Guidelines for the Research Essay
For the research essay, you’ll exploring a topic of your choice. Work to focus your topic
on an intriguing question—a question that genuinely arouses your curiosity and cannot be
answered easily. If it helps, think about areas of controversy or disagreement—subjects
about which people disagree. Avoid writing an “all about” paper: an essay that tells us all
about a given topic but lacks a sharp focus. If I say I’m going to write about Bob Dylan,
for example, I’m starting down the ”all about” road. However, if I say I want to explore
why Dylan chose to leave folk music behind and go electric, then I’m on to something.
Your paper must use a minimum of four outside sources, at least two of which be must
authored, peer-reviewed, scholarly articles or books. You will want to use your sources in
a substantial way, not just briefly refer to a quote or an idea here or there. Work to create
a complex, compelling conversation of ideas. A strong research paper shows a sense of
engagement—a sense that the writer has taken in and fully considered different views and
struggled to arrive at his or her own opinion on the issue.
Your essay must use the MLA method of in-text citation, including a Works Cited page.
The minimum length is five (5) full, double-spaced pages (not counting the Works Cited
page).
Choosing a topic: The first step is the most important: Be sure to choose a topic that truly
interests you, one that you’ll enjoy exploring. If you can come up with something that
compels you, you’ll make the entire process all the more meaningful and rewarding. A
useful test of a good subject is that you’re able to find ample sources to us. Also, choose a
topic that you’re genuinely curious about—not one on which you’ve already made up
your mind (in that case, you won’t be writing to learn, but simply to “prove” the position
you already hold).
Keeping Your Audience and Purpose in Mind: Assume that your audience knows very
little about your subject, and that you need to bring the issue into focus for them by
providing sufficient background.
Evaluative Criteria
*The essay provides sufficient context for the reader to understand the topic and its
implications.
*The essay pursues an intriguing question and provides a compelling, well-reasoned
answer (or possible answers) to that question.
*The essay employs a minimum of four outside sources, including at least two authored,
peer-reviewed, scholarly sources, in a substantial way, creating an effective conversation
of ideas.
*The essay effectively introduces and integrates summary, paraphrase and/or direct
quote, and follows MLA guidelines for in-text citations and Works Cited page.
*The essay employs standard MLA essay format, and displays effective style,
organization, and strong attention to surface features.
*The essay includes an interesting and appropriate title.
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