1320 DeVaughn Prompt Unit 3 Assignment: Addressing Issues Research Essay The Basics Format: Typed, , submitted as a word-processing document 12 point, text-weight font, 1-inch margins. Due Dates: Half-Draft June 12 Rough Draft: Jun 17 Final Due Jun 19 (see length requirement above) Overview In Unit 3, you will focus on organizing your writing and clarifying your ideas so that they are appealing to specific audience values. You have been practicing with strategies of thesis writing, using support, counterarguing, and qualifying your position. At this point, you have everything in place to begin putting your skills together to write a longer, research-based essay. Assignment research essay in which you analyze a problem of wide interest to one or more social groups and offer a specific insight, perspective, strategy, or policy that addresses the problem in ways that will move the conversation forward. In your research essay, define the problem and address its social context. What existing perspectives give relevance and urgency to the problem? Offer a novel strategy, solution, policy, perspective, or insight into the problem that you believe addresses the problem in ways that audiences will value and support. As you write, make sure that the purpose of your argument is clear and that your proposed strategy or insight addresses the possible implications of the problem that you have identified. Additionally, make sure that your

1320 DeVaughn writing shows careful attention to organization, academic conventions, and to the support you offer from outside sources. The task of writing a research essay requires students to demonstrate that they can make several moves at once. The writer must analyze a specific issue or problem in enough detail to convince an audience that the problem is relevant. The writer must also offer a specific approach or perspective that addresses the issue they identify (if not solving it outright). This approach could include a combination of evaluating, responding, finding causes, proposing solutions, or extending existing arguments In structuring the essay, the writer must give enough context to convey the relevance and urgency of the issue to one or more social groups. The writer must also acknowledge other existing perspectives and appeal to these perspectives where possible. Overall, the goal is to move the conversation about the issue forward by leaving audiences with new insights, understandings, or perspectives on the problem. The writer must also decide about form and formal conventions. Research essays typically take the form of academic arguments, which show original thinking and offer insight into issues with reference to outside research. However, alternative or additional forms for the essay may be explored with instructor permission and advice. Using evidence from reliable sources (from your annotated bibliography), the writer will support their insight into a social or cultural issue and address how their insight might have a positive effect on the way an audience perceives the problem or takes action in relation to it. The writer will make use of important skills in written communication and critical thinking, culminating in an essay that showcases their rhetorical abilities and writing processes. Objectives In this project, you will

1320 DeVaughn Present a well-researched, social or cultural issue that is relevant to the writer as well as to one or more contemporary audiences Offer a specific way of approaching the issue that addresses its controversies or problems in ways that will appeal to specific audiences. This approach could include a combination of evaluating, responding, finding causes, proposing solutions, or extending existing arguments Give enough context to convey the relevance and urgency of the issue to one or more social groups. Acknowledge other existing perspectives on the issue and appeal to these perspectives where possible. Generously represent existing approaches to the topic and perspectives that are different than your own Move the conversation about the issue forward by leaving audiences with new insights; understandings, or perspectives on the problem Choose an appropriate form and formal conventions for the essay Address how your insight might have a positive effect on the way an audience perceives the problem or takes action in relation to it. Make use of important skills in written communication and critical thinking, culminating in an essay that showcases your rhetorical abilities and writing processes. Explain insights that you have gained through careful study of the social or cultural issue in focus Offer a closer look at an interesting part of the issue that might otherwise be invisible Thoroughly consider long-term effects of the issue at stake, including consequences that affect various groups (stakeholders) involved in the issue. Use specific details drawn from close reading of texts, observed behaviors, interviews, or other evidence to support and clarify the main insights of the writing. Meet the expectations of an academic research essay in the conventions you choose of grammar, syntax, paragraph structure, and word choice.

1320 DeVaughn Follow expected academic conventions for all source material, including examples and observations. Grading This project will be worth 40% of your grade in this course.