GUIDELINES:
The essay should be submitted in APA style; see the APA tab in A
Writer’s Reference.
Length should be approximately 1,000-1,250 words
REQUIRED SOURCES:
Students must include five sources:
At least two scholarly sources
At least two credible internet sources
At least one newspaper
At least one of the above must be a counterargument
Your data-collection/empirical research (does not go on reference
page)
NOTE: If you include a source on the Reference page, it MUST be
used in the paper!!!
Writing Prompt
For this assignment, continue to develop your topic that is reflected
in a live-action Disney film. This is an argumentative research paper,
which means that you will read about/research an issue and then
develop and argue a position on that issue. This is NOT a report. The
purpose of this paper is not to simply inform, but rather to develop an
argumentative stance on an issue and support it with evidence. Be
sure that your topic is sufficiently focused and narrow. Big, broad
topics will result in unfocused, generalized papers.
Organization
***Note: Please include a title page; abstract; and
reference page. An abstract is a summary of
YOUR essay.
INTRODUCTION
The introduction should interest your readers in the question you
are addressing. The introduction should include four distinct
movements:
Writers should include a lead paragraph that captures readers’
attention;
Writers should introduce the general topic;
Writers should provide readers with some historical background or
context of their topic;
Writers should transition to or identify a problem or complication;
In the last sentence, writers should clearly state a thesis, their
stance on a debatable, manageable question using one of the
thesis models provided.
SUMMARY OF OPPOSING POSITION
Students must summarize their opposition’s position in a fair and
reasonable way.
Students must identify at least two to three groups of people who
disagrees with them and offer their reason for their position using
fair and honest language.
Include reference to at least one source here.
In the last sentence, state the limitations of their position.
SUPPORT AND EVIDENCE
BODY PARAGRAPH ONE:
Present your first reason for your position in a clear topic
sentence. This reason must support the thesis statement.
Provide a minimum of two to three pieces of sound evidence
to support your first reason.
Use transitions to smoothly integrate evidence and follow-up
evidence with explanation.
The first time you use a source, signal the author’s name, his/
her credentials, and the title of the work from which you are
quoting.
Writers must cite ideas, summaries, paraphrases, and exact
language. Writers must incorporate a parenthetical citation.
Writers must follow-up evidence and explain how the
evidence supports the topic sentence.
Body paragraphs must be well-developed (sufficient
evidence), unified (one main idea), and coherent (language
use).
Body paragraphs must have closing sentences.
Follow APA for proper in-text citations.
BODY PARAGRAPH TWO:
Present your second reason for your position in a clear topic
sentence. This reason must support the thesis statement.
Follow prompts from paragraph one.’
BODY PARAGRAPH THREE:
Present your third reason for your position in a clear topic
sentence. This reason must support the thesis statement.
Follow prompts from paragraph one.
CONCLUSION
The closing paragraph addresses the “so what” question.
In this paragraph, writers should state why their position is better
than their opposition’s.
Writers might consider the consequences of not taking action.
Writers should discuss the broader implications of their research
and call their audience to action.
Surface Language
Because this is an academic essay, maintain a formal tone.
You must use the third person point of view throughout the
essay. No 1st (I) or 2nd (you) person.
When you refer to the author, use his/her last name and stay in the
past tense. (Turkle claimed. . . )
Be concise; make every word count
