Directions: Write a rough draft for your research paper. We will be completing a peer review where you must review at least three peers’ papers. Please be on time with your rough draft. Submit it early rather than late. Late papers will most likely not receive peer feedback. You will receive 20 points for your rough draft and up to 20 points for each peer review (80 points total).
Format: Your essay must be typed using 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and have 1-inch margins all the way around the page. Be sure to type your name, ENG 102-W03, and the assignment title at the top left of your paper. You should center a paper title after your heading. (Don’t forget to add in-text citations and a works cited page to your paper.) MLA 9 Style, double spaced; include heading, header, title, in-text citations, and Works Cited page
Length: Your essay should be three full pages. You will be penalized if you don’t have this amount.
Person: Third person (they, he, she, it). Do NOT use first or second person in this essay. Each paragraph should contain 6-10 sentences – varying sentence structure.
Required Sources: 5 – 7 (primary sources–the literature works– and secondary sources) Please note that information from sources should be used sparingly to support your original thoughts and arguments. All borrowed information should be properly cited and documented according to MLA standards. A bibliography/Works Cited page must be attached to the document, and it cannot count toward the required length.
Research Question: Of the topic selected, what is the most probable explanation for the mystery? Besides answering this question, the paper should do each of the following:
1. Provide the audience with a clear understanding of the context of this mystery.
This section of your paper should provide any historical narrative or descriiption necessary for the audience to understand the significance of this topic.
2. Compare/contrast at least three possible theories or explanations of the mystery.
This section should do more than describe each theory. It should strive to identify the author and context of each theory.
3. Argue the most plausible explanation and counterargue the remaining theories. If the answer lies between two theories, the Rogerian structureLinks to an external site. may be effectively employed.
Purpose: To inform and persuade the reader regarding the most plausible explanation of an unsolved mystery.
Organization of your document: As this assignment requires at least three-five pages of text, the paper should contain an effective introduction and end with an effective conclusion that satisfactorily explains the most probable explanation/solution to this mystery. The body should be divided into three sections according to the aforementioned items. The first section should be structured in either a narrative or descriiptive structure. The second section should be a compare/contrast section. This section should use the point-by-point method of comparison/contrast. The final section of the essay should be a classical argument. Section headings/subtitles are optional. Charts, graphs, images are also optional but no more than two visual images may be used in this paper. Additionally, visuals do NOT count toward your final page count.
Thesis: Does your paper give a clear sense of why you are writing? Does it make a claim or get your reader’s attention? Does it answer the question “so what”?
Focus and Organization: Does your paper focus clearly on your thesis, excluding what is irrelevant? Do the different parts of your paper clearly relate to each other? Does the paper make organizational sense?
Fullness: Do you develop your arguments sufficiently enough that they can be followed? Do you stay with your subject long enough that you convince your reader that you know what you are talking about?
Specifics: Do you make your argument in terms that are as specific as possible? Do you give specific grounds for your claim? Do these grounds make sense?
Mechanics and Style: How well have you edited? Are there spelling errors? Awkward sentences? Punctuation problems? Is documentation handled correctly? Does it interfere with the flow of your paper? Does your style fit your purpose? Is the voice clear? Is your diction appropriate? Are your sentences varied? Is your paper readable?
