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Your last paper of the quarter is an argumentative (as opposed to expository) research paper. Your purpose is to propose a solution to a specific concern within our community that you identify as important to both you and your readers.
Some examples of possible concerns and solutions:
To build a sense of community and to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors, a new dog park should be built in Fircrest.
To protect intravenous drug users as well as the community, the City of Tacoma should implement a safe injection site downtown.
To encourage civic engagement and to allow for full and fair representation, Pierce County should provide transportation to voting booths for the elderly on election days.
Note that these examples each focus on a local issue. By “…within our community,” we mean Tacoma, Pierce County, the Puget Sound region, or Washington State, at most. Again, keep your focus local. This will help ensure that your topic is of interest and value to the class, and it will allow you to narrow your focus in order to dive deeper into the specific concern you raise. This does not mean that the concern is unique to our region, but it does mean that you will address the issue from a local perspective and offer local solutions.
There are almost limitless possibilities regarding what topic to pick. Choose something that interests you, and about which there is research available. Be creative. Remember that in the end, it’s “about” the writing. Make sure to write as clearly and elegantly as possible.
Research the topic in order to make yourself knowledgeable about it
Support your rationale with credible researched evidence and logical supporting arguments
Use at least one visual argument (a graph, a chart, a compelling photo)
Consider alternative points-of-view and weigh their merits in relation to your proposal
The research requirement is as follows:
Support your paper’s claims with 6-8 outside sources of information
One or more of your sources must come from our library databases (EBSCO, ProQuest, Etc.)
One or more of your sources should be a book or an e-book
If you use websites, they should be a .org, .gov, or .edu
You may include one “alternative,” creative source such as an interview, a video, an advertisement, a piece of art or literature, a sacred text, etc.
Note that, although your focus will be local and based on concerns and solutions within our community, your research need not be specific to our region. For instance, if I were writing about cleaning up polluted waters in and around Capital Lake, I could cite data that discusses how certain clean-ups occurred, and with what results, in Seattle, or Salt Lake City, or Boston, or even Geneva or Taipei. Think narrowly about your topic and broadly about sources that can help you support it.
Make sure to meet the minimum research requirement, and do not exceed the maximum allowable number of sources. Too few sources, or too few credible sources, will weaken your claims. Too many sources may cause you to lose your voice in the paper and turn it into a report. Citations should be used sparingly and should comprise no more than 15-20% of your paper. Excerpt small sections of text. Make sure to weave your quotations into your own sentences. There should be no free-standing quotations, and in a paper of this length, block quotes are not advisable. Finally, make sure to cite properly. Direct quotation is preferable. If you summarize or paraphrase, make sure to credit the source properly to avoid inadvertent plagiarism.
Additional Requirements: This paper should be 6-8 double spaced, typewritten pages (approximately 1800-2400 words), and should follow APA format for page layout and source documentation. In addition to the stated word count, include a properly formatted References page. Use a Times New Roman twelve point font and craft a thematic title.
GRADING CRITERIA (for a total of 100 points):
Essay proposes a solution to a specific problem within our community – up to 20 points
Argument is supported by 6-8 sources of credible research and evidence – up to 20 points
Paragraphs are carefully organized and they flow well – up to 20 points
Sentences are clear, concise, and grammatically correct, with attention paid to the mechanics of writing – up to 20 points
Sources are properly cited both in text and in a References page – up to 15 points
APA Format is adhered to throughout – up to 5 points
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