Essay

Objective
Over the course of the semester, we’ve discussed entering and contributing to an existing conversation. We’ve also examinated how thinking critically and writing clearly can bring about change – in one’s perceptions, in one’s beliefs, and in one’s actions. Your task for your final research assignment is to select, research, and develop a position on an issue/problem that interests you and/or that you feel strongly about.
The final research paper will take the form of a policy essay. Your policy essay should have clear thesis/claim that identifies your intended audience (i.e., who is in a position to affect change), the problem/issue being addressed, and your call to action. In order to persuade your audience to agree with your proposed solution, you will use outside sources to substantiate your claim/position. In order to gain credibility with this audience, you need to show that you are well-informed, that you understand the issue/problem in all its facets, and that you have considered (and addressed) opposing points of view. N.B., essays on highly charged topics, such as abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia, will not be accepted.

Research Requirements
For this essay, outside research is required. Using at least six (6) secondary sources, you will demonstrate the merits of your proposed solution. Your research will consist primarily of relevant and reliable sources found via the MRU Library’s catalogue and databases. Four of the six sources used in your paper must scholarly (ideally, peer-reviewed). The remaining secondary sources need not be scholarly; however, you should carefully evaluate your remaining sources (i.e., your source’s author and his/her expertise, its reliability, its currency, its audience, and its sponsorship).
When conducting your research, focus on the following:
Discover all the reasonable positions (“sides”) that have been taken on this issue/problem and what these arguments entail.
Learn about the history and background of the issue/problem so you know how it evolved.
Uncover the current and relevant facts/information related to your issue/problem as well as your position.
Your assignment will be graded on how effectively it meets the above criteria as well as the following: the clarity of your writing and thinking; your writing style; the organization of the essay as a whole; your adherence to MLA guidelines; and the depth and quality of your research. This assignment is a culmination of the skills you’ve been developing over the course of this semester.
Length and Appearance
Your essay must be approx. 1,500 words (excluding the “Works Cited” page). Your essay must be typed (using 12-point Times New Roman font) and double-spaced. Moreover, your assignment must follow the conventions of MLA format, as outline here: http://www.mtroyal.ca/library/files/citation/mla_format.pdf
MLA Documentation
Your paper must follow the MLA guidelines for proper formatting and citation. A complete and accurate Works Cited page is required, and all citations must adhere to current MLA guidelines. You must also use parenthetical references (i.e., in-text citations) in the body of your essay every time you cite (i.e., quote, paraphrase, or summarize) a secondary source.
Copies of Secondary Sources
For verification purposes, you must submit a copy of the “title page” for all secondary sources cited in your essay. You must also submit any pages of those sources that you cite in your essay. Please highlight the portion of the document you cited in your essay and staple this to the source’s title page. Entire journal articles, book chapters, etc. are not required, nor are they desired. Only highlight and submit the portion of the document cited in your essay. These should be organized according to the order in which they appear in your Works Cited list and should be submitted along with your essay in order to it to be considered complete. N.B., simply supplying links to articles and e-books is not sufficient to fulfill this requirement of the assignment. Failure to submit copies of your secondary sources may result in late marks and/or failure of the assignment.
Plagiarism
All written work must be original. As with all assignments, you are expected to conduct your research with integrity and due diligence, properly distinguishing your ideas from those of your sources. Summaries and paraphrases must be written in your own words, and direct quotations must be enclosed in quotations marks. N.B., Students who attempt to cite, but fail to fully document their sources (i.e., paraphrases too close to the original, missing quotations marks, and/or incorrect in-text citations) may not receive a passing grade. Students who fail to conform to MLA guidelines or who use another’s words and ideas without proper attribution will receive a grade of zero. All incidents of plagiarism will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.
Quality
Pay attention to language and grammar. Write in standard English/academic prose (avoid slang and contractions). Ensure that you’ve edited your text for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. An essay is the best expression of your thoughts and writing abilities and will be judged accordingly. In other words, spend at least as much time rewriting (editing and proofreading) as you spend on your first draft. Rewriting is where your argument (and grade) will improve.

Student Learning Services
Student Learning Services can also help you improve your writing. Either make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a Writing and Learning Strategist or take advantage of the drop-in service offered at the library. See the Student Learning Services website for more information: http://www.mtroyal.ca/AcademicSupport/ResourcesServices/StudentLearningServices/WritingLearningServices/index.htm

Submission Guidelines
Students may submit their papers electronically (as a Word or .pdf attachment) Papers received after this deadline will be penalized per the course policy regarding late assignments. Only those papers submitted in hard copy at the beginning of class will receive written feedback from me. N.B., students are responsible for the files that they upload and are limited to a single submission. No exceptions. Assignments received in another file format (such as Pages) will not be accepted, and if I am unable to open the attached files, late marks will be deducted. Similarly, assignments submitted via email will not be accepted.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding this assignment, please do not hesitate to contact me.

GNED 1401 Final Research Paper_1