This document provides guidelines and requirements for Essay Assignment 3, a research paper for ENG 101. Key dates are listed, including deadlines for a topic proposal, pre-writing, outline, draft, and final paper. The paper must be 1700-3400 words and include at least six outside sources. Students must choose a technology story from two provided books to argue a position on. Research from specific source types is mandated, including a book, e-book, articles, and film. Additional process assignments like pre-writing and an outline must be completed. Help resources and additional requirements are also outlined.

1. ENG 101 – Bolton
Essay Assignment 3: Research Paper
Important Dates and Requirements
Topic Proposal Due: March 15 (by 5:00 p.m.—via e-mail)
Pre-Writing Due: March 18 (12:30 class); March 20 (9:30) (at class time)
Outline Due: April 1 (at class time)
Draft Due to TurnitIn for PeerMark: April 8 (by 11:59 p.m.)
PeerMark Must be Completed By: April 12 (by 11:59 p.m.)
Paper Due to Instructor: April 22 (by 5:00 p.m.)
Length: 1700-3400 words*
Outside Sources Required: Six—see “Part 2: Researching Your Topic” below for details
Submission Methods: Hard copy (to me), electronic copy to TurnitIn
* Essays that are too short, too long, or don’t meet the source requirements will receive half credit.
In your last two essays, you analyzed and responded to an argument; now, it is your turn to make one. I
expect you to read Chapters 9 and 32 in your Norton Field Guide thoroughly, as they discuss all the
components of arguing. Here are the additional guidelines you must follow to get full credit:
Part 1: Choosing a Topic
1.) Select one of the ―technology horror stories‖ from Steven Casey’s Set Phasers on Stun or The
Atomic Chef to be what ―provokes you.‖
Remember, your argument has to be prompted/provoked by something—in this case, you
will find a story that provokes you and build an argument based on the event.
For example, ―Signal Detection‖ might lead you to question the effectiveness of airport
security and perhaps suggest improvements (see sample essay on D2L). (―Signal
Detection‖ is the only story from the books you cannot use).
Since you are now provoked by an event, not someone’s opinions, you have flexibility in
what you want to argue—as long as it’s relevant to the story/event, it is acceptable.
2.) Submit a topic proposal to your instructor via e-mail (alicia.bolton@hgtc.edu ONLY—not
through D2L) that requests the story and states what argument you will (likely) be making.
Consult pages 177-179 of your Norton Field Guide for details on topic proposals
The proposal must include the following:
o Title of story you want to use
o Why this story interests you—what provoked you when you read it and why?
o Your intended focus—what argument are you leaning towards making?
No two students may request the same story, so requests will be granted on a first-come,
first-served basis; for this reason, you should probably have a couple of ―back up‖ stories
in mind in case your first choice is already taken.
Please note that the topic proposal is an informal and ungraded requirement but a very important one.
You cannot begin on the pre-writing until your story has been approved; if you do not receive instructor
approval by the deadline, work you complete for this essay assignment may not receive credit.

2. Part 2: Researching Your Topic
1.) Locate the following to support your claim—you must include EACH of the following in your
essay (and you must quote from each within the essay itself):
One book (printed, published, physical—not an e-book)
One e-book (from library database)
Two articles (from library database(s))
One Film-on-Demand (from library database)
o Note: If you can’t find a Film-on-Demand, come see me and I’ll give you an
alternate option—but you must let me know in advance!
The story that prompted you to write this
o You do not have to directly quote/cite from this, but it must be mentioned in your
introduction and should therefore be included on your Works Cited page
2.) Print and annotate each source you will use in your essay—you are required to submit these with
the final essay (except the film on demand)
For books/e-books, you may print/copy a few relevant pages—the entire document is not
required.
Some additional notes/warnings about Research
All sources (except book and ―provoking‖ story) MUST come from a library database—if a
source doesn’t come from the library database, it doesn’t count (meaning your essay will
receive half credit for just ONE slip!)
You may use more than these five sources, but all must be scholarly – if you include ten
sources and one isn’t scholarly, you may receive half credit
Unless they come from a database, newspaper articles are not scholarly.
Only one dictionary is scholarly (and acceptable): The Oxford English Dictionary. It will only
count once (regardless of the number of words cited) and won’t count as your book; any
other dictionary does not count at all!
On your Works Cited page, you must include the name of the database where you retrieved
the article—this is typical MLA format, but I warn you because if I can’t tell where you got it, I
can’t check it, and if I can’t verify it, it may not count…
Part 3: Constructing Your Essay
1.) In your introduction paragraph, summarize/explain the issue for readers, discussing the
―provoking‖ as well as the overall topic/controversy.
2.) The last sentence of your introduction must be your thesis statement, which should clearly state
your claim and some brief reasons for your claim.
3.) The body paragraphs of your essay should support the claim, offering solid reasoning through
both your own ideas and the research, and you should use the rhetorical appeals of logos, ethos,
and/or pathos to persuade your reader. (Don’t forget to avoid logical fallacies as well!)
4.) In your essay, you must quote from each source (except ―provoking‖ story) at least once—you
may summarize and paraphrase additionally, but you will lose 15 points for each source you do
not quote from.
5.) Include a counterargument (―naysayer‖) somewhere in your essay.
6.) Follow MLA format (including a Works Cited page with all sources on it!)

3. Additional “Process” Assignments
You will be required to turn in both pre-writing and an outline for this assignment—both are
worksheets on D2L that you can simply print out and fill out by hand. These are due on the due dates
listed at the beginning of this assignment sheet and on the course syllabus.
Where to Go for Help
Relevant Textbook Chapters for…
Quoting – They Say I Say (TSIS), Chapter 3; Norton Field Guide (NFG), Chapters 46 and 48
Summarizing – TSIS, Chapter 2; NFG, Chapter 46
Arguing (general concept) – NFG, Chapters 32 and 9
Supporting Your Claim – NFG, Chapters 31, 34, 35, 39
Writing an Introduction – NFG, Chapter 29; TSIS, Chapters 1 and 7
Writing a Conclusion – NFG, Chapter 29
Writing a Counterargument – TSIS, Chapter 6
MLA Format – NFG, Chapter 49
Structure/transitions – NFG, Chapter 30; TSIS, Chapter 8
Language Use – TSIS, Chapters 5, 9, 10
Additional Online Resources
ENG 101 Guidebook - http://hgtc101guidebook.weebly.com
ENG 101 LibGuide (for Bolton) - http://libguides.hgtc.edu/english101_bolton
D2L – ―Research Paper and Annotated Bibliography‖ unit (various handouts available)
Purdue OWL - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Additional Assignments
In addition to turning these items in on the due dates listed on the course outline/syllabus, you must
also return them with the final hard copy of your essay—put everything in your folder. You may lose
points for any items missing.
Pre-Writing = _____/10
Outline = _____/15
Other Items You Must Turn In:
These items are also due with the final copy of your essay; for each missing (or incomplete), your
essay may be penalized up to 20 points.
□ Copy of this rubric (print and turn in)
□ Introduction worksheet (from class)
□ copy of this rubric (all four pages—print and turn in)
□ copy of EACH SOURCE used in your essay—each source must be thoroughly annotated (-20
for each source not included; -15 for each not annotated))
o Exclude ―film on demand‖
o For books/e-books (and extremely long articles), just print/copy a few relevant pages
o You don’t have to include your ―provoking‖ story, though you are welcome to do so
Don’t forget that you also have to submit your final copy to Turnitin.com!

4. Student Name: _________________________ PeerMark Grade: _____/20
Essay 3: Research Paper (150 points)
Scale: 12.5 = perfect/excellent, 10 = good, 7.5 = fair, 0 = poor or missing
12.5 10 7.5 0
Introduction effectively and objectively summarizes issue, offers what
―sparked‖ essay, provides necessary background information, states why the
issue is important, and ―plants a naysayer‖ (―they say‖)
Thesis statement is clear and well-developed, makes an arguable claim, and is
the last sentence of the introduction
Each body paragraph includes a topic sentence that outlines that paragraph
and connects to the thesis
Body paragraphs are appropriate, concrete, and well-developed; examples are
logical and effective
Counterargument (the ―they say‖) paragraph is included, well-presented,
(fairly and objectively), and ultimately weakened/discredited
In-text citations are formatted correctly, properly framed, and used effectively
to support thesis; sources and quotes are well-chosen and appropriate
Logos, ethos, and pathos are effectively used to appeal to readers; logical
fallacies are avoided
Conclusion avoids introducing new ideas and adequately summarizes essay
Essay is well-organized; transitions effectively enhance essay’s ―flow‖ by
guiding reader
Vocabulary, language use, and word choices are correct and appropriate
Note: You should avoid second-person (“you,” “your,” “you’re”) and
unnecessary first-person (I think, I believe, in my opinion, etc.)
Grammar, spelling, and mechanics demonstrate correct use of Standard
Edited American English
MLA Format is followed throughout essay (including Works Cited page)
* Please consult your essay for details; if you do not understand a comment I made, please don’t
hesitate to come see me during office hours to discuss your essay.
Note: If your total ends in .5, it will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
See Checklist on page 3 of this
assignment sheet!
Grade: _____/150