This exploratory essay will help you prepare for your second essay assignment for this class,

which will be an argumentative research paper. For your exploratory essay, you’ll spend time

researching, thinking and writing about the issue, problem or question that will drive your research paper.

One of the important goals of inquiry is to understand the range of positions on a particular issue. A helpful metaphor for the ongoing expression of positions on an issue is that of a conversation. We could say that making an argument of your own is adding your voice to the conversation and that you need to know what is being said by others before you can join in. Investigating and preparing to join the conversation on an issue are the goals of the exploratory paper.

Topic: Select one of the topics provided in the lesson.  If you wish to choose another topic, you must have it approved by your instructor before you begin the assignment. Papers on unapproved topics will receive a zero.

Purpose: To understand various stances or points of view on an issue and explore your own position on that issue (stopping short of actually making your own argument on the issue) . Essentially, you will need to research and write about a particular topic, whilst looking at various stances or points of view that people may take on the topic. Rather than trying to convince the reader of a particular stance, you are merely trying to educate them on all the possible approaches that can be taken with a topic, so that they can make their own mind up.

Audience:  members of the academic community at Richland, include class members and professors

Process strategies: Find various books and articles on your topic that present both sides of the argument.  You might want to keep in mind that when you write the argumentative paper (Essay 2- the Argumentative Research Essay) in the next lesson, you will need a variety of sources. For that assignment, you must cite at least five reliable and authoritative sources; at least one must be an academic database.

Length: 2 ½ – 3 pages (750-900 words), plus a separate works cited page in MLA format

Format: The final copy must be a Word document in Modern Language Association format. The guidelines are posted in the announcements section of our eCampus class. Outside sources must be properly documents according to MLA8 guidelines for in-text citations and works cited.

If time allows, you have the option of submitting your paper to the Richland Online Writing Lab (OWL) for tutor review.  The OWL generally requires two school days to review and return a draft.

Structure: You will need an introduction, which will explain briefly what it is that you will be writing about, and why. The next section will be the body section, which will outline various points and arguments (the pros and cons) that can be made about the topic that you’re writing about. Finally, you will include a conclusion, which essentially brings together all of the information in the previous two sections and clarifies your position on the issue.