RESEARCH ESSAY WRITING TASK
Write a 4-5 page research essay on the topic of literacy. Learn more about this issue, be
able to define it, and take a position on it. Present the issue to readers, and develop an
argument for the purpose of confirming, challenging, or changing your readers’ views on
the issue.
Taking a position. This means that you need to make an argument. You task is not really to
suggest that something is right or wrong (because no one would argue that being illiterate is a
good thing), but rather to suggest a line of argument about the problems and issues surrounding a
controversial topic.
For example, imagine your topic is the literacy and learning disorders. You’re not going to
argue that being literate is a good or a bad thing: no one would suggest a decline in literacy rates
is a good thing, so that is not an arguable topic. The controversy (inherent issue) is about the
degree to which this is a problem (evidence that literacy rates are increasing or decreasing), the
degree to which illiteracy can be linked to specific learning disorders such as dyslexia (or other
relevant ones), and other underlying causes and solutions involved. Make it clear where you
stand on these issues and present supporting evidence to substantiate your claims. Are
government policies at fault: which ones? Is there another disruption in the learning system that
explains why the literacy rates are changing: what disruption(s)? What is being done to solve
this problem, and are those efforts worthwhile? Is there solid evidence that these efforts will
work?
Topic selection: Try to think about narrowing your topic to help you focus on research. As I
suggested above, you might focus on literacy rates and learning disorders. Another potential
topic is investigating literacy by geographic region or race or other factors like public versus
private education or type of school. A third idea is to compare literacy rates worldwide (by
country, but focus on just a few countries) by examining who has the highest and lowest literacy
rates worldwide. You could just focus on the top three countries (or bottom three) and examine
the causes. You could focus on programs to combat literacy: what are the best strategies for
increasing literacy rates like the Head Start program).
Hint: For a research project, you might want to begin with a broad topic and once you find a
specific area that captures your interest, narrow your topic and search in order to find good
sources.
Research: Include scholarly sources using library databases, expert opinions, interviews,
statistics with data on rates, programs, definitions, etc. Use a variety of sources and types of
evidence (facts, statistics, anecdotes, case studies, scenarios, etc.)
Types of sources to include: Books, journal articles, newspapers, government documents, etc.
(Don’t use all one type of source).
Tone: watch to make position clear but stay reasonable and keep audience in mind. Are they
likely to have a particular position or expectation you need to consider as a writer?
Purpose and audience: appeal to shared values.
Goals: will vary depending on audience assessment.
Agree: Strengthen the understanding and commitment of an audience already likely to
agree with you.
Undecided: Persuade readers who have not made up their minds.
Disagree: Simply to win reader’s respect for your position (or to reconsider their
position).
Basic features:
- well-defined issue
- clear position (thesis statement)
- convincing argument (evidence, refute possible counter-arguments)
- reasonable tone (to gain reader’s confidence and respect)
Basic structure (Use Sample Arguing Outline):
- explain issues (can state position here)
- structure the argument (reasonable tone, attempt to show both sides)
- present any evidence (if using numbers or statistics, cite sources)
- balance the essay by incorporating counter-arguments
- conclude (w/position if not yet stated)
Counter-arguments: in a sense, arguing against oneself. Purpose is merely to show an
understanding of both sides of an issue. Once a counter-argument is introduced, writer must deal
with it by:
- Acknowledgment: acknowledge reader’s point of view without conceding the
point.
- Accommodation: accept reader’s point of view but show how this can still work
with your stated position.
- Refute: reasonable counter-argue against the reader’s point of view.
Research: You are expected to conduct and incorporate rigorous scholarly research in MLA
style. Using your Annotated Bibliography as a guide, cite articles, books, and newspaper
accounts that help document your issue and shed light on the complexities and controversies
surrounding it. Consider multiple points of view, but argue a clearly stated position. You must
research at least 6 solid sources (not counting websites or blogs), and these must be the same
sources you include in your essay’s Works Cited List. You may use more than 6 sources but not
fewer. See the Bibliography Project Specifications for more information about your scholarly
sources.
Organization: Use the Sample Arguing Outline to help structure the essay with a thesis
statement, a forecasting statement (essay map), evidence and counter-arguments, and a
conclusion.