Argumentative Research Paper
Length: 4 – 5 pages (not including works cited)
Sources: 5
Topic: Choose a controversial issue and write an argumentative that persuades a logical reader that your stance is most effective. (Reference the “Argumentative Essentials” notes about topics, style, and content)
Requirements: You should use Aiken Technical College’s library as a vital resource.
1) You will need a minimum of five sources.
2) You will need a minimum of two journals articles and they must be refereed (scholarly). As you search EBSCO, remember to check the box for full text and peer reviewed.
3) Also, you may use no more than one internet source. An internet source, for this class, is considered to be a source that can only be accessed online. Archiving an article from the Augusta Chronicle is not considered an internet source because there is a physical copy of that article in print. Keep that in mind as you may find a majority of your sources on the internet.
4) Your sources may date no further back than seven years. Research should be current and progressive. This does not mean that you may not use information that precedes seven years; it simply implies that the source should not be dated.
5) You may also use books, magazine and newspaper articles, and text rendered from video material.
6) Only a body and works cited page is needed. You do not need a title page.
7) The four-page requirement does not include the works cited page.
8) Font will be 12-point and margins will be one inch all around.
Penalties:
1)Ten points will be deducted every day a paper is late.
2) Five points will be deducted for every page or source under the minimum required. (Ex. Fifteen points will be lost if the essay is three pages with three sources.)
3)Twenty points will be deducted if the format does not follow the MLA standard. For example, if your source heading reads References instead of Work Cited, it illustrates that you are utilizing APA.
4) The essay will receive an automatic failing grade if no in-text documentation is used. Remember, you should credit the author whenever you use information that does not belong to you. Avoid dominating any paragraph with a single source.
5)The essay will receive an automatic failing grade if no work cited page is offered.
Note:Avoid relying heavily on direct quotes. It is vital that we use quotes but the essay should not be overrun with them. Instead, paraphrase unless you cannot say the idea equally or better or if you feel the impact of the statement would be compromised if paraphrased. When paraphrasing, keep the meaning of the idea in tact. Do not misconstrue or alter the author’s statement through interpretation.
More grading standards:
A successful paper will have satisfied the following criteria:
1) Well developed opening material engages the reader;
2) A clearly stated thesis is advanced;
3)The first person perspective is avoided;
4) A sound method of organization is utilized;
5)Several supporting points are offered and proven;
6)Specific references to the literary work is offered;
7)All supporting evidence is relevant to the thesis;
8) Repetition is avoided;
9)Generalizations are avoided;
10) Sentences and paragraphs are coherent;
11) Sentence structure is balanced;
12)Sentence errors such as fragments, fused sentences, comma splices, misspellings, pronoun misusage, and subject-verb disagreements are avoided;
13) And all retrieved information is documented in the body when it is used and cited in the works cited page (Plagiarism will result in an automatic zero.)