Criteria for Research Essay
Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to synthesize outside research/sources, using MLA formatted internal citations and a works cited page, to support your thesis/opinion over your chosen topic. The goal is to find reputable and reliable sources to support your argument/claim. Remember, the topic and your claim are your choice. However, you may choose a topic from Monsters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader essays/chapters we have covered. While your topic may come from the textbook, your essay must have all of its sources come from your own research.
Skills: This assignment will support your skills in argument synthesis, research, and supporting your opinions/claims. You will be writing an essay that uses research and sources to support your ideas. This skill applies to much of your continued academic progress in many other courses. In addition, successful research is a skill that is marketable in most career fields you will enter. Your use of MLA format for citations and research presentation will be strengthened.
Knowledge: Your research will increase your knowledge over your own ideas. Those ideas may change and evolve depending on what you find in your research process. The goal is to support your opinions with logical, ethical, and emotional sources. In addition, you will be able to refute or form a rebuttal to opposing arguments, respectfully yet forcefully.
Task: Follow these steps.
1.) This essay has an option for the first step.
Option 1: Choose a topic from Monsters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader
Option 2: Choose your own topic based on your previous work and own opinions over the broad topics covered:
Artificial Intelligence-Technology
Parenting-Education
Any other broad topic from Monsters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader (Instructor, peers, and the library may help)
Be sure to get your topic approved via course mail. If you choose Option 1, please give essay titles and page number from Monsters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader of the selections you will be using.
Do not be afraid to have an opinion on the material. This is the hallmark of critical thinking and reading. Your essay allows you to support your opinion. However, you do need sources to support it.
Through research, preferably from NSCC Databases, find Four reputable sources over your chosen topic/claim.
Each of these sources must have an MLA works cited entry in your works cited page. Consult the MLA section of A Writer’s Reference for more details and examples. The “List of MLA In-Text Citations Models” and “List of MLA Works Cited Models” sections are very beneficial for creating in-text citations and correct MLA works Cited entries. Internet sources may or may not be reliable, and they may or may not have sufficient information for you to use on the Works Cited page.
To access NSCC databases, you may use the hyperlink above or go to the “Library” Home Page and proceed from “Search Collections.” Academic Search Premier, SIRS, and General One File are good databases with reliable articles.
Compose your Research Essay of at least 1200 words.
You must have at least six internal citations in MLA format
These come from your four sources. Note: if you only have four sources, you will have to use two of your sources more than once.
No matter how many times you use a source internally, the source is still represented only once in the Works Cited page.
Your thesis and support should refrain from using first person pronouns (I, my) and second person pronouns (you).
Avoid phrases like: “I think”, “I feel”, “I believe”, and “in my opinion”
Edit/proofread-Be sure sure to save your essay in a supported format; avoid saving as a Pages file.
Submit via this assignment Dropbox
