VCCS Week 4 The Controversy Surrounding Oil Gas Extraction Research Paper
Section1 Purpose Now that you have read the Unit 4 Overview and have a general understanding for how and why the oil/gas extraction issue in the United States is a controversial issue, you will consider the topic of oil/gas extraction in the United States as you learn how argument is used in writing. Understanding argument and knowing how to set up an argument for written purposes is critical to writing successful argument essays for college study. This next activity provides practice in critically analyzing arguments in a variety of texts and videos by identifying the pros and cons and supporting evidences on the debatable issue of oil/gas extraction. Directions Part I - Understanding Argument Read Argument (Links to an external site.). In addition, read Thesis Statements (Links to an external site.) to understand how to write a strong thesis for an argument. View these images that promote controversy: Oil Spill Clean UpLinks to an external site., Offshore Drilling RallyLinks to an external site., Offshore Oil RigLinks to an external site., Fracking HearingLinks to an external site., Fracking ProtestLinks to an external site., Fracking PlantLinks to an external site.Consider what each image means and how it offers controversy. Part II - Analyzing Argument in Text and Video Read and view the following materials on oil/gas extraction. “Don't Drill Along the East Coast"Links to an external site. (Feb 2, 2015) “Offshore Drilling Remains a Risk Worth Taking”Links to an external site. (2014) Ice and Brimstone: Years of Living DangerouslyLinks to an external site. (2014) This link will take you to Part 15. Watch Parts 15-16. “Fracking Is Not Harmful to the Environment"Links to an external site. (2014) “Fracking Is Harmful to the Environment”Links to an external site. (2014) Fracking: Positive or Negative Impact?Links to an external site. (Sept 6, 2013) You can read the Fracking Positive or Negative Impacts transcript.docx as you watch. Open the Pros and Cons Chart to list out the pros and cons to the issue of oil/gas extraction as you analyze four of the resources above. Section 2 Purpose: You have already read about and considered the pros and cons for the oil/gas extraction issue in the United States. Now you will reflect back on those readings/resources and on your completed Pros and Cons Chart to synthesize and analyze your ideas as you write an informal online argument class discussion. In this assignment you will develop an argument to support your position on the oil/gas extraction issue. This activity teaches you critical thinking, organization of ideas, and documentation. Directions: Use the selected readings and videos for Unit 4(refer to section 1 Part II provided text and videos), your notes on those materials, and your completed Pros and Cons Chart to develop a Thesis and TWO paragraph argument on either fracking or offshore drilling. Begin by stating your argument thesis {topic + your claim about that topic + 2 main ideas--reasons why you believe the way you do}. Develop two paragraphs (7-12 sentences per paragraph) that prove your argument. Remember, each paragraph needs to begin with a topic sentence clarifying one of your main points. Support each topic sentence with evidence from the research materials AND your own analysis. Integrate good examples and quotations from the research material to support your points and to defend your position. Use accurate in-text citations (Links to an external site.) for all source materials and provide a Works Cited Section 3 Instruction Draft a tentative thesis for an argument research essay on fracking or offshore drilling. (Remember, a strong argument thesis sentence needs to include the topic, your claim or stance about that topic, and a list of 2-4 main ideas you will use to prove that claim or stance. Review Thesis Statements (Links to an external site.) to understand how to write a strong thesis for an argument.) As you research, reflect on what the research is telling you about your argument ideas. (NOTE: Research is often hard work, so make sure you plan adequate time to do the research that is needed. If you get stuck, try different search terms and consider that the research may be leading you in a different direction from where your tentative thesis started you. If this happens, you may need to revise your thesis to reflect what the research is telling you.) Your goal is to find at least five articles that will help support your argument. You may wish to find more than five, and then review and narrow down to the five most useful articles. Section 4 Purpose In this assignment, you will learn how to evaluate and select the most relevant sources for your research assignment on fracking or offshore drilling. You will also learn how to cite and summarize your research sources. In order to compile your research in an organized way, you will complete an annotated bibliography. An annotated bibliography is a collection of information about the sources that you intend to use for a research project. The bibliography is like a works cited list, except that each citation is followed by an annotation paragraph that includes a summary and evaluation of the source. Directions Read the Annotated Bibliography Overview to understand how to create an annotated bibliography. Review this sample Annotated Bibliography on child beauty pageants and use it as a guide to create your own annotated bibliography on fracking or offshore drilling. Start by creating the MLA heading, page numbering and title on your paper as shown in the sample bibliography. Type your thesis on fracking or offshore drilling below the title. Select the FIVE most suitable sources from your library research on fracking or offshore drilling and from the assigned articles in Unit 4 that will support the thesis you have developed. (NOTE: You may use no more than two sources from the assigned articles in Unit 4.) Create a citation for each source using MLA Works Cited (Links to an external site.) format. (If you emailed source citations to yourself as you completed your library research, make sure you check that citation information is adequate, properly ordered, and properly punctuated). Develop an annotation paragraph below each of the FIVE sources. Each annotation should include: a brief (100 word) summary of the whole article. an evaluation (50 words) of how the source supports your argument and how you can use the information in your essay. Put all the annotations in ONE document and format everything according to the sample bibliography. Remember to list sources in alphabetical order according to the first word of each source citation. Section 5 You have read, viewed, researched and discussed materials related to the topic of oil/gas extraction. You should have narrowed down your topic to either fracking or offshore drilling and developed a tentative thesis that states your claim (stance) about that topic. Now you will create and submit an outline for a 3-4 page (750-1000 words) argument essay on the topic of fracking or offshore drilling. Your outline should include an additional works cited page and include documentation (in-text citations) from your five sources. After you receive feedback on your outline, you will develop the argument essay as a first draft, provide a self-review, and then get further instructor feedback before submitting your final draft. Your essay needs to include a clear thesis and well developed key ideas with topic sentences and supporting ideas and examples all written in third person (Links to an external site.). The essay will also follow the conventional organization of the following three elements: Introduction: A good introduction needs to get your reader interested in your topic, provide relevant background information for that topic and, in a thesis statement, state the main points that support your claim (stance) about the topic. Your thesis should be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph. (Review the Loudoun Campus Writing Center information about Writing Interesting Introductions (Links to an external site.).) Body: In a standard 5 paragraph essay, you would typically have three support paragraphs that are developed from three main ideas in a thesis. But for a longer, extended research essay (such as this essay assignment), each main idea may need to be developed into more than one body paragraph. To do this, each body section needs to begin with a clear topic sentence that focuses the body section on a main idea of your argument. As you develop the sub points for a main idea, use transition words and phrases (Links to an external site.)to tie your reader back to the topic sentence ideas and to move your reader from one sub point to the next, offering support and explanation between each sub point. When you use this method to develop a main idea, the sub points for a main idea often work well as separate paragraphs. Conclusion: A good conclusion needs to summarize the argument (reiterate the thesis and summarize the body of the essay) and to explain new understanding. Other points to consider Thesis Statement: At the END of the introduction, you need to have a clear thesis statement. Thesis Template: the topic + your claim (viewpoint) + 2-4 main ideas. Example Thesis: Child beauty pageants should be banned because they distort a child's self-image, put a child's health at risk, and ruin a child's formative years. Language: The goal in argument is to persuade a reader to accept your side. As such, when you write I believe… I think… I feel and other such subjective, first-person comments, you are not trying to think about your READER; instead, you are offering your opinion. For this reason, it is best to remove first person comments and state your thesis as a blunt, arguable statement (written in third person). Ultimately, you want to convince your reader to accept your argument. Citing Sources: Review this PowerPoint on Citing Sources for an overview of using sources in your research essay. For more information about MLA formatting, integration of sources, and MLA documentation, review the videos for MLA Basics in Student Resources in the main menu.