Use scholarly and popular sources to construct a researched argument about a current
issue that’s connected to your major, or to another area that interests you. You will conduct secondary research
using Purdue Library databases and other digital tools (such as Google Scholar) in order to help inform your
own position on the issue. Finally, you will evaluate, summarize, and synthesize sources to present a complex,
persuasive thesis to an unfamiliar audience about your field.
GETTING STARTED
For this paper, you'll identify a problem in the scholarly conversation you have been investigating, and you'll
explain this problem to an unfamiliar audience, arguing and persuading your audience that they should care
about this issue.This means you'll need to support your argument with evidence that you've found within that
scholarly conversation or in other relevant sources. You will also need to explain why this problem matters to
your particular field based on evidence. So, you'll need to: 1.Make clear what problem you have found,
explaining it to an unfamiliar audience
2.Make clear why this problem is relevant to your field
3.Demonstrate the ways this problem extends beyond the members of your academic community using
evidence that your audience will find persuasive. You will be creating an extended argument (4–6 pages) for
this project. Consequently, you must select a topic and design a research question that you can extensively
research during this time frame. You will also be extending the work of this essay for your third writing project,
so pick a topic that is genuinely interesting to you.
brainstorming a topic or issue to research for this project. Keep in mind that you should focus your research on
a narrow, focused question that is debatable; that is, that can be explored from multiple perspectives and is not
a ‘matter-of-fact’. Our readings for this unit will focus on asking quality questions, narrowing your topic,
evaluating sources, and arguing for your ideas. Your argument for this paper should move beyond a simple
assessment of “X technology is good for Y profession,” or “the outsourcing of jobs is bad for Z business.”
You’re making an argument to a learned community of peers in a specific field or discipline, and an academic
approach asks you to be careful, methodical, and measured in your conclusions. You need to be attentive to
making sure that your logic is sound, and that your evidence supports what you claim, which will require you to
think about counter-evidence and refutation.PROJECT EXPECTATIONS
Your final paper for this project should:
Be 2,250–2,500 words (4–6 pages)
Typed in 12 point font and double spaced with 1” marginsCite your sources in a scholarly style of your
choice (MLA, APA, or Chicago)Include a bibliography
Articulate the importance of the issue you are investigating or the question you are answering.
Demonstrate the thoroughness of your research by contextualizing your argument with others’ work and
ideas
Provide information and evidence that your scholarly audience will find persuasive
Address counter arguments or potential weaknesses of your own position
Synthesize at least 7 sources, including at least 4 scholarly sources from the Purdue Libraries’ .