CWD Chronic wasting disease

Assignment Goals:
(citations): Follow MLA guidelines for the writing of a research paper that includes correct in-text citations and Works Cited citations for sources.

(arguments): Demonstrate knowledge of the elements of rhetoric (i.e. persuasive writing) by utilizing them in the writing of a research paper over a controversial topic.
(writing): Write a mechanically/grammatically sound paper of 9-11 pages (about 2,500 words). Develop an engaging writing style that mixes short sentences with long ones. Show fluency with the full range of available punctuation.

What to do:
Pick any controversy you like. The best topics will be those that interest you and that you’re able to make your own. ***It’s harder to write meaningful arguments about familiar topics because most readers are already familiar with the basic pros/cons of the issue. Focusing topics so that they become interesting and unique will be one of our main objectives.
Write a 9-11 page (2,500 word) paper that advances a specific, persuasive argument about this topic.
Use 6-8 outside sources: at least 1 web site, at least 3 academic, peer-reviewed sources, and at least 1 book: at least 5 sources should be “non-internet” sources (see below)
Follow MLA style.
Non-Internet Sources:
These are sources you don’t access by running a Google search. You can find these sources by going to the Kishwaukee Library Limited Access Databases.
To access databases from home, make sure you’re logged into MyKC. This way you’ll establish that you’re a Kish student with permission to access these “limited access databases.” Under “Student Resources” click “Library.” From there, you’ll see links to “Popular Places” including EBSCO host and Opposing Viewpoints.

The Opposing Viewpoints database provides background information and argumentative articles from a variety of “opposing” points of view. EBSCO is very helpful, too. You can limit searches so that you’re only highlighting “peer-reviewed” articles, which will be helpful when you’re looking for your “3 academic, peer-reviewed sources.”

Non-internet sources can also include novels, movies, TV shows, documentaries, advertisements, hospital brochures, billboards, and interviews with experts in the area you’re writing about. Interviews with faculty with backgrounds in your topic work well!
Topics:
So long as your topic is a controversy, it works for this paper. Now is a great time to find out more about topics associated with your major, or what you think you might want to major in, or what your friend/enemy is majoring in. Find a controversy within this major, conduct research, discover your opinion (my suggestion is to hold off on forming an opinion until you know more about your topic), and write your argument as well as you can.
Try to write a timely argument. Let readers know why your topic is important today.
Local arguments make great topics.
Good topics are focused. We want to write more about less, instead of less about more.
Audience:
Imagine your audience as open-minded and sitting on the proverbial fence.
Show readers that you understand the full scope of the issue, including opposing views.
Any paper that does not address opposing views will be seriously flawed. You can’t hope to establish credibility as a writer unless you address opposing views.
Research Paper 1 Grading (out of 90):
Formatting (5 pts): Is your paper formatted 100% correctly in MLA style? Think about line spacing, paragraph margins, and a proper running header with page numbers. For a sample, annotated research paper in MLA style, head to the Purdue OWL: Purdue OWL Sample MLA Research Paper With Formatting Guidelines.

Title (10 pts): Is it clever and interesting? Does it announce your paper’s topic and point of view?

“Writing” (Grammar, spelling, and punctuation) (60 pts): Is your paper correctly written? Do you have a minimum of writing mistakes? Do you include at least two colons, dashes, or semicolons? Note: Although 30 points are devoted to the nuts and bolts of writing, I expect everybody to write papers that don’t have an abundance of mistakes. A paper filled with mistakes such that every sentence has a mistake will not receive a passing grade.

“Writing” (Paragraph Development) (10 pts): Are paragraphs well focused? Do they have clear topic sentences? Do you address no more than one point per paragraph?

“Writing” (Transitioning from paragraph to paragraph, sentence to sentence) (10 pts): Do you smoothly transition from point to point between paragraphs? How about between sentences?

Content (60 pts): How persuasive is your argument? Do you advance a compelling and unique argument of your own? Is your topic well focused? Do you support your claims with convincing evidence? Do you ever make a claim without supporting it? Does your paper have a clear sense of purpose? Do you address opposing views? Are your sources good, credible sources? Do you explain persuasively (without insulting those who disagree with you) why your view is the best view? Do you meet the minimum length requirement of 10-12 pages (not counting the Works Cited)? Note: Although 30 points are specifically devoted to content, a paper with an unfocused topic or that is filled with facts that aren’t true or that is in some glaring way deficient in content will not receive a passing grade.

MLA in-text citations (20 pts): Do you account for and cite sources in MLA style in the body of your paper? Are in-text citations not only 100% correct, achieving the bare-minimum requirements that MLA calls for, but are they also fluent? Do quotes take up no more than half of an original sentence of your own? Note: A paper that does not include in-text citations will not receive a passing grade. The 7 points for in-text citations assume that you have them, and are devoted to how well and fluently you write them.

Sources (10 pts): Do you meet the assignment guidelines regarding number of sources and kinds of sources? Note: A paper wholly comprised of internet sources will not be a passing paper.

Works Cited (5 pts): Is it 100% correct Note: A paper without a Works Cited will not receive a passing grade.

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