Instructions
For this assignment, you are responsible for writing a five (5) paragraph argumentative research essay. The length should be approximately 1000 – 1250 words. You will use APA citation for this essay. This means you must have both in-text citations and a full references page. You must have four credible sources, including at least one book or journal article.
Your essay should be double spaced.
The expectation is that your topic will have academic merit and that your research will be conducted primarily through academic sources. This gives you the opportunity to write about something you are passionate about. However, this is not simply a topic paper. You must argue something in your paper. You are making a point. This point is your thesis. In addition, this thesis must be clearly and convincingly supported by research you have conducted. You will likely begin with a general topic and then start to ask questions about this topic. The answers to your questions will lead you to a viable thesis statement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS RESEARCH PAPER – COMM 2715 Instructions For this assignment, you are responsible for writing a five (5) paragraph argumentative research essay. The length should be approximately 1000 – 1250 words. You will use APA citation for this essay. This means you must have both in-text citations and a full references page. You must have four credible sources, including at least one book or journal article. Your essay should be double spaced. The expectation is that your topic will have academic merit and that your research will be conducted primarily through academic sources. This gives you the opportunity to write about something you are passionate about. However, this is not simply a topic paper. You must argue something in your paper. You are making a point. This point is your thesis. In addition, this thesis must be clearly and convincingly supported by research you have conducted. You will likely begin with a general topic and then start to ask questions about this topic. The answers to your questions will lead you to a viable thesis statement. You may choose to write on any topic except those related to religion, politics, or legalization of illegal drugs. Please be sure to review the marking rubric (below): Learning Objectives Upon completion of this module, students will be able to 1. use a range of print and electronic primary and secondary sources to gather information and ideas and to develop topics for writing 2. consolidate and synthesize information 3. analyze information and ideas 4. recognize and use responsible sources of information and ideas 5. distinguish between fact and opinion 6. use accepted forms of writing research reports 7. prepare a references page according to the APA style 8. use correct citation skills where appropriate 9. revise written work, independently and collaboratively, with a focus on accuracy of information, coherent organization, clear expression, and effective style 10. edit and proofread to produce final drafts, using the grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation conventions of standard Canadian English. Marking Rubric: A (4 points) B (3 points) C (2 points) D (1 point) E (0 points) Clearly and effectively responds to assignment (meets word count range). Response to assignment generally adequate and thorough (off by 1-5 percent of the range) Minimally responds to the assignment (off by 6-9 percent of the range). Does not respond well to assignment (off by 10-15 percent of the range). Does not meet work count range (off by more than 15 percent of the range). The introduction clearly contains topic, thesis and developing points. The introduction contains a topic and either a thesis or developing points. The introduction contains a thesis and either developing points or a topic. The introduction contains only one of the following: topic, thesis, developing points The introduction does not contain a topic, thesis or developing points. Thesis supported in body of paper by at least four relevant facts, examples, statistics and/or illustrations. Thesis supported in body of paper by at least three relevant facts, examples, statistics and/or illustrations. Thesis supported in body of paper by at least two relevant facts, examples, statistics and/or illustrations. Thesis supported in the body of the paper by just one relevant fact, examples, statistic, or illustration. The thesis is not supported. The conclusion clearly restates the topic, thesis and developing points. The conclusion restates a topic and either a thesis or developing points. The conclusion restates a thesis and either developing points or a topic. The conclusion restates one of the following: topic, thesis, developing points The conclusion does not restate a topic, thesis or developing points. There are four transition words/phrases used. There are three transition words/phrases used. There are two transition words/phrases used. There is one transition word/phrase used. There are no transition words/phrases used. Full variety of sentence structures are used correctly. There is one run-on or sentence fragment. There are two run-on or sentence fragments. There are three run-on or sentence fragments. There are four or more run-on or sentence fragments. No errors in sentence construction, usage, grammar, or mechanics. There is one grammar error. There are two grammar errors. There are three grammar errors. There are more than three grammar errors. APA in-text citation is perfectly formatted. There is one error with the APA in-text citations. There are two errors with the APA in-text citations. There are three errors with the APA in-text citations. There are more than three errors with the APA in-text citation APA references page is perfectly formatted. There is one error with the references page. There are two errors with the references page. There are three errors with references page. There are four or more errors with the references page. 2