Research Paper: A Problem in Your Community (and Its Solution)
Project Requirements
1750-2000 words (7-8 pages, not including Works Cited page, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt)
Final draft due on Canvas by 12/11. The final draft is worth 20% of the overall course grade.
In ENGWR 80, there will be required prewriting assignments due along the way to help you toward the final draft. And, this semester, I am also planning for essay #2 (effects), #3 (causes), and #4 (contrast) to help you with the research paper, too! (It's a process, remember?)
These smaller mini-assignments for the research paper belong to a category in the 80 gradebook for "Research Paper Prewriting," worth 15% of the course grade for 80. Those assignments are:
- RP Assign #1: Brainstorming and topic idea, due 10/23
- RP Assign #2: Annotated sources list, due 11/6
- RP Assign #3: Outline and thesis statement, due 11/20
The Prompt
Identify a meaningful problem faced by people in your community, investigate the background and causes of the problem, and compare potential solutions in order to advocate for what you determine is the best solution. Your topic and, later, your thesis must be approved by me in advance as being appropriate for the project.
- You must define the problem, show your readers the scope of the problem, and explain who/what is affected by the problem, how they are affected, and why they are affected. You must ultimately say, based on your research, how you think the problem should be solved and why it’s the best solution. (This is where you're asserting your opinion.) To do this, you must cite evidence from quality sources to convince your readers why the problem is serious and worthy of their attention.
- For the purpose of this project, you are free to interpret “your community” in any way you wish. For example, you might choose to explore a problem faced by students in our campus community (Sacramento City College or the community college system in general), your geographic community (your neighborhood or city), or your cultural community (LGBTQ+, Latinx, people with your same profession or interests, etc.).
Required Sources
You need at least 8 sources in the end, but they should be of at least these four different types of research sources:
- One article from a newspaper or magazine
- One video (from YouTube or other)
- One article from an academic journal
- One book