English 4, honors - Argument Research Paper

The purpose of this paper is to incorporate the skills you have developed throughout this course, develop new skills in research, and prepare for college-level writing assignments. For this assignment, you will:

Generate your own topic based on a controversial issue stemming from your reading of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. You can go in-depth about an issue of bio-ethics, social conditioning, technology, artificial substances and/or abuse, or individual freedom.
Make an argument about your topic. This argument must be clearly stated in a working thesis statement. All body paragraphs must be focused and organized, clearly relating back to your thesis.
Research sources appropriate to your topic, and effectively use those sources as evidence to support and prove your thesis. Although you may use articles in your reader, you must research and use at least three outside sources*. We will discuss research methods and ways to incorporate sources into your writing in class.
Cite all sources using MLA Format. Your paper must include proper parenthetical citations and a Works Cited page. We will go over MLA citation in class.

Your research paper must be 5-7 pages, typed, double-spaced, in 12 point font, and in MLA format.

*A Few Notes about Required Sources: Your sources must be reputable and reliable. Good sources include the following: newspapers (San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, etc.) magazines (Time, Newsweek, etc.) books scholarly journals from reliable data bases (e.g. Google Scholar) some websites (We will be discussing internet sources during the research workshop.)

Remember that a well-researched paper will include a variety of sources. Also remember that for academic papers, books and scholarly journals tend to provide the best information.

At least one of your sources must be a current (1998 or later) book or article from a scholarly journal.
While you are encouraged to reference primary sources (advertisements, television shows, movies, photos and other art, etc.), these can not count toward your three required sources.

Due Dates and Other Information Important for this Paper

1. Monday, February 25. You must submit your topic for approval. At this point, your topic may be broad. State in the form of a research question.
2. Monday, March 4 . Preliminary bibliography listing at least 5 sources to be consulted and/or cited in paper.
3. Friday, March 8. Short Paper Proposal and Annotated Bibliography of at least three possible sources due.
3. Thursday, March 21. First draft due. (No late first drafts accepted) You will participate in a peer revision workshop on this day. Bring copies of your submission length draft for each of your group members, and one copy for me. Failure to turn in the above will hurt your grade, and will cause you to lose valuable feedback necessary for revision.
4. Thursday, March 28. Second draft due. Turn in both drafts of your essay, along with the revision response forms your peers completed for you. Late second drafts will receive no credit.

Possible Topics/Questions for Research:

We should develop some sort [what sort?] of internet censorship. Not all free expression is protected by the First Amendment.
We should initiate a national health insurance program in the United States and model the program on successful ones used in Europe [or Canada].
We should not lower any physical requirement guidelines so that women may be admitted in the military [or fire or police departments].
Children should not be exposed to computer technology until late in the education process [which year?] because computers often distract young learners from learning the