This document provides guidance and requirements for writing a research paper. It outlines that students must collect 5 references from 5 different sources to use in their paper. It also provides direction on writing an abstract, including length requirements and including keywords. Acceptable source types are defined. Students must write a paper between 900-1500 words following APA style guidelines. The paper must include an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion. It must include 5 documented quotes or paraphrases and be properly referenced. The document provides a rubric for grading and checks to complete before submitting. Finally, it provides 13 potential topics for students to choose from for their research paper.

1. ·
Collect Five Articles/References
For the milestone research paper due for this module, you will
need a minimum of five (5) references (articles, books,
government documents, etc.) from five different sources
(journals, organizations, anthologies etc). As you collect the
articles and other references you plan to use, remember to keep
the information you will need necessary to prepare a correct
References page. View the YouTube video on APA References
page below so that you can start collecting your sources in the
right format from the beginning. Also, refer to the pages in your
handbook,
A Writer's Reference
.
·
Write an Abstract
What is an abstract?
Your initial abstract will a brief, single-paragraph summary of
what your Persuasive Argument research paper will be about,
including the position you are taking on your topic. The thesis
statement will be included in your abstract.
What's included?
As much as possible at this point in your writing, include your
paper’s purpose, main points, method, findings, and
conclusions. If you have not yet reached a conclusion, nor
researched thoroughly, include what you expect will be your
conclusion. After your paper is completed, you can always go
back and change it or add to it as long as it stays within the
word limit.
How long should it be?
The abstract’s length should be a minimum of 150 words and a
maximum of 250 words; it should be confined within a single
paragraph. Unlike in other paragraphs in the paper, the first line

2. of the abstract should
not
be indented.
What are Keywords?
At the end of the abstract, a list of the important words related
to the paper are listed. Leave one line of space after the abstract
and begin the next line with the word "Keywords" in italics,
followed by a colon, and indented a half inch. See page 527 in
A Writer's Reference
for a sample of an abstract.
The following are acceptable sources (including Internet
versions):
·
·
Reputable News Media (
Time, Newsweek, New York Times
)
·
Serious Popular Magazines
(New Yorker, National Geographic
)
·
Government Publications
·
Scholarly periodicals
·
Scholarly books
·

3. Reputable translations of foreign works
·
Student dissertations or theses
·
Research forums on the Internet
·
Internet periodicals by reputable organizations
News media
are acceptable only if the story is so recent that there are no
scholarly publications on the subject. In other words: Use the
media only if there is no other source.
Serious popular magazines
occasionally have articles by authorities, interviews, or
summaries of current topics of interest. Acceptability depends
on how reputable the authors are and how thoroughly the
publication checks its facts.
Government publications
are acceptable if they are research or technical publications, but
generally not if they are popular brochures or pamphlets. Note
the
.gov
ending for online work.
What is a DOI?
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is an identifying number now
being used in APA style in addition to and sometimes instead of
the URL address. It is a set of numbers and letters, used in the
most recently published journal articles. The DOI will soon
become the most important part of the reference for several
good reasons.
The DOI is like a digital fingerprint of a Social Security
number. There is only one number assigned for each article
upon publication, and it will be used to identify the article from

4. then on. No matter where the article gets published or
republished, the DOI will stay the same, guaranteeing that the
article can remain accessible, no matter what happens to the
original web site that published it. In most cases where there is
a DOI, it can replace the URL address in APA style.
In the sixth edition of the
APA Publication Manual,
DOIs can look somewhat like an URL address Example:
Herbst, D. M., Griffith, N. R. & Slama K. M. (2014). Rodeo
cowboys: Conforming to masculine norms and
help-seeking behaviors for depression.
Journal of Rural Mental Health
, 38, 20-35.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000008
However, it can also be added as: doi: 10.1037/rmh0000008.
Either way, notice that both identifiers are the same and will
always lead back to that article.
Requirements for Research Paper
Content
Research: Writing Like a Scholar
You will now write a complete research paper.
A research paper is an expanded essay that presents your own
interpretation, evaluation, or argument, using what knowledge
is already available on the subject. A research paper involves
studying a topic in order to find the best possible information in
that field. Your paper must present your own opinions and ideas
supported by your research, correctly credited to the original
authors and organizations.
Basic Requirements:
·
Length:
900-1,500 words. A

5. minimum
of 900 words is required in order for your essay to be
substantial. What is important is that you get your point across.
·
Organization:
Introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.
·
Language:
Use formal language and avoid the use of first and second
person -- avoid references to yourself (NO "I believe, in my
opinion" etc.), no personal anecdotes, and do
not
address the reader (avoid "you" altogether.
·
Documentation:
five correctly documented
quotes
or paraphrases from five adequate sources.
·
Style:
APA style is usually used for the type of research you will be
doing. Continue in that style unless otherwise stated by your
professor.
·
Cross-referncing:
You must use
in-text
citations (also known as in-text references) or signal phrases
each time you use the words or ideas of your sources in the
essay. Cross-reference your work as explained in your
handbook. The handbook is especially necessary for this essay.

6. ·
Support:
You'll need a minimum of five sources. Support your ideas
with expert opinion, facts, statistics, and other information you
find in your research. It is a mistake to create a
Frankenstein research paper
by copying and pasting.
Rubric and Procedures
Content
Rubric and Research Paper Procedures:
Persuasive Argument Research Paper
Rubric
(a more detailed rubric will be used explaining how the points
will be assigned):
Language and Content:
60 points
In-text documentation:
20 points
References or Works Cited:
20 points
·
Use the topic you chose in Discussion D2.2 Choose a
Topic/Thesis Statement
If

7. you are not comfortable with the topic you chose, see
"If you wish to change topics" below.
·
Take a position:
This is not merely a pro/con paper where you list both sides of
an argument. In this paper, you will take a side. Know your
position.
·
State the opposition's viewpoint:
Because this is an
argument
, you must bring up the opposition's position
and
do your best to establish counter arguments to refute it.
·
Do more research:
A minimum of five references is required for this paper. They
must all be from different sources.
·
Write in formal English:
This is a research paper, so keep to the formal third person
(avoid "I" and "You") and avoid personal anecdotes.
·
Proofread carefully!
If you are not sure of your writing skills, you may go to one of
the MDC campuses to the Writing Lab where tutors are
available. You may also use free online tutoring through

8. Smartthinking.com. Go to the link under Tools and Resources
(side menu) to find out about this resource.
·
Revise, edit, and proofread.
I can't stress this enough.
·
Format correctly
according the the documentation style your professor assigns.
To assure that your Microsoft Word program does not force
those extra spaces on you, remember to go to Paragraph > and
click on the bos on the left-had corner that reads "do not add
extra spaces between like paragraphs."
IF you wish to change topics:
Your new topic (different from the one that was accepted in
Discussion D2.2), you must submit:
1.
your alternate topic and a
statement of purpose
2.
a preliminary
thesis statement
for your research paper. The thesis statement should be a
complete sentence in which your purpose and position is clear.
Submitting this assignment:
Send me a message through the Course Messages in Blackboard
with your thesis and statement of purpose. I must approve your
proposal before you continue.

9. Your topic must be debatable for an argument paper. Please
check the other debatable topic options available in D2.2 or
suggest your own.
Avoid
the overdone topics such as capital punishment and abortion (I
will not approve them).
Some possible
debatable
topics are:
1.
Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage.
2.
Juvenile murderers should/ should not be tried as adults.
3.
Foster parenting isn't working and should be banned.
4.
Most forms of government welfare should/should not be
abolished.
5.
Censorship is sometimes/never justified.
6.
All citizens under the age of 21 should be required to pass a
driving education course before receiving a license to drive.
7.
Trans fat and high fructose corn syrup are the cause of the
obesity epidemic in America.
8.
Gasoline taxes should be raised in order to encourage less

10. driving.
9.
Troops should/should not be immediately pulled out of foreign
bases (or choose one particular base).
10.
Tax breaks to large corporations should/should not be
eliminated
Formatting/Typing Guidelines
Content
Formatting/ Typing Guidelines for Research Paper
·
Convert your papers to Microsoft Word before submitting.
·
In Microsoft Word, make sure you look under the Paragraph
section. On the bottom of the left hand side there is a box which
reads "Do not add extra spaces to like paragraphs." Check that
box! In academic papers, there are
no extra spaces
between the paragraphs. Instead, you must indent each new
paragraph. I recommend tapping the
tab
key to indent.
·
The research paper must be typed, double-spaced.
·
Pages must be numbered. Use the correct pagination format for
the documentation style your instructor has chosen.
·

11. The title of your paper is centered, using the same font and font
size as the rest of the paper. Your title must
not
be bold, underlined, or italicized.
·
Use Times New Roman 12 pt. font.
·
Use one-inch margins at the top, bottom and sides of each page.
·
Long quotes:
Quotations of forty or more words in the typescript (APA) or
four lines (MLA) should be set apart followed by the page
number. Shorter passages are integrated into the text of the
paper.
Before Submitting: Argument Checklist
Content
ENC 1102 Persuasive Argument Essay Checklist
In addition to proofreading for spelling, grammar, and usage
and making sure you use clear and simple language, ask
yourself the following:
1.
Did you use formal language (avoiding contractions, the use of
first or second person and personal anecdotes)?
2.
Is your
thesis statement
clearly stated, preferably at the end of the introduction, and did
it reflect a clear position on your topic?
3.

12. Are generalizations and opinions supported by
specific details
?
4.
Did you bring up the opposition's viewpoints and refuted them
with counter arguments of your own?
5.
When you used source material, did you introduce the
quotations you used in a signal phrase?
6.
Did you add an in-text citation each time you used a source?
7.
Did you cross-reference your sources correctly? All citations
should have an entry in the References page.
8.
Did you include excessive quotations; is too much of your paper
quoted material, or are you including irrelevant information?
(Don't do this! The amount of quotations should not exceed 25%
or so of your total essay).
9.
Have you looked at the sample paper in your handbook? Are all
the details, including dating in your bibliographic entries,
spacing, indentation etc. correct?
10.

13. Did you assemble your References page correctly? Remember
that organizations, such as World Health Organization and Pew
Research Center are listed as authors. Did you alphabetize the
entries?
11.
Is your paper formatted correctly based on the Formatting and
Typing Guidelines provided?
Choose One of These Topics
Content
This list provides topics which are focused (not too broad),
challenging (not just factual), and grounded (not too
speculative). All the topics are debatable, establishing a basis
for a good persuasive argument paper.
Choose one of these topics:
1.
Water/Environment:
Last year, Americans bought more than 4 billion gallons of
water in individual-portion bottles. The environmental impact to
all those plastic bottles, made from non-renewable resources
like natural gas and petroleum is a concern.eAlthough bottled
water is 10,000 times the cost of tap water, consumers are
reluctant to give up their bottled water. They feel bottled water
is safer and convenient to carry around. In your thesis take a
position for or against buying bottled water.
2.
Human trafficking:
The exploitation of human beings is a world problem, yet this
form of slavery is not something that only occurs outside our
borders. The United States Department of State estimates that
between 14,000 and 18,000 individuals are trafficked into the
country each year. The laws in place have not been helpful in
controlling this kind of trafficking. Choose a position: More

14. border regulation should/should not be in place to reduce human
trafficking into the United States.
3.
Fat Tax:
More and more countries are adopting fat taxes (adding more
tax to junk food and soft drinks) in an effort to curb rising
obesity rates and also to offset the economic costs of obesity.
Numerous studies suggest that as the price of a food decreases,
individuals get fatter. Yet, since the poor spend a greater
portion of their income on food, such a tax has been said to be
regressive. In your thesis, take a position for or against the fat
tax.
4.
Terrorism:
Determine what your position is with dealing with terrorists.
Consider whether the United States should negotiate with
groups that are religious or apocalyptic in their objectives, such
as "Islamic State," as opposed to groups that are political. Take
a position: Negotiating with terrorists is appropriate in all
cases, is never appropriate, or appropriate in some cases.
5.
Drunk Driving:
Taking away the licenses of drunk driving offenders has not
proven successful (they drive anyway), so consider an argument
for or against more stringent law enforcement, such as requiring
ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders, sobriety
checkpoints and whatever new technology or regulation could
prevent drunks from continuing on the road while inebriated.
6.
Teen Drivers:
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death to 15 to
20-year olds. Teen drivers are three times more likely than

15. drivers aged 21 and older to be in a fatal crash. Because of this,
many states have adopted driver training courses required of
teen drivers. Should we in Florida? Choose a position: All
Florida citizens under the age of 21 should/ should not be
required to pass a complete driving education course before
receiving a license to drive.
7.
Senior Drivers:
Because of high accident rates and the increasing risk elderly
drivers impose on roadway safety, advocates want drivers'
licensing requirements across the nation to become more
stringent as drivers age. Choose a position: All citizens over the
age of 75 should/should not be given yearly driving and vision
exams in order to renew licenses.
8.
Bike Paths:
Decide on your position for or against using transportation
taxes to build bike paths parallel to major roads. There are
cyclists and drivers against bike paths, but the number of
accidents happening in Florida have many citizens, drivers and
cyclists among them, calling for paths to be built. Bike paths in
the Miami community is a more focused topic, but you can use
national arguments and examples from outside Miami.
9.
School Shootings/ Gun Control
: Choose a topic in which you you approve or disapprove of
some kind of gun control policy specifically targeted to help
eliminate school shootings (gun control, along with metal
detectors, gun control targeted to mentally unstable families,
etc.). Your topic and approach, whichever position you take,
should offer solutions on what can be done about keeping
students safe from school shootings.
10.

16. Profiling
: Balancing security concerns with demonstrating respect and
dignity for travelers has been an issue since 9/11. Profiling
should/should not be an accepted form of fighting terrorism in
airports.
11.
Daylight Savings Time:
Many citizens have called for an end to Daylight Savings Time,
which began in the United States during World War I, primarily
to save fuel by reducing the need to use artificial lighting.
Consider a persuasive argument topic for or against Daylight
Savings Time.
12.
Texting:
The dangers of texting and talking on the phone while driving
are well documented. How do we as a society address the use of
electronic devices while driving in order to put the brakes on
the fatalities that these distractions are causing on the roads?
Will regulations interfere with citizens' individual freedom?
Choose a position.
13.
Sexual Predators:
In what ways and how should violators be caught and punished
if preying on children on the Internet? Do you oppose or
support certain forms of censorship to catch or prevent
predators preying on children? If you are against regulating the
Internet, then in what ways can parents protect their children?
(Do
not
make this an advice article for parents. Write it in the third
person, avoiding references to "I" and "You" altogether). Also
consider: Should TV shows such as NBC’s "Dateline" series,

17. "To Catch a Predator," continue bringing attention to the
problem of adults sexually preying on youngsters over the
Internet?
14.
Foreign Adoption:
Over the past decade, the USA has adopted at least 15,000
children internationally each year. Due to less regulation,
corruption and human trafficking, there have been considerable
problems, and some countries have banned foreign adoption
altogether. In addition, many children within the USA are in
foster care, so some people want the USA to also ban foreign
adoptions. Consider an argument for or against adopting
children from foreign countries.