Research Paper

Research Paper Guidelines
Produce a research-based essay on Sunday, April 19 that meets the following criteria (absolute requirements):
1. Topic: You are to research an idea /innovation / invention /discovery from beginning to end and argue this topic deserves a place among the top ideas /innovations / inventions /discoveries.

2. The essay is a combination of informative, analytical and argumentative strategies, but the main thrust must be defining how this invention has improved our world, society, or so forth. You are not writing a report. We will go over what this kind of essay looks like in class.

3. Research “supports” (in the general sense) the points raised in the essay, but the argument is ultimately the author’s.

4. All standards of college-level grammar and MLA style are observed.

5. Your research essays should be at least 5-7 pages a minimum of 4 complete pages in length (not counting the Works Cited page) and incorporate at least 5 sources. These sources do not all have to be scholarly or peer-reviewed because of your specific topics, but they should be credible, meaning have an author or be from a recognized organization. The final drafts of your essays, as with all other work, should be professional in appearance: typed, double-spaced, titled, and with numbered pages.

6. The Must haves:​​​
• Thesis Statement
• The minimum number of sources.
• You must use correct MLA citation form (in-text and citation page).
• You MUST have a regular Works Cited page attached to your essay that includes ONLY those sources that you’ve actually used and cited in your final draft.