Research paper writing

APA Style Points 1. All ideas that are not your original thoughts must have in-text citations giving credit to the author and a reference list entry. 2. Use a balance of direct quotes and paraphrasing. Paraphrasing demonstrates understanding and assessment of information and strengthens an argument. You must include in-text Citations are needed for paraphrased information as you would for a quote. 3. Quoting matters: a. Do not begin or end a paragraph with a direct quotation or a paraphrase. Remember, you are the writer, and you are making a point. Quotes merely support the point(s) that you are making. b. Avoid "dropped quotes." Introduce all quotes and paraphrases with a signal phrase. c. Block indent quotes that are 40 words or more (should be used minimally). 4. Evidence should come from quality sources such as peer-reviewed journals, books, and scholarly or government websites. No: Wikipedia, blogs, or commercial websites (.coms). It is an eight - to nine-page research writing.

Topic: Life-long learning for the 21^st century

Thesis statement:

Adult learners must engage in lifelong learning to maintain the skills needed to keep up with technological breakthroughs, adapt to demographic changes, and modify their career and personal lives.

Below is the prepared outline for the research paper. Please follow this outline in drafting the essay. The instructors use Safe Assignment to detect plagiarism; I would appreciate it if you didn't use AI. Your draft must follow the order presented in the working outline. In the Outline, the instructor gave the students examples to follow in outlining. Do not mistake the instructor's example for the student outline. Thanks.

Working Outline

BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE -Save this document with a new name that follows this format: Student First Name WO (Ex. Bob WO.docx)

Take this assignment seriously. It will help you not only to organize your work, but it will allow you to break it down into smaller, manageable pieces. As you type in the tables below, they will expand to accommodate your text.

*Examples are shown using a topic different from those available for your paper. Use the examples as a guide, but complete all charts with YOUR approved topic!

1. Write a working thesis statement.

An argumentative piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim.

In other words, the thesis must be something people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your view is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact, then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Working Thesis Statement:

EXAMPLE: Physician-assisted suicide must be legal for patients dying from a terminal illness.

Write your thesis below, following the example:

Adult learners must engage in lifelong learning to maintain the skills needed to keep up.

1. List your claims or the evidence that supports your thesis.

You don't need complete sentences for this list. Eventually, these claims will become part of your preview statement.

	EXAMPLE
Claim #1	Eliminate suffering
Claim #2	Prevent being a financial burden on family and loved ones
Claim #3	The right to die with dignity

	Complete this table with your claims, following the example.
Claim #1	Technological breakthrough
Claim #2	Adapt to demographic changes
Claim #3	Modifiy their career and personal lives

Now combine your thesis and preview into one or two cohesive sentences in the box below this example.

Physician-assisted suicide must be legal for patients dying from a terminal illness because it can eliminate suffering, prevent them from being a financial burden on family and loved ones, and people have the right to die with dignity.

Adult learners must engage in lifelong learning to maintain the skills needed to keep up with technological breakthroughs, adapt to demographic changes, and modify their career and personal lives.

1. Background Information.

Begin listing information your reader will need to know to understand the topic. This might include definitions, historical context, current events that have a bearing on your point of view, or other information. Be specific about what you need to include.

EXAMPLE
Broad Ideas (These are just suggestions)	Specific
Definitions	Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide - definitions - how are they different?
Historical Information	What is the history of PAS in America? Dr. Kevorkian Death with Dignity Act States where PAS is legal
Current Events	California amends the End of Life Options Act, adding essential changes to improve patient access.
Other	International support for PAS Humanitarian? Ethical considerations? Religious views?
Add as many rows as you need.

Complete this chart following the example. Your essay needs 1 or 2 paragraphs of background information.
Broad Ideas
Definitions	Lifelong learning Technological advancements Demographic changes
Historical Information	Evolution of lifelong learning Technological milestones impacting education
Current Events	Recent trends in online education Changes in workforce demographics
Other	Ethical considerations Policy changes and government support for adult education
Add as many rows as you need.

1. The next step is to narrow down your claims.

Write each claim as a topic sentence. Explain it in your own words. Provide support for your claim through research and examples. Show how the evidence supports the claim, and write an ending thought and conclusion. You will turn this information into paragraphs for your paper, so be specific.

Claim EXAMPLE
Topic Sentence:	One reason physician-assisted suicide should be legal in the United States is to eliminate suffering for people dying from terminal illnesses.
Discussion of Claim:	Most people agree that terminating the lives of injured and dying animals is the right thing to do to end unnecessary suffering. Yet this option is considered controversial for human beings.
List Evidence/Support:	In the article "The Unbearable Burden of Suffering," Courtney Campbell (2019) argues, "If suffering is fundamentally comprised of a threat to self-identity and self-integrity, whether through the experience of pain or diminished capacities, then 'severe' suffering must entail a qualitative difference to this threat that makes it distinguishable from experiences of more 'ordinary' suffering" (p. 46).
Show how the evidence supports your claim:	In other words, Campbell recognizes that suffering eligible for physician-assisted suicide must be unlike any other suffering. This experience must be so significant that it alters a person's perception of who they are and what they value. Suffering that is so significant that it changes the essence of a person must be considered worthy of triggering the right to physician-assisted suicide, should the patient request it.
Concluding thoughts:	Human beings can determine whether their pain meets the threshold necessary for permanent relief, and it is essential to uphold this right to self-determination under such circumstances. Eliminating suffering for all living beings is ethical and humane.

Following the example, complete these tables with the claims you listed in exercise #2.

Claim #1
Topic Sentence:	Enhancing technological adaptability is crucial for adult learners to stay relevant in an ever-evolving landscape.
Discussion of Claim:	Technological breakthroughs are altering sectors, requiring workers to stay relevant.
List Evidence/Support:	According to Jarvis (2018), adapting to technological advances requires ongoing learning. Medveckis, Pigozne, and Tomsons (2021) emphasize the need for digital literacy for employability.
Show how the evidence supports your claim:	These sources highlight the importance of lifelong learning for remaining competitive in a technology-driven economy.
Concluding thoughts:	Why Embracing lifelong learning helps adult learners navigate and utilize new technology efficiently.

Claim #2
Topic Sentence:	Lifelong learning helps individuals adjust to shifting workplace demographics.
Discussion of Claim:	Continuous education promotes inclusion and intergenerational collaboration among an aging workforce and increasing diversity.
List Evidence/Support:	Knapper & Cropley (2020) explore the importance of lifelong learning in meeting the requirements of an aging population. Seevaratnam, Gannaway, and Lodge (2023) underline the significance of flexibility in varied workplaces.
Show how the evidence supports your claim:	These studies show how lifelong learning efforts can help people adapt to and prosper in a varied and changing workforce.
Concluding thoughts:	Promoting lifelong learning can help society handle demographic shifts and foster collaborative work settings

Claim #3
Topic Sentence:	Lifelong learning is essential for personal and professional development.
Discussion of Claim:	Continuous education improves career chances, personal life, and satisfaction.
List Evidence/Support:	Merrill (2019) emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning for personal fulfillment and job progress. According to Siracusa and Boichuk (2021), lifelong learning improves job satisfaction and mental well-being.
Show how the evidence supports your claim:	Evidence from these sources highlights the numerous advantages of lifelong learning for personal and professional development.
Concluding thoughts:	Investing in lifelong learning creates a more dynamic, satisfied, and skilled population.

1. Counterargument & Rebuttal

Be sure to include a counterargument where you point outother opinions on this topic. What would your opponents say in response to you? How will you respond to these naysayers? You might make concessions, acknowledging some truth to the other side of the argument. You must offer a rebuttal, and evidence-based reasons that support your argument, regardless of opposing views.

Counterargument EXAMPLE
Topic Sentence:	Some, such as the Catholic Monk Paschal Corby, believe that support for physician-assisted suicide is misguided.
Discussion of Counterargument:	In the article "The Fear of Being a Burden on Others: A Response to the Rhetoric of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide," Corby (2019) argues that there is an "intrinsic connection between burden and love [that] defines what is truly human, and constitutes what is most divine... To deny this both dehumanizes us and distorts the image of God in us" (p. 376). In other words, Corby sees the argument that suicide prevents the dying person from becoming a burden as depriving loved ones and medical caregivers the privilege of accepting that burden of care and fully expressing their humanity. In Corby's view, "salvation comes through acceptance of our dependence" (p. 375), and to choose suicide instead of that dependence is to refuse to accept God's will. For some, this argument is strong.
Concession and Rebuttal:	One point Corby makes that has merit is that the fear of being a burden is connected to "existential experiences" (371), such as depression and hopelessness, not physical pain; thus, counseling sessions with a mental health professional or spiritual advisor may be a reasonable answer, before a patient resorts to suicide as their only option. While this point is reasonable, Corby's argument is primarily based on a religious perspective that is not shared universally. Furthermore, the existence of depression or other mental health diagnoses in the face of extreme suffering cannot be the only yardstick for whether an individual has the right to choose assisted suicide.
Show how the evidence supports your rebuttal:	Alzhen (2020) argues that there is a difference when depression results from "fundamental and irreversible losses in life, like the capacity to move reasonably freely without pain, to control basic bodily functions, manage intake of food and liquid, to conduct everyday cognitive operations, to recall and react to memories shared with other persons" (p. 357). This returns to the idea of suffering and an individual's right to determine when it meets eligibility for permanent relief. Only the patient, the individual living with that pain, whether physical, mental, or a combination, can make that decision.
Concluding thoughts:	Assisted suicide is complicated and emotional. Some organized religions view ending a life, whether through suicide or any other means, as immoral and evil, which adds further complications. However, religious views are personal, and the opinions of one religion cannot be the basis for the availability of medical decisions and procedures for all people, no matter how controversial they may be. Religion must not be used to limit personal freedom, including the freedom to choose assisted suicide.

Counterargument
Topic Sentence:	Critics argue that lifelong learning is not feasible for everyone due to time and financial constraints
Discussion of Counterargument:	Some argue that the expectations of continuing education are impractical for people juggling employment, family, and financial constraints. For instance, some employees may need more time and money to pursue lifetime learning opportunities.
Concession and Rebuttal:	While there are time and financial limits, various options exist, such as online courses and government-funded initiatives, to make lifelong learning more accessible. Vijayakumari et al. (2023) explores cheap online education options for busy professionals.
Show how the evidence supports your rebuttal:	These platforms offer flexible and affordable learning options, making lifelong learning accessible to a larger audience.
Concluding thoughts:	Flexible learning choices can help alleviate barriers and make lifelong learning accessible to more people.

1. Introduction & Conclusion

It is best to wait until you have written a good chunk for steps 1 - 5 before attempting to write an introduction or a conclusion. Before writing an introduction, you must determine what you will write about and formulate a thesis and arguments. When you have done that, think about how to introduce your essay.

How will you capture the reader's attention and draw them in? Think about public resonance. When something resonates with people, it connects with their beliefs. It triggers a response from them. This is what you want your introduction to do for the reader. What will you include in your introduction that is relatable?

Introduction:

Lifelong learning has become a term in the twenty-first century, indicating the constant necessity for individuals to adapt to the ever-changing world of work and life.As technology continues to advance and demographic shifts change our surroundings, the importance of lifelong learning cannot be overstated. This study contends that lifelong learning is required for adult learners to be relevant, adaptive, and fulfilled in both their professional and personal lives.

Next, think about your conclusion. How can you leave a lasting impression of your thoughts? What are the bigger implications of your topic and point of view? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? (Remember to use public resonance here, too.) Your conclusion must be more than a summary.

Conclusion:

In a time of fast technological development and demographic shifts, lifelong learning is crucial for resilience. Societies may provide individuals with the skills they need to succeed in dynamic situations by cultivating a culture of continual education. While difficulties in lifelong learning exist, solutions are equally compelling, pointing to a future in which learning is accessible and beneficial to everyone. Embracing lifelong learning is a societal duty that propels growth and creativity.

Now, you are ready to begin writing the actual essay.

You have a well-developed outline and put considerable effort into thinking about your argument. Use what you have here to feed your rough draft.

Below are the sourced references. You can add yours and put the references you didn't use in bold from the ones I provided.

References:

Medveckis, A., Pigozne, T., & Tomsons, D. (2021). Enhancement of Educators' Digital Competences in the Acquisition Programming Fundamentals in Programming Environment Scratch.World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 13(4), 934-946.

Siracusa, F., & Boichuk, A. (2021). Medical education fit for the 21st century: A response to "the lecture-free curriculum: Setting the stage for life-long learning."Medical Teacher, 43(5), 606.https://ezproxy.stevenson.edu:2082/10.1080/0142159X.2020.1831691

Vijayakumari Seevaratnam, Deanne Gannaway, & Jason Lodge. (2023). Design Thinking-Learning and Lifelong Learning for Employability in the 21st Century.Journal of Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability, 14(1), 182-201

Merrill, M. D. (2019).First Principles of Instruction: Identifying and Designing Effective, Efficient, and Engaging Instruction. Wiley.

Jarvis, P. (2018).Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Human Learning. Routledge.

Knapper, C., & Cropley, A. J. (2020).Lifelong Learning in Higher Education. Routledge.