It’s that time again…

It’s that time again…

Choose a side… Random drug testing is an effective way to prevent student drug abuse.

Choose a side… Antibullying programs are ineffective and unnecessary in American high schools.

Choose a side… The United States should not ban human cloning.

Choose a side… Oil drilling should be allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Choose a side… All Americans should be required to serve a minimum of two years in the military after high school.

The death penalty should be abolished.

Choose a side… Children of illegal immigrants should be deported.

Choose a side… The study of paranormal phenomena Is legitimate science.

Choose a side… Global warming is a myth.

Choose a side… Abortion violates human rights.

Choose a side… Health care is a right, not a privilege.

Choose a side… The ten commandments should be posted in public schools.

“Debates are not about the end but about the means to it.” – Aristotle, The Art of Rhetoric The research-based persuasive essay

End Goal… • Develop, through the sustained research of a specific topic, an informed opinion on a relevant contemporary issue • Construct a substantiated written argument that adheres to a high quality of persuasive writing skills • Design and present an impactful presentation incorporating a high end multimedia component

Over the next four weeks, students will be conducting a highly organized research project. Instruction on research techniques, source evaluation, systematic note-taking, as well as the writing process will occur. Students will be expected to maintain a research journal throughout the unit as they narrow and select a topic and conduct research on multiple related perspectives. In the end, students will draft and revise a 1000-1500 word persuasive essay establishing and defending a position on their topic. We will begin this week with a lesson on database research. Students should begin conducting preliminary research and writing down possible topics.

Week One Goals: Start a Research Journal Conduct exploratory research using Mountain Range library and database resources Choose a topic Begin compiling and annotating a bibliography

The Annotated Bibliography • Will become a “Works Cited” page. • A list of your sources with a brief statement (50-100 words) summarizing each source • See sample on blogspot

The Annotated Bibliography • Ten sources total • Alphabetize entries • 1” margins, 12 point font • Double space between entries (citations and annotations single-spaced) • Due …

http://citationmachine.net

Modified Cornell Note taking

Source Title Commentary Quotes from research (keep relatively small) Larger ideas, connections, summative considerations

Thesis Statement…

What is a thesis statement? • tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. • is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. • directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel. • makes a claim that others might dispute. • is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation (see http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html fore more details.)

Sample thesis (topic: abortion) • Abortion should be provided free of charge to women living below the poverty line • Abortion is not an acceptable choice • Abortion should be illegal in the United States

Sample thesis (topic: cloning) • Cloning is unnatural and, consequently, potentially dangerous. • More funding is needed for cloning research in the United States.

Sample thesis (topic: gun control) • The 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms) is outdated and it’s modern interpretation is not what the authors of the constitution intended. • Making firearms illegal in the United States would not affect the crime rate. • All US citizens of legal age are entitled to carry a firearm.

Upcoming deadlines… …Basic research of original sources complete* (Notebook Check) …Thesis statement due …Formal Outlines due

Rough Drafts • Due … • 1000-1500 words • 12 Font • Times New Roman • Double-spaced • Last name and page number at top right side of each page

It’s that time again…