Major Paper #4–Explaining a Concept Research Paper

We will be working on the Explaining a Concept Paper for the next four units, as this is the longest paper you will write for this class.  

In the Explaining a Concept Paper, you will simply want to explain a concept of your choice, using research to support your explanations/definitions.  This paper should be at least 4-6 pages long, it should include at least 4 sources, and it should accomplish the following:

*Inform your particular audience about a specific subject.

*Present information confidently and efficiently.

*Use established information for support, as well as personal “evidence” (if applicable) such as short anecdotes and examples from your own experience, or the experience of others.

*Maintain an informative tone (not an argumentative tone, as this is not an argumentative or persuasive paper).

You have two options in choosing an outside reader:

1.)  You can find someone on your own to read your work (ie. your spouse, one of your kids, a friend, a neighbor).

2.) You can sign up for the Peer Review Option by emailing me.  (I’ll set up an email list, so that you and 2-3 of your classmates can email each other your drafts and get feedback.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Papers on the following topics will not be accepted: 

* abortion

* capital punishment

* euthanasia

These topics are far too controversial for the Explaining a Concept Research Paper, which should be informative (not persuasive) in its purpose.  Also, I’ve already read more papers on these topics than anyone should in an entire lifetime, so I won’t read anymore. I encourage you to be more creative in selecting your topic.