Q Position Paper Cannon Throughout the semester, you have practiced researching, summarizing, and evaluating resources. For your final paper, you will construct a rational, well-researched argument of your own, synthesizing all the skills you have honed this semester. The topic of this paper should be directly tied to an issue within your major or future career field. You will request approval on this topic in a Memo Proposal and present research on this topic in an Annotated Bibliography Assignment. You will present your topic and stance in a class presentation at the end of the semester. Student Goals/Objectives: ? Demonstrate research processes to develop and explore questions relevant in academic and other rhetorical contexts; ? Demonstrate writing processes and the habits of revision by producing polished drafts in response to a variety of rhetorical situations; ? Apply strategies for locating, evaluating, and incorporating, and citing electronic, textual and/or primary research sources to explore questions relevant in academic and other contexts; ? Engage evidence from multiple sources to support and develop ideas in writing ? Demonstrate effective decision-making about language use for specific audiences and purposes The Assignment: 1. The topic should be consistent with your Memo Proposal and your Annotated Bibliography assignments. 2. This assignment should use a minimum of six sources. At least four must be from Curry library databases; at least three must be from peer-reviewed journal articles. 3. Work through a series of drafts to construct a compelling, balanced, rational argument of 6-10 pages. Papers must be at least six full pages to not receive length deductions. Expectations: Refer to the grading rubric for a breakdown of grades. Specific guidelines for this assignment include: • Introduces the topic and its importance in its field in the introductory paragraph. • Clearly articulates a thesis that expresses a firm position on the topic. (Note: This should not come until you have completed a thorough research process and considered all sides of an argument) • Acknowledges opposing arguments and refutes them using solid, research-based evidence. Compromise may be present. • Demonstrates a clear opinion using an objective academic tone. • Makes legitimate claims that are backed with solid, research-based evidence rather than personal testimony or mere conjecture. • Effectively incorporates source material (including direct quotations) and provides thoughtful analysis of the selected evidence. Avoids overusing direct quotes. • Includes a properly formatted Works Cited/References page and uses internal in-text documentation appropriately. • Engages in a conversation with sources (consider Response Template from earlier in the semester, as well as They Say/I Say techniques). • Utilizes one of the argumentative structures we discussed in class (Classical, Toulmin, Rogerian, or Invitational). • Exhibits improvement between drafts, is carefully proofed, and displays the author’s effort to implement suggestions from previous coursework. Documentation: Papers should use MLA format, unless a request for alternate approval to use APA documentation is made in the Memo Proposal. APA documentation will only be approved if it is the documentation style used within your discipline. See syllabus for complete course calendar.