Essay #4: Persuasive Research Essay
Peer Review Draft Due: 11/22 (in-class peer reviews 11/29)
Final and Initial Drafts Due: 12/8
Write a 6-8 page (1800-2400 words) essay in which you persuasively argue your position on a topic either taken from the handout provided or of your choosing. You will be required to have 3 relevant, primary sources minimum included in a bibliography.
Your essay should aim to accomplish the following:
· Succinctly contextualizes the issue and establishes its significance in lively, engaging prose.
· A precise thesis, carefully considered, and interesting, making a clear, specific argumentative claim.
· Organization that is focused, unified and logical throughout, with elegant use of transitional devices to articulate relationships between ideas. Paragraphs all clearly develop writer’s thesis: topic sentences relate to thesis, transition elegantly between main ideas, and state paragraph’s focus in writer’s own words.
· Have a conclusion that profoundly shows that you proved your thesis and clearly demonstrates that you met your purpose of the paper.
· Outstanding use of voice and sentence structure: concise, smooth and elegant prose, with varied and interesting sentences. Excellent: vivid and varied, with flexible, confident use of extensive vocabulary. Precise and appropriately formal.
· No errors in grammar and mechanics and proper MLA format throughout.
· Research is gracefully integrated into writer’s argument. Used proper MLA citation format. Attributed credit to authors when paraphrasing. All documented material included in bibliography. No plagiarism.
· Used relevant sources. Sources strongly support thesis and main ideas. Sources used appropriately and to prove important points.
· Has a bibliography that follows proper MLA format. Sources in alphabetical order. Uses a minimum of 3 sources.
