For your final project, you have the option of writing a 4-6 page paper OR of giving a 10-15 minute presentation on the topic of your choosing.

1. If You Are Writing a Paper:

Topic: You have been developing the topic of your final paper all semester in your homework assignments. Your final paper should take a position and make an argument about your topic, offering a thesis and reasons for the thesis, centrally supported by documentation of sources for the intellectual content.

Format: four to six pages, double spaced and in Times New Roman, 12 point font

Citation Style: MLA Format. For more information, see: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_style_introduction.html (Links to an external site.)

Due Date: Wednesday, December 4th by midnight on Canvas

Your Paper MUST Include:
1) Engagement with at least one course text
2) Reference to an episode of the UnMute Podcast
3) A Counterargument
4) A Works Cited page

Structure:

It is standard practice to include the following sections in an essay to enable a clear structure and focus:

Introduction: The first sentence ought to be a clear thesis statement. The next few sentences should identify your reasons for your position, and provide an outline of the essay to come. You are permitted to use subheads, so feel free to announce segments: “In Part One, I defend my reasons for X. In Part Two, I justify my statement that Y. In Part Three, I consider the counterargument that Z.”

Analysis/Argument: The main content of your essay, including an explanation of the positions you are writing about with supporting quotations, references, examples, and your own arguments supporting or challenging the positions you are addressing.

Consideration of a Counterargument: Devote a paragraph or more of the paper to seriously considering counterarguments to your views. If you cannot find one sufficiently relevant to your paper, consider developing a hypothetical counterargument; when doing the latter, you are advised to make sure it is fair, reasonable, and not loaded, that is, not stacked against the imaginary opponent.

Conclusion: One paragraph summarizing the key point you want the reader to walk away with.