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Fall 2016 Rhetoric Major Writing Assignment 3: Documented Essay Draft for Peer Responses Due: Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, October 19 Final Draft Due: Monday, October 24 Suggested Length: 4-5 double spaced pages, 12 pt

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Fall 2016 Rhetoric

Major Writing Assignment 3: Documented Essay

Draft for Peer Responses Due: Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, October 19

Final Draft Due: Monday, October 24

Suggested Length: 4-5 double spaced pages, 12 pt. font

plus a Works Cited page(s)

 

The time has come to write the almighty, academic research paper. In this research paper, called a documented essay, your goal is to present multiple viewpoints on a topic and discuss the reasons some people think one way and others think other ways. Your goal is not to discover who is “right.” Your goal is to understand the issues that impact how people view this topic. As a class, we will brainstorm specific issues you might address in your paper.

 

You must use at least four quality sources for your essay.   

 

Planning and Drafting

 

This assignment requires careful planning. To a large extent, the success of your paper will depend on how thoroughly and diligently you carry out the writing process. It will be important to map out a schedule, which will be done in class. Below are some suggestions for getting started.

 

1. Restrict your topic to an area of the subject that you can handle in a short paper. State your topic in the form of a question and then decide whether or not you can answer it within the limited scope of your paper. If you tightly restrict your topic, you'll find that you can construct a much more complete and satisfying paper.

 

2. Once you've focused your topic, research and formulate a preliminary thesis. As you write your draft or outline, test your thesis and, if necessary, modify it as you go. Your instructor will want to see your preliminary thesis statement at this point.

 

As you can see, you need to complete several preliminary steps before you begin writing in earnest. Between composing your rough draft and your final paper, you'll need to keep several additional things in mind:

1. Consider your readers. How much do your readers know about your topic? Are they interested in it? Do they have strong opinions about it? Do not assume that your readers have read the sources you have read or that they automatically agree with you.

 

2. Keep in mind your purpose: to present a multifaceted view of positions on your topic and a discussion of what is salient to those who adopt one point of view over others.

 

3. Interweave your sources into your paper to substantiate your thesis. Be careful not to rely exclusively on one source. Verify the accuracy of your information and quotations.