PROJECT TWO: The Researched Essay (minimum of 3400 typed, polished words)

For this project, you will expand the issue/topic you explored in project one, and write a research essay on the same
topic/idea. The key to enjoying the research and the writing is deciding on the right topic. This is why we spent time
choosing a topic before beginning project one: If you truly care about your chosen subject, you will be much more likely
to compose a strong persuasive essay; plus, the research and the writing will not be pure drudgeryas they very well
could be if you were researching and writing an essay on a topic that you really didnt care about one way or another.
As you further explore your topic, and consider how project one will relate to project two, you will generate an
exploratory research question that you want your essay to answer. This research question is the cornerstone of your
essay, providing a guideline for you to follow your research wherever the information takes you. You are investigating
and possibly raising additional questions rather than providing a definitive answer or arguing for one side or another.
Therefore, a solid research question about your topic is crucial in ensuring your inquiry will be effective. Once your
research question is finalized, you will conduct extensive inquiry seeking connections between the information you
discover during your research and the potential significance to your topic and your audience. Your thorough research of
multiple sources and full analysis of your findings will be the foundation from which you develop your essay. Your
sources should be used as evidence to support, contradict or expand on your ideas, as your essay must include extensive
analysis around the question you explore.
To assist in this process, youll develop a Research Proposal, a Research-in-Progress Report, and a Research
Report. Finally, you will take your essay through stages of drafting and revision, which will include your proposal that
we workshop in class, the draft you bring to conference and workshop with Ms. Efstathion, the draft you workshop in
class, the fourth draft you submit for an as-is grade, and a final revision.
The purpose of the following three assignments is to help prepare you to confidently and effectively craft a
well-researched and thoughtful persuasive essay on a topic that truly engages you.

SHORT ASSIGNMENT #1: Research Proposal (minimum of 400 words)

You will need to write a research proposal designed to help you organize your ideas and intentions. This
proposal will be based on your exploration of your topic and your initial research. You should reflect on how
you became interested in your topic, how you came up with your research question, why you think its
important, and how you plan to explore the question in your research.

SHORT ASSIGNMENT #2: Research-in-Progress Report (minimum of 500 words)

Your Research-in-Progress Report should include three sections: your final research question, an annotated
bibliography, and a statement of whats missing in your research at this point. You will need to annotate
five potential sources, three of which must be academic, scholarly, and/or peer-reviewed sources, examining
credibility, relevance, potential incorporation, and potential connections to your research questions. This
report should also identify whats missing in your researchany information youre still searching for. You
should write annotations for each of the five sources, and each annotation should:
o Briefly summarize the source and its main ideas.
o Tell how the source relates to the research topic.
o Tell how the source relates/does not relate to the other sources.
o Optional: Tell what new/different information this source provides; explain weaknesses/strengths of
the source; tell what about the source you find especially interesting.
***See pgs. 297-300 in The Bedford Book of Genres for more information***

SHORT ASSIGNMENT #3: Research Report (minimum of 500 words)

You should review eight final sources and their content, discussing the relevance of each one to your topic and
how you plan to use it in your research essay. This should not be simply a repetition of the information
included in the previous assignment. Rather, it is a specific discussion of where and how you will include each
source in your essay.

THE RESEARCHED ESSSAY (minimum of 2000 words)

After completing the three preparatory assignments discussed above, you should be able to confidently and effectively
craft a well-researched and thoughtful essay that includes no fewer than ten sources, eight of which should be academic,
scholarly, and/or peer-reviewed sources.

FIRST DRAFT should be at least 1,000 words. After completing three short assignments, you should have
everything you need to have had a good start on your research essay.

SECOND DRAFT should be at least 1,500 words. You will have received feedback from your classmates, so
you should have everything you need to continue writing a well thought out research paper.

THIRD DRAFT should be at least 2,000 words and include a Works Cited page (Works Cited is not included
in your word count). This should be a complete draft of your essay.

FINAL DRAFT should be a complete, polished minimum 2000-word research essay incorporating eight
sources as described previously, parenthetical documentation as needed, and a correctly formatted Works Cited
page (all in MLA documentation style).