extremely important to successfully completing a research paper. There are some excellent tips on managing time in your textbook on pages 562-568.

We will do a peer evaluation of a full draft of the paper on November 16. You might want to do the writing-center tutor session before this date. If you wait until November 16 or 17, you might have difficulty getting an appointment or having enough time to revise.

 

Preparing the Final Copy of the Research Argument

            Place in a folder all of the following items in this order with the first item in the front:

            (1) final version of essay followed by "Works Cited" pages, all of this stapled together;

            (2) final typed version of the outline;

(3) draft of the essay with writing of peer evaluator, writing center tutor, or myself on it;

            (3) copy of the peer-evaluation form done in class on November 16, 2004;

            (4) tutor sheet from the writing center;

(5) copies or printouts of each source quoted, paraphrased, or summarized (you only need to include the relevant pages); and

(6) typed or handwritten answers to the "Postscript" exercise on page 494-495.

           

 

Please note that late papers may not be graded by December 2, 2004; thus, you risk not having feedback on your paper before the revised version is due. Only papers that have been turned in early or on the due date will be returned on December 2.

 

 

 

 

Part II: Revised Researched Argument Assignment

 

Peer Review: This must be done in class on December 2, 2004. You need to bring a complete outline of

your researched argument and a typed draft to class this day. Please note the penalty for not

turning in the peer-evaluation form.

 

Writing-Center Tutorial Session: Take a draft of your revised researched argument to the Writing Center

and get feedback from one of the tutors. You need to do this by December 6 to avoid the late

penalty. Be aware no papers will be accepted after December 14, 2004.

 

Assignment due date: December 7, 2004

 

The highest possible score for this essay is 110. The revision of the researched argument is worth 15 points of the final grade. To determine how many points towards the final grade you have earned, multiple your grade by .15; this is the number of points you have earned.

 

Directions

            Well before December 2, take a copy of the final version of your researched argument to the writing center and get a tutor's advice. Be sure to save the tutor sheet to turn in with the final version of your revision. Ideally, you will be able to revise that paper as suggested before the peer tutoring session on December 2, 2004. By this day, you should have the graded version of the researched argument back from me (as long as you did not turn it in late). Using the comments of the writing-center tutor, your peer-evaluator, and my comments on the first version, revise the paper. Feel free to come in to my office hours to consult with me on your revision. Before the due date of December 7, do the postscript exercise on page 615. You can then assemble the folder to turn in on December 7.

 

Preparation of Final Version of Revised Researched Argument

         In a folder, please place these items with the lowest number on the top:

            (1) final version of revision followed by "Works Cited" pages, all of this stapled together;

            (2) original, graded researched argument;

(3) draft of the revision with writing of peer evaluator, writing center tutor, or myself on it;

            (3) copy of the peer-evaluation form done in class on December 2, 2004;

            (4) tutor sheet from the writing center;

(5) copies or printouts of three complete articles or book chapters quoted, paraphrased, or summarized , along with any addition relevant source pages you wish to include;

(6) typed or handwritten answers to the "Postscript" exercise on page 615.