Discuss the counterargument and explain why the side you have chosen to argue is the stronger position.

Research Paper: Ethics + Personal Responsibility
ASSIGNMENT SHEET
POINT:
The Research Paper is worth 150 points.

Below the list of source entries, write a list of in-text citation parentheticals to show how you would write a correct parenthetical for each source on your list. (You will need to delete those when you copy/paste your source entries into your final Research Paper draft, of course.) You do NOT need to include sentences with the parentheticals. I will give feedback on the source entries and parentheticals that you can use to correct the source documentation on your Research Paper before it is due. **NOTE: An example of what your Preliminary Works Cited assignment should look like is posted by the link you’ll use to submit it.

LENGTH REQUIREMENT FOR THE RP:
The final draft of the Research Paper must be a minimum of 5 FULL pages PLUS a works cited page that is NOT part of your minimum page length requirement. The maximum length of the paper is 7 pages. You are welcome (and encouraged) to use visual images in your paper, but they will not count as part of your page length. Any research paper that is shorter than 4 FULL pages will receive a ZERO. Papers that are longer than 4 pages but shorter than 5 full pages will receive a significant point deduction.

SOURCE REQUIREMENTS:
The paper must have at least 5 SOURCES and no more than 7. At least TWO sources must be print sources OR database sources (journal articles) from the Dallas College library site. ALL sources must be credible – no Wikipedia, blogs, etc.

The paper must not have ANY plagiarism of any kind; all source information must be referenced in the text of your essay AND on the works cited page. You must have in-text citations, at least some of which must be parentheticals. All in-text citations should match the 1st word or words of your works cited page source entries. No source should be in the works cited page list unless it is used in the essay’s text, and all in-text citations must have full, 9th edition MLA source information written on the works cited page. Whether you are paraphrasing or using direct quotes, you must include citations that give credit to every source that provides the information you are including. Failing to do so will result in a ZERO for the paper. There will be no second chances for plagiarism in the research paper! Remember that just listing URL’s does not count as documenting sources.

NOTE: Papers that have no direct quotes will not earn a passing grade. Papers that have no in-text citation parentheticals will not earn a passing grade. Papers that do not have a works cited page (or that have a works cited page that is not in MLA 8/9 style) will not earn a passing grade.

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS:
Write an argument about a debatable ethical issue. What responsibility do people have related to the debate? What will the consequences be if one choice is made over the others? The topic must be debatable, which means there will be two or more reasonable, valid sides to take; you will choose one side to argue and persuade readers that the position you are taking is the best, most responsible one. Be creative with your evidence and your appeals. You should use a combination of facts and personal experiences and insights to explain your points to your readers. Your paper should NOT be merely a summary of research information; instead, you should use the research along with other evidence and appeals to explain and support your arguments.

CORE REQUIREMENTS:
Introduction should give a thorough explanation and background of the topic. Explain the ethical situation so readers can see where the point of contention is and the possible sides to take.
Conclude your introductory paragraph with a strong claim statement that indicates your position and includes “should” or “must” in the statement. The claim statement must be debatable, clear, and specific. Just from reading the claim, readers should be clear about the stance you are taking on the argument and what it is you will be persuading them to agree with.
The body of the essay should persuasively argue for your position on the ethical issue with logical reasoning. Avoid fallacies and don’t over-generalize or over-simplify.
Develop your argument with credible support. Evidence should be reliable and authoritative. The essay should have a clear, cohesive structure that guides readers smoothly through the arguments you present and explains your reasoning in concise, persuasive language. Pay careful attention to word choice and tone. Do NOT use 2nd person “you.” First person is allowed if it suits the style of the paper.
Use appeals that will keep readers engaged and interested in your argument. Examples and anecdotes should be relevant and compelling. Remember to make your argument apply to a general audience and stress why it is that readers should care about the issue. Be creative and explore hidden arguments so that readers gain a complete understanding of the topic and your views on it. Avoid “skimming the surface” of the issue and instead take an in-depth look at the ethics of the debate.
Discuss the counterargument and explain why the side you have chosen to argue is the stronger position. The discussion of the counterargument should identify the various positions in the ethical debate and explain the assumptions, contexts, and consequences for each. Use concessions and/or qualifiers to establish yourself as an expert who has a full understanding of all sides of the issue.
Do not let research overtake your paper. The main voice should be your own, and research should be used as support and clarification.
Write a strong conclusion that leaves readers with a clear impression of why they should agree with you and why they should care about your chosen topic.
Proofread carefully and then proofread again. Throughout the writing process, you should be revising and editing your work to make it as strong and effective as possible. Be concise. Be creative. Be clear.

Note that some subjects are off-limits: the legalization of marijuana, abortion, and social media. You can only write about gun control or immigration if you choose ONE specific angle to argue. For example, you cannot argue that guns should be allowed or banned or that gun control is good or bad, but you could argue specifically for or against certain types of guns, gun control requirements, open or concealed carry laws, etc. When you cover broad topics like these, it’s important to make your argument narrower and more specific so you can look at it in-depth. If you would like to write about something related to an off-limits topic, be sure it is specific enough and email me to discuss it. For a list of other topics that are not recommended and more details about choosing good topics, read the Research Paper Topic Information document posted in our course.