English 122 Guidelines

English 122: Composition II Ancillary Material

To write a research paper, you must choose a topic and develop a thesis. Your thesis statement forms the basis of your argument and guides your argument to a logical conclusion. In the body of the paper, you will examine issues relevant to your thesis and use research to support your assertions about those issues.

Guidelines for Writing the Research Paper

You may select your topic from one of the subject areas below. It is important that you select a topic that interests you, as you will spend the next five weeks researching and writing about that topic. 1. Arts, Media, Philosophy 1. Should organized religious groups be political advocates or tend the spiritual needs of 2. What is a hero? Is the true meaning of the word being diluted in today's media? is this the case? And what are the consequences of this trend? valuable than a copy, and, if so, why? exploration? viewing habits? people? Is possible to strike a balance?

Note: Research is an analytical process, so you are expected to discuss viewpoints that are different from your own and to present research results in an unbiased manner. I. Research Topics

4. In an age of information, are Americans any more or less literate than they used to be? Why 5. While we say we value originality in American culture, do we? Is an original really more

3. What values do “reality television” shows appeal to? How have they changed television

2. Science, Health, and Environmental Issues

1. With so many problems on planet Earth, should the United States continue to fund space 1

3. Should U.S. environmental policy focus on developing more oil resources or on developing nations? Why or why not? renewable energy sources? Or, is there another, better way to frame the discussion?

2. What is the impact of disposable products and packaging in the marketplace and on the developed? Are the environmental hazards overstated?

English 122: Composition II Ancillary...