The Research Argument Assignment is an expansion of my Position Essay (the first essay). In the Position Essay, it had thoughts and opinions on an issue; cyberbullies and social media. For this essay, it will be expected to take the initial argument and reasoning and further develop those ideas through—you guessed it—research. This is to build upon what you already know, it also involves being open to having your position shift as you encounter new information if it applies.
Regardless whether your position remains the same (the topic should remain the same), the idea is to use relevant information—facts and/or opinions—from these expert sources to support your own argument. The research should provide academic context and credibility to the insights generated from your own experience, observation, and/or logic. It’s not a matter of what published experts say—it’s how effectively you use what the experts have to say to advance your own purpose (Links to an external site.)s. Ultimately, you must use a minimum of 5-6 sources to help produce an extended argument between 1500 and 2000 words.
For this assignment, you also have the freedom to choose your own rhetorical approach and the mode of delivery. This could include a traditional academic essay; the more relaxed approach of popular magazine article (choose a specific publication, write for its audience, and make the document look at least minimally like an article in the magazine or one on its webpage); a podcast episode/radio essay; a blog (make the document look at least minimally like a real blog or publish it as an actual blog); a webpage; a YouTube video; something else; or a combination of modes. Whatever your approach, it must be the result of reflection and deliberate choices, and you’ll be asked to explain and defend those choices in a research proposal assigned below.
Integrating research into an argument means taking stock of what you already have in the Position Essay and developing focused questions that will guide the research process. For instance, if you are writing about the long-term effects of Facebook on American communication, you may be overwhelmed by all the voices speaking on this topic. However, the research process becomes less overwhelming if you begin by posing a few simple questions. For instance, what percentage of Americans use Facebook? What is the broad demographic breakdown of Facebook users (age, occupation, region, etc.)? You could also, for example, arrange an interview with, say, your communications or composition instructor to ask what specific effects he or she may recognize among students.
Remember the resources available to you through the library. Not only can you get in-person help, but you can also contact the libraryLinks to an external site. for help via phone, e-mail, text message, or live chat. There are also other library resources that can help you find the latest voices in that field.
A note about formatting:
A traditional essay should be APA formatted while a magazine article should at least minimally mimic the style of the chosen magazine. Other approaches will rely on other styles (a blog should look like a blog, and so on). However, no matter what the approach, there needs to be APA citations and a reference page.
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