EN 101 Essay #3: Call to Action Research Essay – Proposing a Solution
Essay directions: 6 pages plus a Works Cited:
Identify a problem or issue impacting your career field (current or future) and propose a practical, realistic solution.
Address the following (this is the organization of the essay):
• Define the problem. Discuss context and causes.
• State your solution as a clear thesis.
• Convince the reader that your proposed solution will work. Discuss implementation and desired results.
• Anticipate questions from readers.
• Cover counter-arguments, including alternative solutions.
• Conclude with a summary and statement of the importance of change (call to action).
• Use credible research in order to define the problem and to propose a solution.
• Correct in-text citations and a Works Cited page in MLA 8 format.
Research this problem in-depth in order to understand the background and provide readers with a concrete understanding of the problem. Do not assume readers share your beliefs; instead, envision a skeptical audience that you need to persuade.
Since proposals are calls to action, as a writer, you must anticipate the reader’s need to be convinced and their potential objections. Solutions cannot be reduced to a protest or a letter to a Senator/legal representative, as these solutions are far too general and could apply to any social problem. Readers should be convinced that your proposed solution is more likely to work than other solutions. (For example, a proposal that is not cost-effective is unlikely to be accepted by readers. Likewise, a solution that cannot be sustained or maintained will not be convincing.) You do not need to invent a solution for this essay; research the issue to explore possible solutions. Consider researching solutions that have been tried in other industries or in other locations.
Possible Topics
The best topics are exploratory – you will want to explore an issue rather than prove a point that you’re already sure of. If you already think you know what the solution is before you’ve done any research, you’ll need to select a different topic. The purpose of this paper (and of all college-level writing) is not to re-hash ideas you already have, but generate new ideas that are based on and supported by research.
Off-Limit Topics
While I encourage you to explore a topic that interests you, there are several topics that are off-limits for this paper. These topics are either too controversial (leading to a lack of credible sources on either side of the debate, rendering it nearly impossible to convince readers), too broad/general, or overdone. Topics that are not acceptable (and will not receive credit) for this assignment: abortion, conspiracy theories, death penalty, drinking age, GMOs, legalizing drugs, other overly-divisive or political topics (ask if you are not sure!), topics that are identical to examples in our book or on Blackboard.
Research Requirements
Papers that do not follow these guidelines will not receive a passing grade. Papers either missing a Works Cited or in-text citations in MLA format (or missing both) will not receive credit. Remember, failure to document sources is plagiarism.
• Use a minimum of six scholarly sources. A strong, passing paper will use more like 8-10 sources; challenge yourself to use 12.
• At least four sources need to be from the library databases (peer-reviewed journals) and must be academic articles at least 800 words in length. All of your sources may come from library databases.
• Other sources must be evaluated for credibility: newspapers, magazine articles, books, chapters from books, websites, documentaries, interviews, etc. Check ethos!
• Cite least five different credible authors. Readers will question the credibility of a research paper that only cites one or two authors.
• Use all three methods of source integration: direct quotes, summaries, paraphrases. Most of the paper, however, should be your own words.
• Synthesize your research rather than discussing sources separately in different body paragraphs. Make connections and identify trends in the research.
• Use the Information Literacy Toolkit (ILT) in Blackboard as a reference to help you at each stage in the research and writing process.
• Headings are strongly recommended.
• Visuals (charts, graphs, etc.) are also recommended, but make sure they are cited correctly.
• Save your sources as you do your research – print or save to your computer.
Sources that are NOT Acceptable
• Wikipedia (but use as “pre-search”)
• eHow articles
• reddit
• About.com and similar websites
• book reviews (someone else’s opinion of a source)
• sources with a low reading level
• answers posted to online discussion forums
• general dictionary definitions
• yourself (Use your own ideas in the paper but not as a “source.”)
Citation generators
Citation generators (KnightCite, EasyBib, Citation Machine, BibMe, etc.) are helpful tools, but do not rely on them to give you an accurate citation. Proofread the citations they give you against Purdue Owl and our textbook. Avoid citations generated in Word.
EN 101 Essay #3: Call to Action Research Essay – Proposing a Solution
Essay directions: 6 pages plus a Works Cited:
Identify a problem or issue impacting your career field (current or future) and propose a practical, realistic solution.
Address the following (this is the organization of the essay):
• Define the problem. Discuss context and causes.
• State your solution as a clear thesis.
• Convince the reader that your proposed solution will work. Discuss implementation and desired results.
• Anticipate questions from readers.
• Cover counter-arguments, including alternative solutions.
• Conclude with a summary and statement of the importance of change (call to action).
• Use credible research in order to define the problem and to propose a solution.
• Correct in-text citations and a Works Cited page in MLA 8 format.
Research this problem in-depth in order to understand the background and provide readers with a concrete understanding of the problem. Do not assume readers share your beliefs; instead, envision a skeptical audience that you need to persuade.
Since proposals are calls to action, as a writer, you must anticipate the reader’s need to be convinced and their potential objections. Solutions cannot be reduced to a protest or a letter to a Senator/legal representative, as these solutions are far too general and could apply to any social problem. Readers should be convinced that your proposed solution is more likely to work than other solutions. (For example, a proposal that is not cost-effective is unlikely to be accepted by readers. Likewise, a solution that cannot be sustained or maintained will not be convincing.) You do not need to invent a solution for this essay; research the issue to explore possible solutions. Consider researching solutions that have been tried in other industries or in other locations.
Possible Topics
The best topics are exploratory – you will want to explore an issue rather than prove a point that you’re already sure of. If you already think you know what the solution is before you’ve done any research, you’ll need to select a different topic. The purpose of this paper (and of all college-level writing) is not to re-hash ideas you already have, but generate new ideas that are based on and supported by research.
Off-Limit Topics
While I encourage you to explore a topic that interests you, there are several topics that are off-limits for this paper. These topics are either too controversial (leading to a lack of credible sources on either side of the debate, rendering it nearly impossible to convince readers), too broad/general, or overdone. Topics that are not acceptable (and will not receive credit) for this assignment: abortion, conspiracy theories, death penalty, drinking age, GMOs, legalizing drugs, other overly-divisive or political topics (ask if you are not sure!), topics that are identical to examples in our book or on Blackboard.
Research Requirements
Papers that do not follow these guidelines will not receive a passing grade. Papers either missing a Works Cited or in-text citations in MLA format (or missing both) will not receive credit. Remember, failure to document sources is plagiarism.
• Use a minimum of six scholarly sources. A strong, passing paper will use more like 8-10 sources; challenge yourself to use 12.
• At least four sources need to be from the library databases (peer-reviewed journals) and must be academic articles at least 800 words in length. All of your sources may come from library databases.
• Other sources must be evaluated for credibility: newspapers, magazine articles, books, chapters from books, websites, documentaries, interviews, etc. Check ethos!
• Cite least five different credible authors. Readers will question the credibility of a research paper that only cites one or two authors.
• Use all three methods of source integration: direct quotes, summaries, paraphrases. Most of the paper, however, should be your own words.
• Synthesize your research rather than discussing sources separately in different body paragraphs. Make connections and identify trends in the research.
• Use the Information Literacy Toolkit (ILT) in Blackboard as a reference to help you at each stage in the research and writing process.
• Headings are strongly recommended.
• Visuals (charts, graphs, etc.) are also recommended, but make sure they are cited correctly.
• Save your sources as you do your research – print or save to your computer.
Sources that are NOT Acceptable
• Wikipedia (but use as “pre-search”)
• eHow articles
• reddit
• About.com and similar websites
• book reviews (someone else’s opinion of a source)
• sources with a low reading level
• answers posted to online discussion forums
• general dictionary definitions
• yourself (Use your own ideas in the paper but not as a “source.”)
Citation generators
Citation generators (KnightCite, EasyBib, Citation Machine, BibMe, etc.) are helpful tools, but do not rely on them to give you an accurate citation. Proofread the citations they give you against Purdue Owl and our textbook. Avoid citations generated in Word.
Example Research Paper in uploaded file.