Final Paper Due Dates Overview
Specific Instructions for these assignments related to the Final Paper will be provided separately.
Tuesday 8/3 — Topic Proposal for Final Paper
Tuesday 8/10 — Annotated Bibliography
Tuesday 8/17– Two Possible Introductions & Tentative Thesis & Final Paper Abstract
Saturday 8/21 – Rough Draft DUE for Peer Response
Monday, 8/23 – Peer Response DUE
Thursday 8/26— FINAL DRAFT Due on Canvas by 11:59 pm. I cannot accept the final draft late
under any circumstances.
Choice of Topic
The topic must relate to either ethnicity and/or gender in American culture today. I cannot grade the paper
if it does not relate to our course theme.
Format
The paper should be at least 8 pages or 2,000 – 2,500 words, double-spaced(excluding the list of works
cited). Use MLA style formatting throughout the paper.
Sources and Documentation
The paper must include a minimum of 10 (TEN) different sources, but may include as many as you
want. Each source must be effectively integrated into the text of your paper through summary, paraphrase,
or quotation.
At least five sources must be from library databases, and at least two of those five must be peer reviewed
scholarly sources. All sources must be credible.
A source can be any credible source of information, including personal interview with someone
who has experience related to the topic.
Cite your sources in the paper. Show where you have used all source information using in-text citations, or
the author’s name in the sentence.
How to Begin?
Narrow the Topic
Choose a topic from the possible topics list, or select a topic specifically related to ethnicity and/or gender
in today’s United States. Answer a question or make a claim about a specific aspect of the topic that reflects
your personal perspective, a perspective you have developed through thoughtful research. For example,
you could take a stand on whether affirmative action is appropriate in any or under certain circumstances,
decide whether the objectification of masculine and feminine beauty in the contrived images shown in
advertising has a negative effect on real life romantic relationships, or whether there are aspects in our
society where we pay lip to the ideals of diversity, but do not live by them. Focus in on whatever you have
a strong interest in, a topic you care about and would enjoy studying in depth. Just ensure your thesis
expresses a controversial of arguable aspect of your topic wherein reasonable people have conflicting
opinions.
What to Include?
Look at Both Sides and Explain Carefully
In researching your chosen issue, locate and study the arguments on both sides. Decide which arguments
you find most persuasive and take a clear position. You then present reasons, claims and evidence to
support your position. Explain why you believe the way you do. Explain more than you think you need
to. Don’t expect quotes to do the work alone. You must explain what you think your quotes mean or
indicate and explain why your audience should see it the way you do. A defining characteristic of a
research paper is that you must take a definite stand and must attempt to persuade your audience to agree
with your view.
Consider the Opposing View
Another crucial element of such an essay is that you must include an OPPOSING VIEW. This means you
anticipate possible arguments or criticisms your audience might have with your reasoning, evidence, or
explanations. You mention what their view is, explain how it opposes yours, and then go on to explain
why they are wrong. By anticipating possible criticism you deflate its power to damage your argument.
Audience and Purpose
Assume you are writing this paper for college students. The purpose of your paper is to convince those
readers to agree with your position on the controversial issue you discuss.
General Elements of an Effective Argument Research Paper
An argumentative/persuasive essay attempts to convince your audience to agree with your insights by
providing an explanation of why you have made the interpretation you have chosen. Your explanation
must include presentation of evidence you have compiled or studied which led you to your
conclusions. You should not just present this evidence, but also explain how it supports your
perspective. Generally, fewer pieces of evidence explained extensively are more persuasive than a list of
many pieces of elements left unexplained, or addressed superficially. You must also provide the reader
with answers to possible arguments they might have against your point-of-view: in other words, critique
your own view. Then, of course, you explain why you’ll stick with your original view.
The successful Argumentative/Persuasive Research Paper includes:
▪ An effective title that indicates both the subject of the paper and your perspective;
▪ An introduction that get the attention of readers and provides background information;
▪ An introduction of your topic and point-of-view
▪ A clear, argumentative thesis;
▪ A body that provides thoroughly argued reasons and evidence that support the thesis;
▪ Claims about your interpretation, and detailed specific textual and/or explanatory
evidence supporting those claims
▪ Discussion of opposing arguments. A look at least one possible opposing or opposite view,
contradicting your position accompanied by an explanation of why, in light of opposing
evidence you choose to stick with your views.
▪ An effective conclusion which expands outward to leave the reader thinking (do not
merely restate the introduction).
▪ Complete documentation of sources, both in the text and in a list of works cited, using
the MLA style;
▪ Academic tone and style (you can say “I,” and are encourage to use your experience as
evidence, but do not address the reader as “you” and do not use “I” without clear purpose,
as in “I believe I am right because…” Just say what you think, you don’t need to
announce that you believe it, or announce what are going to say.
