Exercise 22:
Drafting the Body of the Research Paper
(Return to the Unit 4 Table of Contents)

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Instructions:
Complete items 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e from the outline of the argumentative research paper (No. 6 in the Research Paper Outlines).

A description of the Draft for Each Section

Section 2a: An Orientation to the Public Issue
This section should be approximately 3-5 paragraphs in which you define the public issue, review its history or evolution, describe the current situation or condition, and identify the various elements, agencies, or factors currently involved in the problem. You should quote or otherwise cite information from your sources in the development of this section.

Section 2b: A Summary of Each Position of the Public Issue
This section should be two paragraphs or longer, depending on the number of perspec- tives or points of view are voiced or represented on the issue. Each paragraph should reflect the essential position and should review the major reasons or premises supporting it. You should quote or otherwise cite information from your sources in the development of this section. Note that each claim you plan to attack in Section 2d should be introduced in this section.

Section 2c: Statement of Your Position and Criterion(a) Supporting It
This section should be two or three sentences long, at the most. You should begin the paragraph by restating your thesis, rewording it stylistically (without changing the substance or its meaning) for sentence variety. The criterion is the primary factor or concern motivating your position on the issue. Here’s an example: “Economically and politically, NAFTA has been unsuccessful in its first three years.” The terms “economically” and “politically” reflect two criteria (the standards) on which you have based your judgment. You should not argue your position at this point.

Section 2d: Refute the Opposing Points of View or Positions
This section, perhaps, will be the longer of the five sections. In this part of your paper, you should challenge the weak or unacceptable claims (premises andlor conclusions) of each of the positions with which you disagree. You should devote a full paragraph to each point you attack. Use information from your sources to support your dismissal of each claim.

Section 2e: Introduce and Develop the Argument Supporting Your Position 
This section, including several paragraphs, should build the case for your position. Start by stating your position. If you have quite a few premises (reasons) supporting it, you may want to summarize your basic reasons in a single paragraph. Then develop each premise (reason) supporting your position in a separate paragraph. Each premise (reason) will be a topic sentence for a paragraph; don “ start any paragraph here (or in sections above) with a quotation or citation of a source. Save your most important reason(s) for last, building your case to a climax.
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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.
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This page was last modified on July 9, 2005,
and is maintained by Dr. Geoffrey A. Grimes.
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