For this paper, you will need to find 5 sources to support your thesis. At least 2 of these sources must be from an academic journal. The Library Page gives you access to several Library Databases to Original Papers

For this paper, you will need to find 5 sources to support your thesis. At least 2 of these sources must be from an academic journal. The Library Page gives you access to several Library Databases to help you complete research for all of your classes. 

Your Task: 

Locate 3 sources that you may want to use for your paper and create a Works Cited page. For each article, give a summary of the article and a brief explanation why you chose to use this article.

“When writing a paper, creating a presentation, or putting together any assignment or making an argument, it’s important to identify your sources of information in order to give your assignments and arguments credibility. In order for your readers to locate the information sources you used, there are citation style formats that need to be followed to allow for consistency and completeness of sources.

While there are several citation style formats, the two primary styles used are MLA and APA. 

This guide provides resources on how to format sources in MLA and APA format. Most of the library’s databases as well as the library’s OneSearch system also have citation tools that allow you to copy and paste the citations into assignments.”

You will find that there are many databases, but the most commonly used for broad topics are found in the database research guide

ntroduction (250 words min). 

I have separated the rest of the paper into several component parts. I have done this to help deescalate the overwhelming nature of the assignment. The first part of the assignment will be the introduction, which I compare to the bread of a sandwich. It’s what goes on top of the argument to help deliver the essay to the reader (as the bread is what a person holds when eating a sandwich). Introductions to long papers are a little tricky sometimes, but ultimately, they need to accomplish the same goals as a normal intro: 

1) Get your audience’s attention.

2)  Give a little bit of background on your topic – enough that the reader has a general idea of what you’re talking about.

3) State your thesis, which should include your problem, your solution, and a general idea for the direction of the essay.

Note: while we’re writing the introduction first, understand that your introduction and thesis will probably change a bit by the end of your essay. That being said, consider this intro, and all the pieces, rough drafts. For grading, you will get full points for hitting your word count. 

Also, briefly remind me of your audience in a sentence before you start the intro, i.e. “My intended audience is single mothers” or “I am trying to persuade college-aged men.” This sentence isn’t a part of the intro, it’s simply a reminder to me.

Background (establishing the problem) (500 words min)

As the paper is long, a significant amount of your essay will need to address background information and arguments that have already been made about the topic in order to clearly define the problem. In academic journal articles, this section of the paper is often called the Literature Review. For this assignment, I would like you to simply introduce the problem you are exploring in your paper providing background information on it, including what other people have said about it. I consider this the “vegetables” of the argument sandwich because they are needed, but often overlooked. 

If you’re unsure what to put in this section, here are some ideas for what to write about in the background: 

1. Explain what the problem is that you are addressing.
2. Give reasons for why your problem is indeed an important problem that needs fixing, and provide evidence to back it up.
3. Share what other important authors have already written about the problem or other solutions that have been attempted.
4. Set up and summarize the major “sides” if the problem is controversial.
5. Be sure to define any key terms for your audience.
6. Give a brief history of the problem and its relationship to the topic if it would be helpful.
7. Explain why previous or alternative solutions are insufficient to solve the problem.

Note: the above is not an exhaustive list. It’s just some ideas. Most of the time, this section of the paper relies more on what others have said than what you have to say. So basically, the majority of this part of the assignment will be summarizing, quoting, and explaining sources you have already collected on the topic. For grading, you will get full points for hitting your word count.

Also, briefly remind me of your overall thesis and audience in a sentence before you start the background, i.e. “My intended audience is parents of teens and I’m trying to solve the problem of teen pregnancy by encouraging them to have more open discussions about sex in the home.” This sentence isn’t a part of the background, it’s simply a reminder to me.