ERWC Semester 1 Name: __________________

Controversial Issue Research Paper Topic: __________________

As the culmination of the controversial topic discussions from Modules 1-3, students will
complete a comprehensive research paper on an assigned topic. The focus of this evaluation will
be on the ability of students to find a wide range of scholarly sources to support their stance on the
assigned topic, as well as introducing and addressing a potential counter argument. The purpose of
a research paper is to present a stance and defend it with thoughtfully researched resources.
Before you continue your research, you will be required to write a thesis statement. Use the
lines below to fill in your thesis and have it approved by your teacher BEFORE you continue.
Remember, a thesis is a position statement + a plan statement; a position statement will
address a counter argument, but state the argument/stance/position of the paper, and a plan
sentence will introduce your main arguments.

Thesis:

Research Checklists
Sources:
 Is it from a scholarly source? (News article, scholarly journal, book…)
 Does it DIRECTLY apply to your argument (or counterargument)?
 Is it substantial or is it a supplement? (Sources <1pg. will not count towards final count)
 Do you have 10 sources MINIMUM?
 Is AT LEAST 1 source addressing a counterargument?
Works Cited:
 Is it in alphabetical order?
 Times New Roman? Size 12? No additional space after paragraphs?
 Does it have 1 inch margins? Double spaced?
 It is titled ‘Works Cited?’ (NO quotes, italics, underline, bold and NO changes in font size)

Once you have checked your work against these checklists

and gotten an approval on your thesis,
you may begin printing sources.