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Prof. Ebert - ENC 1101, ENC1102, & AML2020

LibGuides to support the course work and assignments for Professor Valorie Ebert's classes at Broward College

Final Research Paper

Two Options (Modes) for Your Researched Essay Assignment

Regardless of which mode you select the process of writing this paper is divided into four assignments:

  1. Research Proposal
  2. Annotated Bibliography
  3. Rough and Final: Researched Essay
  4. Abstract

Write an argumentative research paper that proposes a practical solution to your chosen issue and remember to consider the concept of unintended consequences. 

You are going to pick one of the topics we have discussed this semester that has a direct impact on your life, your school, or your local community and research more about it. For instance, you may want to look up the Tree Equity Score in your neighborhood or you may want to think about how an invasive species in Florida can cause a trophic cascade, or you may want to research more information about local Florida companies like Free Plastic who work to clean up and take the plastics out of the local communities.  

Assignment Guidelines

  • You will have a total of at least three sources in your paper:
    • One of the readings from this semester as the primary text.
    • Two outside sources for support that are related to the specific issue you have chosen.
  • All articles must be from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals or from a source that the librarian has given you. This means Google is not acceptable. 
  • Both the rough and final draft must be 4-5 pages long in MLA style
  • The page length does not include your Works Cited page.
  • You must have a quote from the primary source you choose and one other source in every body paragraph.

Additional instructions for each part of your paper are included below. 

Write an argumentative research paper that proposes a practical solution to your chosen issue and remember to consider the concept of unintended consequences.

Mode 1 (Option 1) Guidelines:

Your essay should put forth a practical proposal, not a policy or opposing viewpoint one.

One possible way to develop the proposal argument research essay is to focus on one solution and the 3-5 supporting reasons for it being the best solution.

A sample thesis for this mode would read: "Because of the high amount of plastic washing up on our local beaches, organizations like Free Plastic came up with a unique solution to the problem, but another solution to this problem would be to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the oceans."

The essay body would then go on to support this position--that reducing or eliminating plastic products that are produced and sold is the best solution--by developing 3-5 reasons.

Write an argumentative research paper that proposes a practical solution to your chosen issue and remember to consider the concept of unintended consequences.

Mode 2 (Option 2) Guidelines:

Your essay should put forth a practical proposal, not a policy or opposing viewpoint one.

Develop the proposal argument research essay is to focus on a series of solutions that should be implemented to solve a problem.

A sample thesis for this mode would read: "Because of invasive species in Florida like agama lizards who eat insects including butterflies, the already endangered butterfly population in Florida is getting worse, but there are solutions to this problem including reporting, catching, and destroying the lizards."

The thesis may also lay out the proposed solutions themselves, as in "Because many local low-income neighborhoods in South Florida have very low tree equity scores, native tree planting campaigns should be held, local governments should offer incentives for residents to plant native trees, and residents should be educated about the benefits of planting native trees."

The essay body would then propose each solution, and the accompanying rationale and evidence, in its own paragraph.