The research paper is the culmination of all your work. So far, you’ve:
- Pitched and selected an arguable technology topic.
- Critically summarized the history and demonstrated your expertise on how it functions.
- Identified arguable issues about the technology; Through sysnthesis, you’ve identified a proper audience with both the authority and interest to make a change.
- Thoroughly researched the issue and audience and made connections with the annotated bibliography.
This paper is a comprehensive argument; however, don’t rely on existing positions for arguments. If the solution was in them, the issue would be solved. Make your own position where you propose ideas and solutions to the issue you’ve researched. The paper is formal, exact, and meant to be read by your chosen audience.
Whether, other scholars, heads of professional organizations, or government officials, they want your expertise in solving the issue. They are counting on you to recommend a solution that maximizes the benefits and minimizes the harms to satisfy everyone. You will need to write not just just to support your position, but by anticipating the kinds of questions they’re likely to ask. Work the answers to those questions into your position.
Most importantly, be specific about what your audience is supposed to do. Simply calling the government to take action and fix things is not enough. What action? Do you want Congress to make a law? Fine, what should it say? You don’t have to write the text of the law, but should outline in detail what it should cover and why. You are the expert they’re calling on who has looked at this topic from all angles. Be mindful of the economics, the effect on society, the public’s perception, the legal issues, and the current state of things.
I.3. Descriptive Summary, Critical Summary, and Argument.pdf
Assignment Requirements:
- Essays must be from 1500+ words. Max grade of C for shorter essays. 1/2 length essays not accepted.
- Max grade of C for essays without a clear, arguable thesis that employs strong verbs (avoid passives and helper verbs) and is free from vague language.
- One grade penalty for thesis statements over 13 words.
- One grade penalty for a list thesis.
- One grade penalty if the thesis ends in a question mark.
- One grade penalty for 1st (I, my, we, our, us, etc.) or 2nd (you, your) POV. Write in 3rd person.
- Each missing citation penalized 1 letter grade (in-text or Works Cited)
- (minimum of 6 quality sources, 2 of which must be peer-reviewed). Automatic 0 for no citations.
- You are free to use other types of sources, even those not reviewed, if you can substantiate the information from other sources (which you would also need to cite).
- I will randomly check source URLs. Make sure your URLs are correct and lead to the source. Invalid URLs will be penalized.
- One grade penalty for each missing type and medium at the end of works cited entries.
- Half grade penalty for each incorrect type identifications. You must have made a good-faith effort to correctly identify the source type according to the handouts in class and your own research into identifying and evaluating sources.
- You must integrate quotes from your sources into a cohesive argument (do not use them just to summarize information). Be careful that you do not spend the majority of your essay explaining the technology. Keep focused on the issues. In your discussion of the issues, you will naturally inform your reader while making your argument.
- One grade penalty for each dropped or standalone quotation.
- One grade penalty for each introduced quotation: The article states “blah blah blah” or Author notes “blah blah blah.”
- I will randomly search your sources for your integrated quotations. Make sure you quote accurately (and not take them out of context) or I will conclude an AI hallucinated your quote.
- Two grade penalty for each hallucinated source.
- You are limited to one (1) block quote for your entire essay. Remember that a block quote must be necessary to explain something technical. The quote does not explain itself, though, and you must provide context for it, at least as long as the quote itself, but do not simply paraphrase the quote.
- Write concisely. Cut unnecessary words. Overly long and complicated sentences obscuring meaning.
- Focus paragraphs on one idea. Overly long paragraphs lose their arguments.
The questions below are to help guide your examination of the topic. After each question, you will also need to ask: What do you recommend is the next step to bring this technology to people safely? or What changes need to be made to maximize the benefits and minimize the consequences of the technology?
- What future impacts on society will this technology have?
- Why is (or isn’t) the technology currently in widespread use by society?
- What have been the cultural effects of this technology, and how will society evaluate these effects?
- Can the technology be corrupted to cause harm (in any sense)?
*MUST USE THE ECS citation format.