The Editorial Essay/Research Paper is an argumentative essay that is supported with research and documentation. It addresses a controversial issue. The goal of the editorial essay/research paper is to practice writing persuasive prose, develop your analytical reasoning and hone your research skills.
Your essay should be a minimum of five pages in length. There is no penalty for going beyond the minimum length. Your paper must include all endnotes, as outlined below, as well as a Works Cited Page, all in proper MLA format.
Your paper must include research from four scholarly peer-reviewed sources from academic and/or professional journals and/or books. You may also want to use one or more primary sources as additional research sources, if applicable. .Primary sources will be used over and beyond the required four journal articles and/or books. Depending on your thesis, such primary sources can provide good evidence for your paper. Ideally, these sources may provide you with both background material concerning your issue and evidence as you support your topic sentences. You will not use newspapers, magazines or online blogs.
In using your academic research, you will include six direct quotes from your chosen publications.. You may want to paraphrase when and where that seems appropriate. These six references must be included in your discussion, under your topic sentences. You should have at least two references from your sources for each topic sentence.
You may also want to include a direct quote in your opening paragraph that you believe really hits home concerning your thesis. You may do the same in your final conclusion – as you solidify your discussion. By using sources that directly support your thesis, you will have a great deal of content to choose from.
Your essay must conform to the MLA style Sheet which can be found in the Little Seagull Handbook Of course, your essay must contain the proper heading and the page number must appear on every page.
Your essay must include a Works Cited Page – we have discussed this extensively in class and at this point you should be clear on the format for this page. You must also include in-text citations in MLA format – again, we have been working on the proper format for such citations and will continue to do so going forward. Examples can be found, of course, in your Little Seagull Handbook.
Please note: Although this assignment will demonstrate your opinion concerning an issue, please make every attempt to present an argument that works to avoid logical fallacies and assumptions. Arguments that are based on verifiable facts are convincing. Arguments that contain obvious and unsubstantiated biases will detract from your reader’s willingness to trust your authority.
ESSAY OUTLINE
Please structure your essay as follows. Please make sure that you include all of the following components, as endnotes, in your essay:
1.Pretext – a recent article or story or event that made you think about the topic
2.Issue– what is the big issue you are addressing?
3.Context– the background; what is the short history behind the issue
4.Your Thesis – This is your claim.
5.Other views– what are the sides of the argument? (Complicating your issue) There may be more than one opposing view.
6.Concession – used to establish objectivity (Giving validity to some point or points on the opposite side.)
7.Turn – the pivot, turning away from the opposing argument to your own, expressing what you want to argue. Refuting the Other Side.
8.Thesis of YOUR Paper (Nut)
9.TOPIC SENTENCE – Argument 1 – Summary and Analysis
10.Evidence for Argument 1 (Research from a Scholarly Source) and specific page numbers
11.Evidence for Argument 1 (Research from a Scholarly Source) and specific page numbers
12.TOPIC SENTENCE – Argument 2 – Summary and Analysis
13.Evidence for Argument 2 (Research from a Scholarly Source) and specific page numbers
14.Evidence for Argument 2 (Research from a Scholarly Source) and specific page numbers
15.TOPIC SENTENCE – Argument 3 – Summary and Analysis
16.Evidence for Argument 3 (Research from a Scholarly Source) and specific page numbers
17.Evidence for Argument 3 (Research from a Scholarly Source) and specific page numbers
18.A synthesis of the Evidence – At least two paragraphs in which you synthesize what you have learned through your research sources
19.A Restatement of your Thesis
20.Further comment on the ways in which your viewpoint will effect the world at large
21.A Call to Action
22.Conclusion
I will not accept any papers that do not include the exact page numbers for each research citation. Although you may have read the entire article or chapter, you must cite the specific page number or numbers used for your direct quotes or paraphrased material.
Under each Topic Sentence (argument) your evidence must include information from an academic or scholarly source (Peer-Reviewed) as support for your statements. You should have no less than two references from each academic source, one may be a paraphrase of the author, but at least one MUST BE A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE AUTHOR. Of course you can also include evidence from primary sources and documents.
Endnotes 1- 4 should make up your first paragraph.
Endnotes 19-22 should make up your final paragraph.
Please base my essay on the sources attached. The essay should be about the topic of Breastfeeding vs formula feeding, and the benefits of breastfeeding over formula feeding.
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