COMM171 Documented Research Essay

This Documented Research Essay Assignment is designed to apply research techniques and critical understanding of readings; review and apply APA documentation skills; compose, revise and edit composition; apply essay and sentence structure to your own work.

Final Task (20%): Write an 800 word five paragraph essay in APA format based on ONE of the questions below. Use the primary reading(s) and (at least) one secondary source from the Centennial College library database to support your argument.

******Create your own argument. Do not provide a summary of the reading. Plagiarized essays (unacknowledged material used as your own) will receive a mark of zero. There will be no opportunity to rewrite.******

Format (for the Documented Research Essay final submission):

1. Title Page: Prepare a title page with appropriate information in APA format
2. Introduction: Lead-in sentence, summary, context; 3 point thesis statement; 5-7 sentences in length.

Body paragraphs: clear topic sentences; transitions; clear examples; reference to the readings; approximately 10-15 sentences.

Concluding paragraph: re-state thesis; memorable statement; 5-7 sentences.

1. Include three references to readings in total. One must be a quote and one other must be a paraphrase.
2. References: The sources used in writing your documented essay must be correctly listed on the last page of your essay; your References list must include the following:
3. The essay(s) chosen
4. The source(s) for the researched background material

Questions

1. Use Navneet Alang’s “Online Freedom Will Depend on Deeper Forms of Web Literacy” Essay Essentials with Readings, p. 304 (also available on eReserves) to critique his argument on ways social media can entrap users.

1. In the reading “The Slender Trap” (Essay Essentials with Readings, 7th ed., p. 129 (also available on eReserves), Piscatelli discusses the influences that cause eating disorders. Write an essay that critiques the argument in reading.

1. Compare “The Case for Marriage” by Waite, L. J and Gallagher, M., and “Why I Want a Wife” by Brady, Judy as persuasive texts (both readings are in Effective Reading and Writing for COMM 170, and on eCentennial).

1. Compare “I’m a Banana and Proud of It” by Choy, Wayson, and “Why My Mother Can’t Speak English” by Engkent, Gary with respect to how they illuminate aspects of the Chinese-Canadian experience (both readings are in Effective Reading and Writing for COMM 170, and on eCentennial).

Outline steps (10%):

1. Choose with question you would like to write your essay about. Consider the topic and the type of essay you would write.
   1. Critique: “Online Freedom will ...”
   2. Critique: “The Slender Trap”
   3. Comparison: “Marriage” vs. “Wife”
   4. Comparison: “Banana” vs. “Mother”
2. Analyze your reading(s) in terms of rhetorical elements: audience, purpose, level of language, genre, literary devices, etc.
3. Build your outline with a 3 point thesis on the subject, a topic sentence for each body paragraph, 3 supporting details for each body paragraph and a concluding statement

Templates

Research essay outline

Template 1 (Critique)

Thesis Statement

Body

Topic sentence 1.

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Topic sentence 2.

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Topic sentence 3.

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Conclusion

Template 2 (Comparison and Contrast: Block Format)

Thesis Statement

Body

Topic sentence 1 (Reading #1)

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Topic sentence 2 (Reading #2)

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Conclusion

Template 3 (Comparison and Contrast: Point by Point)

Thesis Statement

Body

Topic sentence 1 (First feature/item/characteristic to be compared)

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Reading # 1

Reading #2

Topic sentence 2. (Second feature/item/characteristic to be compared).

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Reading # 1

Reading #2

Topic sentence 3. (Second feature/item/characteristic to be compared).

Examples/Details/Explanations:

Reading # 1

Reading #2

Conclusion

COMM 171 why my mother can't speak English