SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
English 102
First Research Essay Assignment
This first paper should be a scholarly exploration (research) of some of the sources of your diet. As Michael Pollan does in his book The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, I want you to find the sources of one of you meals or one of the items you eat regularly. From this information you should develop an argument. Something you think this information shows. Be sure to look at some of the chapters in his book and see the kind of arguments he has put together about everything from growing hybrid corn to slaughtering cattle to hunting pigs ( you may be able to use his book as a source or use some of his sources as your sources). Be sure to help your fellow students by letting them know of sources that might help them.
Steps and Requirements:
Write down a carefully-considered research question in your Research Journal.
Look for resources in the library that may be incorporated into your paper. Keep notes on search in Research Journal.
Choose a point of view you wish your reader to adopt.
Consider who your audience is and what rhetorical strategy will best convince your readers.
Make sure the point of view you devise is neither too broad for an essay nor too narrow.
Write a focused Argumentative Essay using detailed documented facts to support your argument.
Title the essay with a title that captures the unique essence of the essay.
Type the Argumentative Essay—4 to 6 pages double-spaced—with the following heading:
Your Name
English 102
Quarter, Year
1st Research Essay
Make sure you use at least two valid, scholarly sources.
Cite sources using MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style.
Fill out Essay Evaluation completely (including number of points earned and precise, detailed reasons why points are deserved).
Keep copies of all resources you use for your paper. I may ask to see them.
Staple all pages together--before coming to class--and turn in on ______.