research-essay-88

Writing Task: You will choose one controversial, local issue, to write about in a six-eight page, research-based, persuasive essay. In addition to devising an arguable claim, you will convince your readers (including myself) to take some type of action (this is where the “proposal” aspect comes into play). It is vital to choose a subject that you find interesting, but keep an open mind while you’re doing your research. To build an effective argument, you need to present the best positions, which support your ideas as well as demonstrate why the best positions against your ideas (the counter argument) are insufficient.

Topic: Homelessness in San Diego

Requirements for Sources:

• Your essay must have at least six credible/reliable sources
• You must include at least one article from an electronic database
• You can use magazines (e.g. Time, Rolling Stone, GQ) and newspapers (e.g. San Diego Union Tribune, New York Times) **the web sites are fine, of course
• Do not use general encyclopedic works (eg., the dictionary, the Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia) in your essay
• You should also consider contacting people by telephone or email. If you need help formulating questions or with anything else, please let me know
• You could also do a survey and analyze the data
• Start as soon as possible