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PROPOSAL for the Argumentative Research Paper

Assignment: The goal of this assignment is for you to convince your audience why and how your argumentative research paper will be viable, doable. You are also attempting to prove that you can carry out the task. Think of it as a sales pitch!

· Use MLA format; additionally, use the following title and numbered subheads to keep your information organized and easy to read. *Add your unique title. **Only use boldface on the subheads.

· Use the bullets underneath each subhead to fill in the section. Check out the student example I provided on canvas. (Focus on answering as best you can, and do not overthink it.)

·
No Works Cited for this assignment

; however, you should start or already have a list of sources you are looking at during research.

Proposal: *

1. Introduction **

2. Proposal

3. Plan Of Action

4. Necessary Resources

5. Preparations Made

6. Conclusion.

Student Name

D. Quintero

English 1301

29 March 2020

Proposal: * Add Your Own Unique Title

1. Introduction

· Begin with an interesting fact, statistic, or anecdote to grab the reader’s attention.

· Introduce the topic (give background/context) and show the audience why they should care about this topic.

· Typically, people only write a proposal to solve a problem. As such, you will want to highlight a question or concern that you think your argumentative research essay would solve. Use your research here.

· Also, who is your audience? You may need to know who you are writing for to emphasize the benefits your proposal would bring.

2. Proposal

· Include a statement of purpose. A purpose statement announces the purpose, focus, and direction of your argumentative research essay. Essentially, what can your audience expect? The statement of purpose should be a few sentences long. Common beginnings include: “My argumentative research essay will examine…,” “The argumentative research essay aims to…,” and “The purpose of the argumentative research essay is to… .”

· Additionally, this section will contain your working thesis statement. The working thesis should include your topic, opinion, and three points within one sentence.

3. Plan of Action

· Highlight your qualifications for taking on the argumentative research project. What precisely, in your academic, professional, or personal career, has prepared you? Consider answering the following questions. What do you already know about your topic? Why is it important to you? Why have you taken such a stance?

· Highlight where you will find your research and what information you have found.

· In this section, provide at least one example of your research. Provide a quote that you might consider using in your essay and how it would support one of your points within your thesis. Remember, you may or may not use this quote in your writing later. It is just a starting point.

· Anticipate potential problems you may run into while writing, such as your opponents’ strongest arguments or fallacies against your argument. Communicates to your audience that you’ve thought carefully about your proposal and potential stumbling blocks. How do you plan to get over these issues?

4. Necessary Resources

· What resources do you need to complete the argumentative research project? Time, space, motivation, food, a babysitter, eye witness, internet access, etc.?

5. Preparations Made

· Show the audience that you know what you are doing. What have you already done to prepare for the argumentative research project? The more prepared you look, the better your chances are to get the proposal approved by the instructor.

6. Conclusion

· Simple. State the goal(s) of your proposal or thesis statement. What do you want to change, fix, or understand? Everyone is going to have a unique desired outcome or result they wish to attain. Or you may talk about the benefit of your project to your audience or yourself. At this point, it is OK to sound repetitive -you are just making your purpose very clear.

Example 2

Student Example

D. Quintero

English 1301

09 September 2020

Proposal: Time for the STAAR to Fall

1. Introduction

· Every year, all students in Texas public schools must pass STAAR exams. Student performance affects whether they advance to the next grade, and it affects school rating which puts enormous pressure at all levels. These are among just a few reasons why the STAAR should be done away with.

· STAAR exams were first administered in 2011. It is administered at all grade levels beginning in the 3rd grade. Students in grades 5 and 8 must pass the STAAR exams to advance to the next grade and all high school students must pass five exams to graduate. Schools are rated based on student STAAR performance and can be shut down if students do not perform well throughout all grade levels.

· A major problem with the STAAR testing is the bad consequences that go along with poor results. The consequences that go along with poor student STAAR performance needs to be rethought. In the meantime, the STAAR exams should be done away with.

· My primary audience is those who make the law requiring these tests and consequences to be given. I also address teachers and parents. The lawmakers who read this may change their mind to see my point of view. Parents and teachers who read this will have more information about the exams and how it affects all levels.

2. Proposal

· My argumentative research essay will examine the negative consequences of STAAR exams that are required in the Texas public school system and show that STAAR exams for be done away with.

· It will argue that STAAR tests should be used because they do not reflect grade level, cause stress, and cause teachers to overlook required learning objectives.

3. Plan of Action

1. I have attended Texas public schools since the 2nd grade and have taken STAAR exams every year. I know first-hand how stressful the tests are for students, teachers, and parents. I hope that my essay will sway readers to consider eliminating the exams as a requirement to advance to future grades.

1. I will research this topic on the internet. I also intend to interview Texas public school teacher and parents.

1. I have researched the internet for arguments for and against the STAAR exams. In my search I found the following quote from Texas Monthly in the article titled “Are Texas Kids Failing? Or Are the Tests Rigged?” that shows my argument against stress, “School nurses began to see kids suffering from anxiety just before test days—kids who complained of stomachaches, headaches, and just plain old fear—in numbers far greater than they had during the TAKS era.”

1. I anticipate problems with getting teachers to respond to my survey. I also anticipate that those I interview or research I find may take a different stance on the topic that is opposite to my own. My opponents’ strongest argument against my proposal is that the tests are there to make the teachers accountable for teaching. Some would argue that if students fail the STAAR then the teacher must be bad.

4. Necessary Resources

· I need a lot of time to get this essay accomplished. I need to give myself at least two hours a day. I will need to be able to access the Writing Center. I also need cooperation from teachers to respond to my survey or talk to me in interviews. I will also need internet access.

5. Preparations Made

· To prepare, I have already begun internet research. I am trying to put together survey questions for teachers, students, and parents. I have already spoken with other parents and students about my research and gotten their point of view.

6. Conclusion

· This topic is very important to me, because I remember the stress I went through every year of school through high school. I saw friends fail even though they were making passing grades in classes. I had teachers teach to the STAAR exam in the months leading up to the test. The STAAR exam should not be used as a way to determine passing or failing students.