ENG 103 - Critical & Argumentative Writing - Professor Walker: Write Your Paper

Are You Ready?

Let's review what we've covered so far:

• Make sure you understand your assignment

• Within the guidelines of your assignment, select a topic you find interesting. 

• Using the Reference Books and Reference Databases available in the library, get background information on your topic

• Conduct more comprehensive research by using books, journal, magazine articles and authoritative Internet sites.

Are you ready to start writing? If yes, then you may want to consult some of the general handbooks and websites that will help you work through the process of writing a research paper. If you don't feel ready then you may want to revisit some of the previous steps in the process.

Try some of these Internet sites for getting extra tips on writing a research paper

You will create an Annotated Bibliography of sources from your research.  For this assignment, you will need a total of four sources that you are annotating from the Cerritos College Library Data Bases. 

An entry should be roughly 1 page, approx. 250 words for a total of 4 pages, approx. 1,000 words. Each entry should include:

• Citation in MLA format

• Summary paragraph

• A paragraph on how this article supports your thesis, stance, or main objective

Your entry will follow MLA formatting including the proper spacing, hanging indent, and order. You will need a cover page for your bibliography.

While West Side Story is a retelling of Shakespeare's tragic love story Romeo and Juliet set in Manhattan, the Academy Award winning musical exposes issues that continue to be relevant for many cities in America today.  When the movie was released in 1961, America was embroiled in the fight for civil rights.  To make many of these issues palatable, the directors made a rhetorical choice portrayed the issues through song and dance numbers.  However, West Side Story does not shy away from areas of conflict.

You will need to discuss at least one of the issues below.  You will need to discuss how West Side Story portrays the issue using specific examples from the film. You will need to research current status, theories, and understandings to highlight either how different or similar these issues are currently. 

Issues:

• Gender roles

• Immigration and assimilation

• Economic / class structures

• Violence

• The Role of Gangs

Your essay will include

• 6 page, 1,500 word

• A minimum of 3 outside sources from the library data base

• MLA format including a works cited page

• Clearly defined arguments on how the issue has changed or remained the same

 Time to Write 

There are several types of research paper, but all of them have one thing in common – they require critical thinking and good writing skills. An effective research paper incorporates information and ideas from experts in the field with the writer’s own ideas and analysis. Regardless of whether your instructor asks you to write an informational report on a subject, analyze an issue, or take a stand on a particular topic, you will want to write a paper that is logically organized, fully developed, and error free.

See the lists below for some books and websites that will help you work through the process of writing a research paper.