Is the war in Afghanistan necessary?

The Research Essay requires you to write a modified argumentative research essay using a piece of literature as your starting point (options are posted below). The goal of this essay is to present both sides of an argument then assert a conclusion. Essay is to be written in formal, academic tone using third person. 1. Read through the selections provided on this page. 2. Choose a piece of literature you will work with. 3. Review the theme(s) presented in the writing. The theme you choose will be the basis for your topic choice. (A broad theme of the writing is listed next to each; you will need to narrow your topic based on this broad theme.) 4. After you have decided on a broad topic, you will need to narrow your focus and develop a thesis and supporting details. In other words, based on the theme, you will develop a research-based essay about your specific topic. In many ways, you will be writing a traditional research essay. One of the key differences is that you will use a piece of literature as your basis for the topic. You will use the piece as a source (cite the source in MLA format) and incorporate the discussion and analysis of the theme and piece of literature into your own paper. Another way to think of it is this: Develop a paper, and within the paper, also explain how that topic is portrayed in a piece of literature. You must choose an original, current, relevant topic. Historical and/or over-used topics are not permitted. Faith-based (religious) topics/arguments are also prohibited. **See other sections in this unit for more about topic selection.** Choose one of the following as the basis for you paper. There were two other options but I chose this one: \"Anthem for Doomed Youth\" by Wilfred Owen (Broad themes: War, Death, and Violence) Essay Format Your essay must use the following format and must use the following headings. (Remember to also include a descriptive title for your essay.) Introduction Background Arguments for [insert your topic and wording to create an effective heading] Arguments against [insert your topic and wording to create an effective heading] Conclusion Additional Essay Guidelines Essay must be written in MLA format and include both in-text citations and Works Cited. Works Cited does not count towards minimum page length/word count requirement. Essay must utilize and cite one of the pieces of literature as described above. Essay must cite 5-7 additional credible sources. Sources must be relatively current. No sources (besides the literature text) before 2005 are acceptable (unless used in historical context). *Note: Select topics may require much more current sources, such as political or scientific essays. Sources must be varied, that is using only books, only journals, or only databases, etc. is not acceptable. Acceptable sources are as follows: books, databases, scholarly journals, audio/video recordings, interviews, magazines. (Online or print versions of credible magazines are acceptable.) A maximum of one Internet source (professional website) may be used, provided the source is credible. (In this class, online SC4 databases ARE NOT considered Internet sources.) Encyclopedia articles (Wikipedia), abstracts, reviews, and dictionary definitions are not considered acceptable sources. Essays that do not cite AND utilize a piece of literature from the list above will receive no credit. Essays that do not fulfill the assignment by selecting and writing about an appropriate theme will receive no credit. (If your topic idea is approved by me through the topic proposal, this should not be a problem--unless, of course, you switch topics without approval.) o Name, class, date, etc. are formatted correctly at the top left of the first page. o Page numbers are formatted according to MLA guidelines. o Essay contains an original title. o Essay is between 2100-3000 words. (Works Cited does not count towards length requirement.) o Essay is written entirely in third person (he, she it, they) and avoids both first (I, we) and second (you, your) person. o A clear, arguable thesis statement appears within the first one or two paragraphs. (Readers should be able to identify the topic of the essay, its focus, and your stance by reading only the thesis.) o The essay is argumentative, rather than informative. (In other words, readers can agree or disagree with your thesis and main points.) o Arguments are clear and specific and provide ample support from outside resources. For example, if the essay states \"Law ‘X\' should be repealed\" the essay must provide sufficient evidence from outside sources to explain, argue, and provide reasons why Law X should be repealed. In some cases, two or three sources might be needed to support the argument. o Main ideas of the essay are developed in appropriate paragraphs and individual topics/ideas are developed in separate paragraphs. (Several paragraphs may be needed to fully address a main argument.) o The essay addresses both sides of the argument according to assignment guidelines. o The essay discusses and cites the chosen piece of literature (as described in assignment guidelines). o A maximum of one Internet source is used. o In addition to the chosen piece of literature, 5-7 additional credible and assignment- appropriate sources are cited. o The essay uses correct MLA in-text citations to cite all information that is summarized, paraphrased, or quoted. (See resources in the Research Module and MLA Information Module for assistance with MLA.) o All sources cited in-text appear in correct MLA format as entries on a Works Cited. (See resources in the Research Module and Course Basics for assistance with MLA.)

The Research Essay requires you to write a modified argumentative research essay using a piece of literature as your starting point (options are posted below).

The goal of this essay is to present both sides of an argument then assert a conclusion.

Essay is to be written in formal, academic tone using third person.

1. Read through the selections provided on this page.

2. Choose a piece of literature you will work with.

3. Review the theme(s) presented in the writing. The theme you choose will be the basis for your topic choice. (A broad theme of the writing is listed next to each; you will need to narrow your topic based on this broad theme.)

4. After you have decided on a broad topic, you will need to narrow your focus and develop a thesis and supporting details. In other words, based on the theme, you will develop a research-based essay about your specific topic.

In many ways, you will be writing a traditional research essay. One of the key differences is that you will use a piece of literature as your basis for the topic. You will use the piece as a source (cite the source in MLA format) and incorporate the discussion and analysis of the theme and piece of literature into your own paper.

Another way to think of it is this: Develop a paper, and within the paper, also explain how that topic is portrayed in a piece of literature.

You must choose an original, current, relevant topic. Historical and/or over-used topics are not permitted. Faith-based (religious) topics/arguments are also prohibited.

**See other sections in this unit for more about topic selection.**

Choose one of the following as the basis for you paper.

There were two other options but I chose this one:

\"Anthem for Doomed Youth\" by Wilfred Owen (Broad themes: War, Death, and Violence)

Essay Format

Your essay must use the following format and must use the following headings. (Remember to also include a descriptive title for your essay.)

Introduction

Background

Arguments for [insert your topic and wording to create an effective heading]

Arguments against [insert your topic and wording to create an effective heading]

Conclusion

Additional Essay Guidelines

Essay must be written in MLA format and include both in-text citations and Works Cited. Works Cited does not count towards minimum page length/word count requirement.

Essay must utilize and cite one of the pieces of literature as described above.

Essay must cite 5-7 additional credible sources.

Sources must be relatively current. No sources (besides the literature text) before 2005 are acceptable (unless used in historical context). *Note: Select topics may require much more current sources, such as political or scientific essays.

Sources must be varied, that is using only books, only journals, or only databases, etc. is not acceptable.

Acceptable sources are as follows: books, databases, scholarly journals, audio/video recordings, interviews, magazines. (Online or print versions of credible magazines are acceptable.)

A maximum of one Internet source (professional website) may be used, provided the source is credible. (In this class, online SC4 databases ARE NOT considered Internet sources.)

Encyclopedia articles (Wikipedia), abstracts, reviews, and dictionary definitions are not considered acceptable sources.

Essays that do not cite AND utilize a piece of literature from the list above will receive no credit.

Essays that do not fulfill the assignment by selecting and writing about an appropriate theme will receive no credit. (If your topic idea is approved by me through the topic proposal, this should not be a problem--unless, of course, you switch topics without approval.)

o Name, class, date, etc. are formatted correctly at the top left of the first page.

o Page numbers are formatted according to MLA guidelines.

o Essay contains an original title.

o Essay is between 2100-3000 words. (Works Cited does not count towards length requirement.)

o Essay is written entirely in third person (he, she it, they) and avoids both first (I, we) and second (you, your) person.

o A clear, arguable thesis statement appears within the first one or two paragraphs. (Readers should be able to identify the topic of the essay, its focus, and your stance by reading only the thesis.)

o The essay is argumentative, rather than informative. (In other words, readers can agree or disagree with your thesis and main points.)

o Arguments are clear and specific and provide ample support from outside resources. For example, if the essay states \"Law ‘X\' should be repealed\" the essay must provide sufficient evidence from outside sources to explain, argue, and provide reasons why Law X should be repealed. In some cases, two or three sources might be needed to support the argument.

o Main ideas of the essay are developed in appropriate paragraphs and individual topics/ideas are developed in separate paragraphs. (Several paragraphs may be needed to fully address a main argument.)

o The essay addresses both sides of the argument according to assignment guidelines.

o The essay discusses and cites the chosen piece of literature (as described in assignment guidelines).

o A maximum of one Internet source is used.

o In addition to the chosen piece of literature, 5-7 additional credible and assignment- appropriate sources are cited.

o The essay uses correct MLA in-text citations to cite all information that is summarized, paraphrased, or quoted. (See resources in the Research Module and MLA Information Module for assistance with MLA.)

o All sources cited in-text appear in correct MLA format as entries on a Works Cited. (See resources in the Research Module and Course Basics for assistance with MLA.)