E2: Academic Research Paper
In this research paper, you will make an academic argument by researching and analyzing a topic you want to explore in depth.
Distinguishing features:
· Purpose:
o Problem-solution (cause, effect, action)
o Convince and persuade audience to take action
o Make an argument about future
· Length
o 8-10 pages
· Format
o APA (abstract/ subtitles or headings for different sections in the paper and references
· Sources
o At least 7 sources from the library databases
§ 4 scholarly journal articles/ books
· Academic search complete
· JSTOR
§ 3 credible article from other library databases
· Opposing viewpoints
· Issues and controversies
· CQ researcher
o Additional sources should be from credible sources only; no magazine, newspaper, media sources
· Topic:
o A significant topic you are curious about and want to explore in depth by applying one of the above purposes
o Also, review the “suggested topics”on page 2
· Structure
o Introduction
§ Background information and context
· Significance of the topic
· Relevancy to the current national and/ or global issues and events
· Briefly define problem, causes, consequences
· Narrative
· Quotations
· Historical account
· Compare and contrast
§ Thesis statement
· An argumentative statement: topic + argumentative claim and reasons
o Persuasive and convincing
o Problem-solution
o Argument about future
o Body paragraphs
§ Developed body paragraphs focused on one central point you intend to argue and prove
· Argumentative topic sentence
· Context
· 2 pieces of evidence: summarized and/ or paraphrase; few direct quotations
· Analysis, significance, relevancy of evidence (refer to index of template if needed)
· Concluding sentence/ transition
o Conclusion
§ Speculate about future
§ Call your readers to action
§ Reinforce any national/ global significance and relevancy
· Due dates:
o Annotated Bibliography due in drop box Tuesday, 10/23
o Thesis and outline Thursday 10/25
o Rough draft due in class Thursday 11/01
o Final draft due in drop box Tuesday, 11/06
o PowerPoint Presentations: Group I: Tuesday, 11/06
Group II: Thursday 11/08
Group III: Tuesday, 11/13
English 1302: Suggested Research topics
- Women empowerment
- Inspiring students with STEM education
- Gun violence
- Alternative energy
- Mental disorder
- PTST, ADHD, autism
- 2nd hand smoking
- Bullying/ cyber bullying
- E-cigarette
- Stem cell research
- Head trauma in football/ soccer
- Rehabilitation methods in sports (musclos keletal injury)
- Pet therapy
- Chemical in food products/ cleaning products
- Art therapy
- GMOs
- Shortage of raw materials
- Genetic abnormalities passed from one generation to another
- Stem cell treatment
- Capture and use carbon dioxide
- Chemicals that trigger allergies
- Genetic modification
- Best chemical process of microbrewery of beer
- Developing environmentally friendly plastics
- Biocomputing and big data
- Biomacromolecules
- Nanotechnology and medical application
- Diabetics control and blood sugar
- Nano technology and cancer patients
- Gene therapy
- Flu vaccine and its effectiveness
- Vaccination
- Memory loss/ dementia/ Alzheimer’s disease and treatment
- Artificial intelligence
- Drones
- Cyber attack
- Sugar regulation in food industry
- Connection between diet and life span
- Antibiotic resistance
- Which diet? Low fat? Low sugar? Low carbs?
- Space exploration
- Space junk
- Endangered animals
- Alternative economic system
- Green buildings/ energy/ products
- Offshore drilling
- Hydraulic fracking
- Robotics
- Teacher retention
- Substance abuse among teens/ youth
- Challenges faced by minorities/ firs-generation college students/ ESOL students
- Sexual harassment
- Domestic violence
- Violence against women
- Juvenile justice
- Prison reform/ alternative imprisonment
- Anorexia
- Outsourcing
- Artificial sweetener
- Performance enhancing steroids and human growth hormones (HGH)
- Big box stores
- Body image
- Clean air act
- Cloning
- Education ranking/ quality in U.S.
- DDT
- Deepwater oil drilling
- Energy efficiency
- Environmental regulation
- Freedom of speech
- Fracking
- Freedom of press
- HPV vaccine
- Pharmaceuticals
- Racial profiling
- Welfare
- Corporate corruption
- Factory farming
- Digital currency
- Food waste
- Agricultural subsidies
- Hazing
- Reproductive technology
- Renewable energy
- Biofuels
- Charter schools
- Sexting
- Child welfare
- STEM education
- Local food movement
- Millennial generation
- Deforestation
- Cyber predators
- Monopolies
- Dietary supplements
- Domestic surveillance
- Domestic violence
- Drug abuse
- Nanotechnology
- Veterans
Research paper rubric
APA format
Cover page
Font and font size
Indented and double space paragraphs
APA header and page number
Abstract
Global Concerns
Effective/ absorbing title
Introduction (background information on the problem)
Thesis: indicating the purpose of the paper
Developed, focused and argumentative paragraphs
Argumentative topic sentences
Context
Evidence (2) (few direct quotations and mostly summarized/ paraphrased evidence in APA)
Explanation/ analysis of evidence
Concluding sentence
conclusion
Argumentative and in-depth logical reasoning, explanations, analysis
Elaborating on and supporting thesis in every body paragraph with evidence, argumentative and logical supporting details, and analysis of details and evidence
Local concerns
word choice (no “wordy” phrases)
spelling, punctuation, and mechanics
No “you” and infrequent use of “I” and “be verbs”
Academic tone and conventions
APA in-text citation
References
Writing Center rough draft review
