Research Paper Final Draft

Final Draft (2500 words minimum; 10 sources minimum)
 
Purpose
You will write a thesis-driven, researched argument based on one of the following topics we have explored this semester:

The ethics of true crime
The way gender functions in true crime
The complicated relationship between fame/notoriety and true crime

  Choose a topic interesting enough to keep you going through 10 pages, 10 sources, and a month of preparation, but remember that you are primarily making an argument about the cultural or ethical issues in true crime, not a specific case or figure, and your essay should only be as informative as necessary to serve your larger argument.
 
Style & Tone
This is a formal academic essay; make sure that your tone reflects this specific writing genre. You will need to have a thorough understanding of your critical lens and apply that specific approach to your analysis.  Contractions, slang and other colloquialisms are informal and therefore would be inappropriate in this essay.
 
Sources:
To receive full credit on your final draft you must include 10 or more sources.

Two sources must be from academic sources and can be from our class critical readings (journal article, critical anthology, etc.)
Three sources must be a newspaper/magazine article (can appear online, but should originate as a print source)
You are free to collect the remaining sources from any category depending on the needs of your project

 
Format
For full credit your essay must be between 2500 words. Place last name and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner (using a header).  Follow all MLA guidelines for headings, page numbers, in-text citations, summary/paraphrasing, and annotations.
 
Criteria for Success

A thoughtful discussion of your topic
A clear understanding and use of your sources in your independent analysis
Sources accurately and effectively incorporated into text
Persuasive thesis-driven argument
Effective organization, including connections within and between paragraphs and sections
Careful proofreading and editing