Academic Argument Synthesis Essay

 
This will be our final research essay of the course. I’m assigning it today so that you have as much time as possible to work on it. Get started on it as soon as you have submitted your Synthesis Essay (Informative Report). Research requires a large time commitment , so you don’t want to procrastinate on the research, planning, and drafting of this essay.
The good news is that you have already started working on background research for this essay. You will see below that this essay asks you to research and write and argument about a topic related to artificial intelligence (AI).
Many of you will find that you can use some of the same research sources in this essay that you used in your Synthesis Essay (Informative Report).
Some of you will find that you can use some of the same writing from the Synthesis Essay (Informative Report) in this essay. However, be careful to consider your purpose if you choose to use any writing from the previous essay in this essay. You are free to reuse material you’ve already located through research and that you have written in previous assignments for this class, but you will likely have to re-purpose your older writing to fit the requirements of this assignment. Reports and an arguments each have different purposes. Review pages 55-6 for ways to think carefully about the purpose of your writing.
A Note on Grading and Feedback for First Drafts
Please note that you will not receive written feedback from me on the essay’s first draft.  You will get written feedback from me on the essay’s revision. You will also conduct peer review of other students’ drafts and receive peer feedback on your draft. The first draft serves as a checkpoint in this crucial stage of the writing process. Writing a complete essay draft ensures that you can produce your best writing when you work on the revision. Consequently, the first draft will be graded complete / incomplete. make sure you submit a complete essay to earn credit for this draft.
If you have any questions at all about your essay, please ask me.
Due Date
Submit your first draft to this assignment space as a Word document by 11:59pm Friday, 6/12. If you don’t have Word on your computer, you can access it on the Office 365 account given to you by the college. 
Format
Format your essay using MLA style guidelines in 12-point type, use Times New Roman font, and use MLA citations. See pages 586-87 of our textbook for more information about formatting a paper using MLA style. See pages 588-96 for an example of an essay formatted in MLA style. 
Length
1500-2000 words (MLA headings and works cited lists are excluded from the word count) 
Assignment Purpose
The skills required to complete the research paper are the skills necessary to complete your college degree and to work within the larger contemporary culture. The ability to find quality, reliable information and use that information to address contemporary problems large and small is the most valued skill in most professional cultures. You will use every skill we have worked on this semester: summary, analysis, evaluation, synthesis, and argument. The research paper marks the culmination of your work in critical thinking and writing.
Essay Topic
You must make an argument about artificial intelligence based on your research. That means you must compose a clear, limited thesis. The thesis must be arguable. You must support your thesis with strong chains of reasoning based in evidence. All claims must be supported by evidence. You must also make it clear to your audience why your argument matters. Why should they care about this? Persuade us that reading your paper is worthwhile.
You must also address doubts and questions about, as well as counterarguments to, your position. Addressing opposing viewpoints builds your credibility as a writer. You must assume that your audience is skeptical of your claims. Avoid broad generalizations and supposedly self-evident claims. Be precise and exhaustive in your explanations.
You must synthesize a minimum of three academic sources (scholarly, peer-reviewed sources) to use as evidence in support of your argument (you may also include other sources to provide context). Use this evidence concretely and with specificity. That is, simply parroting someone else’s general opinion is not evidence in itself. You must synthesize a minimum of six sources total in the research paper. 
Essay Checklist
Essay Opening 
The opening paragraphs of you essay should provide thorough background and context about your essay’s topic. Your thesis should be presented in this opening section. The opening may consist of several paragraphs.
Content

Accurate interpretation and incorporation of source texts
Minimum of six credible sources synthesized in the essay, at least three of which must be academic (peer-reviewed) sources 
A convincing chain of reasoning supported by concrete evidence
Direct quotations and examples from sources

Body Paragraphs

A sensible organization that builds on your thesis.
Topic sentences must develop the thesis throughout.
Unified and cohesive paragraphs
Logical transitions between paragraphs
Effective incorporation of quoted support, with proper formatting of in-text citation and a works cited page
Concise sentences free from grammar and punctuation errors

Format

12-point type
Times New Roman (or equivalent)
MLA format (heading, parenthetical quotations, works cited page)
Relevant title (you must craft a title that succinctly indicates the content of your essay)
Indent the first line of each paragraph
Left-justified (do not center or right-justify your text)

Assignment 3
 
Assignment Overview
The annotated bibliography is a companion to the First Draft: Academic Argument Synthesis Essay assignment. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to help you to evaluate sources and determine what others have said about the topic you’re researching. In short, an annotated bibliography helps you get familiar with the ongoing conversation about your topic, which is necessary for eventually writing an informed argument about your topic.
When you write an annotated bibliography, you create a list of research sources that you summarize,  evaluate, and reflect upon. Building an annotated bibliography while you conduct research allows you to better understand and organize your research.
Assignment Guidelines
Each source in your annotated bibliography should be a source you synthesize in your First Draft: Academic Argument Synthesis Essay. Each source in your annotated bibliography starts with an MLA citation and then follows a four sentence pattern that 1) identifies the author and his or her credentials as well as his or her thesis, 2) identifies the medium or genre of the source and evaluates its credibility, 3) identifies the intended audience of the source, and 4) explains how the source can be useful in your research project.
Step 1:  To annotate a source, first cite the source in correct MLA format. 
For example: 
Gould, Joseph.  Citizen United and the Breakdown of Democracy.  New York:  University of New York Press, 2012. 
Step 2:  Break down the source into the four sentence pattern:
Sentence 1 (Credentials and Thesis):  Joseph Gould, a noted journalist covering issues of public policy and elections for the Washington Post, argues that the Citizens United decision has irrevocably undermined the democratic process of our electoral system.   
Sentence 2 (Medium / Genre and Evaluation):  Gould constructs a thesis-driven, book-length, academic argument in the field of political science.
Sentence 3 (Audience):  Gould’s audience consists of academics in the field of political science and public policy as well as public officials.  
Sentence 4 (How You Can Use This Source): This source provides information about the effects of Citizens United that I can use to support my thesis, and because it is written by a noted expert it lends credibility to my argument. 
Annotations should be written as paragraphs and should follow the four sentence pattern above.  Do not include labels, bold text, or spaces between sentences. These are provided here so that you can more easily identify the parts of the annotation. Yours will look more like this:
Gould, Joseph.  Citizen United and the Breakdown of Democracy.  New York:  University of New York Press, 2012. 
Joseph Gould, a noted journalist covering issues of public policy and elections for the Washington Post, argues that the Citizens United decision has irrevocably undermined the democratic process of our electoral system. Gould constructs a thesis-driven, book-length, academic argument in the field of political science. Gould’s audience consists of academics in the field of political science and public policy as well as public officials. This source provides information about the effects of Citizens United that I can use to support my thesis, and because it is written by a noted expert it lends credibility to my argument. 
Your annotated bibliography must include at least six sources. At least three sources should be peer-reviewed academic sources or otherwise approved by me before submitting this assignment’s deadline. Sources should be listed in alphabetical order by the first word of the works cited entry (usually, this will be the author’s last name).
Annotations should be specific and include details; however, they should not include any quotes.  All of the writing should be your original writing.
Due Date and Submissions
Submit your annotated bibliography in the Turnitin window below as a Word document by 11:59pm Friday, 6/12.
Grading
This assignment can earn between 0-100 points and counts as 10% of the course grade. Check the grading rubric (Links to an external site.) in the Turnitin window below for more information on grading.