Research Paper Introduction 2012.pdf

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Research Paper – Persuasive Writing

11 Honors

Spring 2012

“

The beginning of thought is in disagreement-not only

with others but also with ourselves

.” Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983

1

Eric Hoffer’s idea, expressed above, suggests we should challenge our own ideas to see if

they can withstand the tests of logical argument. The research project we begin with this

handout is an opportunity for you to do just that. You will research a controversial topic

after which you will write a paper and compose a speech. Both the paper and the speech

should be designed to persuade readers to agree with what should be by then your

carefully considered point of view.

The thesis of both your paper and speech should set forth a proposition that reasonable

people might reasonably dispute. In your research, you should discover the grounds for

supporting one view, solution or policy over the other. You will shape your argument

2

to

defuse the objections – negative responses – of your readers and listeners.

Eric Hoffer was a self-educated longshoreman who came to fame in the 1950's with the publication of his first book, The True Believer, a caustic analysis of the nature of mass movements and those who are driven to join them. A born reader, he began to educate himself in the libraries of California while he supported himself with odd jobs and migrant farm labor. He lived on the road until 1941.

1

The Eric Hoffer Resource.

http://www.erichoffer.net/index.html

2_{Argument: a claim supported by logic, reasons, evidence. It may rest on unstated beliefs, values,}

principles.

Timeline for Persuasive Research Paper & Speech

1.

Topic deadline April 4, 2012

2.

Sources gathered, annotated by April 10, 2012

3.

Draft written April 19, 2012

4.

Revise April 30 -May 8, 2012

5.

Final revision – Tuesday, May 8, 2012

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“Persuasion is a general term that refers to the method by which a writer moves an audience to adopt a belief or follow a course of action. To persuade an audience a writer relies on various appeals – to the emotions, to reason, or to ethics.

Argumentation is the appeal to reason. In an argument, a writer connects a series of statements so that they lead logically to a conclusion to demonstrate that certain ideas are valid and others are not.”3

How can you be convincing?

To be convincing, use the tips below; they have been accumulated various books on

writing.

• Be skeptical of easy solutions to complicated problems; test them for flaws.

• Draw on beliefs or values shared with your audience.

• Present opposing arguments fairly.

• Summarize and refute opposing arguments.

• Concede the strengths of opposing arguments and offer the strengths of concerns both sides share.

• If possible, demonstrate to your readers how they will benefit from the position you are defining.

• Be sure to explain the circumstances, if limited, for which your claims holds true.

While this list may not be immediately useful, review it many times as you write. Its importance will be clear then.

They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing

Note the requirement for “primary” sources

.

While the definition below was crafted for historians, the standards are the same for other types of researchers.

“

Primary sources are original records created at the time historical events occurred or well after events in the form of memoirs and oral histories. Primary sources may include letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals, newspapers, speeches, interviews, memoirs, documents produced by government agencies such as Congress or the Office of the President, photographs, audio recordings, moving pictures or video

recordings, research data, and objects or artifacts such as works of art or ancient roads, buildings, tools, and weapons. These sources serve as the raw material to interpret the past, and when they are used along with previous interpretations by historians, they provide the resources necessary for historical research. “

http://tinyurl.com/agj5tl Reference & User Services Association, division of Ameican Library Association

Primary Sources are the "materials on a topic upon which subsequent interpretations or studies are based, anything from firsthand documents such as poems, diaries, court records, and interviews to research results generated by experiments, surveys, ethnographies, and so on."*

Secondary sources, on the other hand, offer an analysis or a restatement of primary sources. They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources. Some secondary sources not only analyze primary sources, but use them to argue a contention or to persuade the reader to hold a certain opinion. Examples of secondary sources include: dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, and books and articles that interpret or review research works

:

Primary Source Secondary Source

Art Original artwork Article critiquing the piece of art History Slave diary Book about the Underground Railroad Literature Poem Treatise on a particular genre of poetry

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*From Hairston, Maxine and John J. Ruszkiewicz. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers. 4th ed. New York : HarperCollins College Publishers, 1996, pg

Calendar of Due Dates & Milestones for Research Paper

https://sites.google.com/site/mrsshanklesenglish11honors/my-calendar

I. General Resources Par Excellence

Writing Center at the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/index.html

Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University

II. Getting Started

Learning Resource Center at our MHS Library Media Center

http://www.milfordschools.net/mhs/default.htm

Noodletools

http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html

III. Resources for Examples, Stories, Human Interest

National Public Radio http://npr.org/

Google Reader http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html

Milestones Checklist

1. Notes: annotated resources, reading log to demonstrate active reading on at least 10 sources.

2. Outline or Graphic Organizer: styles may vary, but must be a road map of the infrastructure of the thesis and how it will be supported in the paper. We will discuss styles in class.

3. Draft: paper must be sufficiently developed so that feedback can address quality of support, flow of writing, and grammar and mechanics. (At least 7 pages)

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Works Cited must be completed as the paper is written; a WC and citations must accompany draft!!)

Research Paper Checklist

PERSUASIVE MESSAGE BASED ON RESEARCH

I.

Introduction

II.

Thesis

III.

Support

with support!

Sources: 10 minimum composed of 4 primary, 6 secondary

1.

2 primary from each side

2.

3 secondary from each side

3.

Relevant information? Authoritative?

III.

Include at least one

chart

: Numbers or graphics to reinforce key ideas

IV.

Include an

image or picture

to illustrate a key point

V.

Counterargument

VI.

Conclusion

Note: Begin new paragraphs as you move to new subtopics that support your thesis. I will not tell you exactly how many paragraphs to write but rather tell you to watch for topic shifts as places to begin new paragraphs. Link paragraphs with transitions. Include topic sentences in each paragraph.

REVISION Considerations

Does introduction include a precise thesis?

Does the conclusion reflect the ideas of the introduction? Summarize

important ideas? Leave readers with a key idea?

Does the paper have logical organization that follows thesis?

Is your content fully developed? Have you given provided an

illustration and explanation for each point? What questions or doubts

have you left in readers’ minds?

Have you given credit to sources by citing borrowed ideas? Does your

references section include properly formatted entries?

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The Collecting Phase of Research



R

ead books and journals and magazines.



View films & documentaries.



Llisten to interviews & questionnaires.



Write to relevant, qualified primary sources.

WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY & HOW.

Answer “BECAUSE...” in the quest to develop a sharp thesis.

In the collecting phase, we must not only accumulate information, we must be active

readers and critical thinkers. As you gather informative material, look carefully to see

what information is lacking.

What is not there?

Who are the stakeholders in this arena?

Viewpoint A Viewpoint B

____________________________/_______________________________

Do you have a full spectrum of information on your topic? A quick look should show you

what you need to delve into to be sure you are fully informed on your topic. It would be

very unfortunate to have readers quickly dismiss your paper and your thesis because they

are aware of readily available information you overlooked.

READING & INVESTIGATING

As you are gathering source material, be engaged in

active reading

.

•

Annotate

the copies of articles, chapters, pamphlets, and other source materials

with ideas that will point you to other useful sources.

•

Summarize

the information from sources in a research log

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From Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab

The Argumentative Essay http://owl.english.purdue.edu

The Purdue OWL explains: What is an Argumentative Essay?

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to

investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. . .

Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal). . . The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other

positions are wrong outright, but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to date on the topic.

__________________________________

Hello Everyone! Read this through carefully before asking about your thesis.

Last year, I had a number of emails from people struggling with their theses (more than one thesis since it is for more than one person) or hoping to hear from me that they are headed in the right direction.

While I will try to get to each individual email, I thought I would send this explanation that contains the common pieces of advice I have had for most people I have chatted with so far.

Follow this pattern: Suppose I researched the issues involved with bird nests along routes where the state wants to build new highways. This thesis is toooo general:

Bird nests should be protected from development.

While that is true, it is too general unless I want to discuss all birds, their nests and all development.

So I improve it:

Birds nests in New Hampshire should be protected from highway development.

Yet this does not preview my paper completely. What makes the persuasive thesis different from the theses (that is thesis plural) you may have written in the past is the form: persuasive versus expository or others. In this genre, the main point must be supported in the thesis in general terms.

So I ask myself, “Why?” or “Because?”: because birds keep insects from getting out of control

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So let’s look now at my developing thesis about the birds:

Because endangered birds contribute to the ecosystem by keeping the insect population in check, birds nests in New Hampshire should be protected from new highway development by the State Department of Transportation so new convenient routes can avoid nesting areas.

My readers will learn about

• how birds are important for people and our health and well being • why we don’t want any types of birds to be killed off

• they will learn about highway routes are planned • they will learn who is responsible in NH

• they will learn about routes that upset nesting sites so that we lost species

• they will learn about how new routes can be done to still achieve transportation goals while protecting the birds

• counterarguments: they will learn that while it may cost money now, the price is

widespread infection and lost structures due to floods from water re-routing is much more expensive

Here is a template for writing your thesis:

1. What do you want to happen? not happen? 2. Why do you want it to happen? or not happen? 3. In general, how will it happen?

Answer those questions and weave them together in a thesis. If the answer gets too long and windy, divide it into two sentences that makes sense. If you still have questions, let me know you have read this far by sending the key word “latte”!

FINAL Version CHECKLIST

Elements

Check as

Complete

Point Value

10 pages of quality

content

250

Visual

25

Chart

25

Works Cited

Citations

75

Style, Grammar &

Mechanics

125

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Research Paper Reader Comments Log

Title (draft)of paper being read:___________________________________________

Student author:___________________________________

Reader:_________________________________________

1.

THESIS

After reading through this draft, what seems to be the thesis?

Check with the author to see if that is the thesis he or she intended. If not, discuss

with the author why you did not see the thesis. If he or she needs help sharpening

the focus, spend time now doing that.

Remember, the thesis drives the structure of the

paper.

Without a clear thesis, the paper wanders. What kind of claim is being made?

2.

SHAPE

Compare the draft with the author’s graphic organizers or outline. Does

the author have a logical sequence of points to support the thesis? How is the author

making an appeal to the reader? Write specific suggestions on the paper. General

comments?

3.

SUPPORT

As the author supports the claim of the thesis, is the claim supported

by research? Make notes on the paper at the places you feel support is needed. Ask

the author to mark “P” for primary sources and “S” for secondary sources

throughout the paper. Offer suggestions regarding support or help with MLA style.

4.

Challenges?

suggestions?

Did you challenge the author’s logic and support? Are

http://www.erichoffer.net/index.html

http://tinyurl.com/agj5tl

https://sites.google.com/site/mrsshanklesenglish11honors/my-calendar

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/index.html

http://www.milfordschools.net/mhs/default.htm

http://npr.org/

http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlereader/tour.html