Research Paper---A Clear Line of Reasoning Here is a model outline for a research paper on Latinos and low graduation rates put together by a student named Susana.  While Susana was required to submit an essay outline before submitting her essay, I decided not to require an essay outline from you for your research assignment   As you review Susana, keep in mind that no matter your controversial topic, your line of reasoning as you begin to write your essay should be as clear as the one evident in the model outline she has created.  When Susana writes her research essay, she will follow her outline to make sure her line of reasoning is clear and adheres to the required pattern of argumentation we appropriated from Aristotle and which was used by Cicero--this outline was given earlier in the semester. Susana Zumbado Professor Munoz English 101 10 November 2016 Research Paper Outline Main Claim: In this essay I will argue that charter schools can solve the problem of the low high school graduation rates of Latino males.  I. Introduction Opening general statement regarding Latinos in education. Focused thesis statement regarding charter schools as an answer to low high school graduation rates among Latino males..  II. Historical or Intellectual Background Brief history of Latinos in  American history. Brief  history of Latinos in education and past failed attempts to improve Latino student graduation rates. III. Support for Main Claim First of all, charter schools have the freedom to implement innovative teaching strategies that take into consideration Latino male learning styles. Secondly, charter schools have the flexibility to create small learning communities such as career academies for professions Latino males are interested in.. Finally, charter schools have the freedom to implement character formation programs that cultivate personal values necesary for academic success.. IV. Counterargument and Refutation Critics of my view would argue that irresponsible parents and a home environment hostile to education are the problem and that public schools work just fine. However, this view is wrong because it is rooted in cultural and racial stereotyping.  V. Conclusion Repeat main claim Closing statement regarding the need for justice and equality in education. Checklist for Research Paper  I. Have you adhered to MLA format? Make sure that your essay is formated according to the Modern Language Association's guidelines. The information at the top needs to be complete, and the spacing, centering and margins have to be correct. Refer to Hacker's A Pocket Style Manual for MLA guidelines. II. Have you offered a general introduction and a clear claim? Make sure that your opening paragraph starts with  a general introduction  and ends with  a clear claim  that needs to be supported by reasons and evidence in the rest of your essay. It should be not be ambiguous or vague or awkward--it should be crystal clear a ...

1. Research Paper---A Clear Line of Reasoning
Here is a model outline for a research paper on Latinos and low
graduation rates put together by a student named Susana. While
Susana was required to submit an essay outline before
submitting her essay, I decided not to require an essay outline
from you for your research assignment
As you review Susana, keep in mind that no matter your
controversial topic, your line of reasoning as you begin to write
your essay should be as clear as the one evident in the model
outline she has created. When Susana writes her research essay,
she will follow her outline to make sure her line of reasoning is
clear and adheres to the required pattern of argumentation we
appropriated from Aristotle and which was used by Cicero--this
outline was given earlier in the semester.
Susana Zumbado
Professor Munoz
English 101
10 November 2016
Research Paper Outline
Main Claim:
In this essay I will argue that charter schools can solve the
problem of the low high school graduation rates of Latino
males.

2. I. Introduction
Opening general statement regarding Latinos in education.
Focused thesis statement regarding charter schools as an answer
to low high school graduation rates among Latino males..
II. Historical or Intellectual Background
Brief history of Latinos in American history.
Brief history of Latinos in education and past failed attempts to
improve Latino student graduation rates.
III. Support for Main Claim
First of all, charter schools have the freedom to implement
innovative teaching strategies that take into consideration
Latino male learning styles.
Secondly, charter schools have the flexibility to create small
learning communities such as career academies for professions
Latino males are interested in..
Finally, charter schools have the freedom to implement
character formation programs that cultivate personal values
necesary for academic success..

3. IV. Counterargument and Refutation
Critics of my view would argue that irresponsible parents and a
home environment hostile to education are the problem and that
public schools work just fine.
However, this view is wrong because it is rooted in cultural and
racial stereotyping.
V. Conclusion
Repeat main claim
Closing statement regarding the need for justice and equality in
education.
Checklist for Research Paper
I. Have you adhered to MLA format?
Make sure that your essay is formated according to the Modern
Language Association's guidelines. The information at the top
needs to be complete, and the spacing, centering and margins
have to be correct. Refer to Hacker's A Pocket Style Manual for
MLA guidelines.
II. Have you offered a general introduction and a clear claim?
Make sure that your opening paragraph starts with
a general introduction

4. and ends with
a clear claim
that needs to be supported by reasons and evidence in the rest
of your essay. It should be not be ambiguous or vague or
awkward--it should be crystal clear and it should be the last
sentence in your first paragraph so that I can easily find it.
xxxxxAt one point in American history, single mothers were an
aberration and held in low regard because society placed a great
value on two parent families. Also, two parent households were
the norm in American society because most people valued the
central role the man played as the head of the household. Today,
however, single mothers seem accepted as inevitable given the
high divorce rate in America. Despite the divorce rate, some
families do manage to re-create two parent families. Some
children are fortunate to have a stepfather who helps the mother
nurture and provide for them but not every child of divorce is so
fortunate. Today either through divorce or by a refusal to marry,
a large percentage of single mothers are the sole caregivers and
providers.
I will argue that for several compelling reasons single mothers
are a danger to society.
III. Have you offered clear supporting reasons?
On this point, I want you to signal to the reader that you are
offering a reason by using transitional expressions. These
include:
Sample Transitions
First of all,

5. In the first place,
Secondly,
Furthermore,
In addition,
Next,
Finally,
Example:
First of all, the children of single mothers have the highest rate
of psychological problems.
Next, single mothers pose a financial burden to federal, state
and local governments in terms of social services.
IV. Whenever possible, have you used transitions to signal your
evidence?
Sample Transitions
For example,
For instance,
To illustrate,

6. In fact,
Example of a Reason backed by Evidence
xxxxxFirst of all,
I believe single mothers are a menace to society because their
children have the highest rate of psychological problems.
Generally, single mothers cannot supervise their children all the
time and they usually do not have the adequate social support
that they can rely on; consequently, these children are usually
vulnerable to negative social peer pressure. Data confirms the
negative psychological and sociological consequences for
children raised in single homes.
For example,
"approximately 30% of U.S. families are now being headed by
a single parent, and in 80% of those families, the mother is the
sole parent. Seventy-five of adolescents in chemical dependency
hospitals are from single parent families. One out of five
children have a learning, emotional, or behavioral problem due
to the family system changing" (Rainbow International
Headquarters).
For amplification on the importance of transitions, review
A Pocket Style Manual.
V. Have you adhered to MLA style guidelines for your in text
citations?
Do not "shove" a quotation into your writing. You should at the
very least offer a signal phrase to help the reader notice that
you are about to offer a citation from an outside source.

7. Punctuate these correctly and cite the page number when
possible.
Sample Signal phrases
According to Gregory Mantsios, "
Jean Anyon points out, "
Aaron H. Devor explains, "
1st Example
Rick Santorum points out, "Crime relates to family
structure...broken homes can increase delinquency in a
community by ten to fifteen percent, and the proportion of
single parent households in a community predicts the rate of
violent crime and burglary much better than a community's level
of poverty" (88).
2nd Example
According to one social scientist, "Crime relates to family
structure...broken homes can increase delinquency in a
community by ten to fifteen percent, and the proportion of
single parent households in a community predicts the rate of
violent crime and burglary much better than a community's level
of poverty" (Santorum 88).
When Do I Use the Source's Last Name in Parentheses ( ) ?

8. Notice, if you use the name in the signal phrase, you do not
need to repeat it in the parentheses. Only put the name in the
parentheses if you do not use the name in the signal phrase.
VI. Did You Make Sure to Cite a Source from
Rereading America
?
Recall that the chapters from
Rereading America
provided the contexts or themes for the topics for the research.
The issue of single mothers used in this module's examples are
related to the topic of the family which was the focus of
Chapter 1.
VII. Have you offered a counterargument and refutation?
Your essay is following the classical arrangement for an
argument. This means your reasons and evidence will come first
followed by a counterargument and a refutation. If you wish,
you may offer two counterarguments and refutations if you need
to do so to meet the 7 minimum page limit. I will know you are
about to offer a counterargument, your statement from the
opposition, when I see one of the following expressions:
Counterargument Signal Phrases
Critics of my position would argue that
Critics of this point of view would point out
Some would disagree and claim that

9. There are those that would challenge this essay's conclusion
Example
Critics of this point of view argue
that the children of single mothers have gone on to become
celebrated leaders and scientists. For example, Barack Obama,
the 45th President of the United States, was raised for a while
by a single mother in Hawaii. His Kenyan father left for
Harvard when he was only two years old...
Refutation Signal Phrases
However,
Nevertheless,
Nonetheless,
Example
However,
the opposition's point is not convincing nor does it diminish this
essay's central claim because the success stories are exceptions
rather than the rule....
VIII. Have you followed the guidelines for the works cited
page? Are the entries done correctly?
This UC:CSU level course requires you to demonstrate the
ability to abide by the rules and conventions of scholarship.

10. Here is the way the selection from Rereading America, an
anthology, should be cited on the Works Cited list. See Hacker's
manual for rules and conventions with regard to the Works
Cited sheet.