Exercise 14: Writing the Multiple-Source Argumentative Essay
(Return to the Unit 3 Table of Contents)

---

A.K.A. (Also Known As) the Research Paper: An Overview
For this course, the multiple-source argumentative essay is represented in the Research Paper Project.

What's Expected
You are to write a short, multiple-source argumentative paper addressing a controversy relative to a social issue of your choice. You will create the paper in stages, following the instructions outlined in Unit 4: The Research Paper.

Development of the Paper
Your purpose is to review the various positions or alternatives to the controversy and then to build an argument supporting your position or judgment. You will have to demonstrate familiarity with all sides of the controversy, be able to refute those with which you disagree, and argue persuasively for your point of view.

The paper, evaluated on a contract system, will be awarded a grade ranging from F to A. A "C" paper should be no fewer than 6 pages long, a "B" paper no fewer than 9 pages, and an "A" paper no shorter than 11 pages.

Submission of the Paper
You will be asked to complete a number of preliminary exercises associated with work you will complete in support of the research paper. You will submit the research paper itself, along with its drafts, no fewer than three times.  The first formal submission will be graded and returned with suggestions for revision or redevelopment. The second submission (optional) will be graded and returned.  The third submission will be a clean copy of the revised paper which will then be analyzed according to instructions for the final exam. The three grades on each submission will then be averaged for the final research paper grade.
.

Submitting Essays as E-Mail Attachments
It is absolutely essential to the security of your work that you follow exactly these guidelines:

1) Heading on Assignments/Email Message Texts
Place a heading on the first page of your essay in the upper left-hand corner.  Place the same information in each email message window.  The text must include the following information:

First Name-MIddle Initial-Last Name
DCCCD Student ID Number
Course-Course Number-Section Number
Month-Date-Year
Name of Assignment

Example:

John R. Pointer
ID 5555555
English 2326: 9543
February 20, 2001
Exercise 3

2) File Name
Save your file exactly according to this model:

JPointer-Ex3

3) Sending Me E-mail Messages
You must include your name and identify your message type in the subject line of each e-mail you send me.  For security reasons, if you fail to do so, I will delete your message without responding.

In the subject line, include your name and exercise number just as you saved your file above.
Example:

JPointer-Ex3

If you are sending me a message that needs immediate attention, then include one of the following formats in the subject line:

JPointer-Question
JPointer-Comment
JPointer-Urgent

Responding to Your E-mails
I always respond to your messages.  However, I always open "Question," "Comment," and "Urgent"  messages first and respond to them usually on the day I receive them. 

I will respond to your assignment messages within a day or two to let you know that I have received your work and files and whether or not I can open them.  To grade them, I open assignment messages in the order in which I received them.

Length of Time Required to Grade Your Work
It usually takes me from one to two weeks to grade essay-length papers and to return them.  Shorter papers I can grade much quicker.  I will return them as e-mail attachments to my response messages.
.
(Return to the Top)

This page was last modified on July 9, 2005,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
.