Major Assignment II – Argumentative Research Essay (15%)

Due on Dec. 6th by 11:59 PM, on Canvas (no late submissions will be accepted)

1. Explore an issue of relevance

2. Learn how to analyse and assess the merits of ideas in scholarly papers (academic sources) and/or other forms of non-academic sources (e.g., government or business reports, newspapers and magazines, etc.).

3. Learn to cite and acknowledge the scholarly sources on which your arguments are grounded appropriately using MLA format.

4. Introduce you to standards of scholarly university writing by presenting a logical, well-structured argument in a concise research paper.

• Select develop an argumentative essay style essay to answer a question related to a topic of your choice.

• Your paper should be between 1200-1400 words (double spaced) excluding references.

• Your essay should have 5-7 body paragraphs, organized using the structure taught in class.

• You should be able to identify both academic and popular discussions of this issue.

• You MUST include AT LEAST 3 scholarly peer-reviewed papers (from academic journals from the AC Library Database), and AT LEAST 3 non-academic sources (i.e. general news, magazines, newspapers).

• No general information websites will be accepted.

• Your assignment is divided in several steps. Remember that all the steps are graded (either attendance grade or percentage) and you must complete all the steps to get a grade on your assignment.

• You are encouraged to visit a tutor at the Writing & Learning Centre when working on your draft for this paper. Please email me the WLC report, which they will send you after your session.

1. Essay Thesis + Annotated Bibliography (20 marks) DUE 11:59 PM Nov. 15 

The essay thesis should be one a separate page and the annotated bibliography on a separate page and should contain all six of your sources (scholarly and non-academic)

• Thesis – single sentence with supporting claims, focused and clear

• Works Cited page

• 6 well-formatted Annotated bibliography entries
 
2. Essay Outline (Attendance Grade) Due 11:59 PM Nov. 22
 
The academic argumentative essay outline should be 2-3 pages in length in KEYWORDS and should include your

• Research question

• Thesis statement (full sentence)

• Rough essay outline that indicates the major sections of the essay (paragraphs), the main argument that is further developed in each paragraph, with supporting evidence from your research. This evidence should be in MLA format, and it should also include quotations you plan to use in the final essay. All evidence should also be accompanied by an explanation/reason for how you plan to use it.

3. Essay Draft (30 marks) DUE Beginning of Class at 9:00 AM Nov. 29
 
After receiving full feedback and guidance from your instructor on your Essay Outline, you will a full draft of your essay. The draft must be:

• Approximately 1000-1200 words in length (not including the reference list)

• Typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font.

• Personal and class information on the top.

• Integrate and respond to counter-arguments and claims.

• All quotations and references must be appropriately cited in MLA format.

• Annotated bibliography – MLA style format and should include a brief summary of the article(s), along with either t your evaluation or usefulness of the article to your research. It should not be more than 150 words.

4. Essay Peer Reviews + Final Edits (Attendance Grade) Dec. 1st End of Class (12PM)
 
After receiving feedback and guidance from your instructor on your Essay Draft, you will rewrite your essay into a final draft. The final draft of the essay must be:

• Approximately 1200-1400 words in length (not including the MLA list)

• Typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font.

• Personal and class information on the top.

• Integrate and respond to counter-arguments and claims.

• All quotations and references must be appropriately cited in MLA format.

• Reference list in MLA format of academic and non-academic sources that have been consulted.
 
5. Essay Final Submission (50 marks) DUE Dec. 6th 2021 by 11:59 PM

After receiving feedback FROM ATLEAST 2 OF YOUR CLASSMATES ON YOUR ESSAY PEER REVIEW, you will rewrite your essay into a final a FINAL ESSAY SUBMISSION.

The final draft of the essay must be:

• Approximately 1200-1400 words in length (not including the MLA list)

• Typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font.

• Personal and class information on the top.

• Integrate and respond to counter-arguments and claims.

• All quotations and references must be appropriately cited in MLA format.

• Reference list in MLA format of academic and non-academic sources that have been consulted.

o Final Draft of Peer review

o Two peer reviews received on the final draft