In 1500+ words, make an argument on a controversial issue within your major, academic discipline, or primary academic area of interest. Organize your essay around a strong thesis that takes a specific position on the issue.
I recommend the following structure for your essay:
Introduce your topic and establish your purpose or thesis
briefly summarize the issue and discuss the different positions experts hold on the issue (including citing specific examples of experts who argue for each position)
explain and defend your position with thorough research, strong scholarly evidence and rigorous reasoning
Conclude your essay by reiterating your argument, giving readers a call to action, and/or suggesting where further research or continuing investigations may be needed.
Think of your role in this essay as a scholar joining in a discussion and adding your own argument to it.
This essay has a dual audience. Your primary audience for this essay should be students and scholars in your field, those who have at least a little background in the debate you are addressing. Your secondary audience will be people outside your field who are interested in your topic but may not have the background to fully understand it. Don’t forget about this secondary audience. After all, one of those people will be assigning you a grade and it is important that I understand your argument.
In other words, your essay should be rigorous enough to be persuasive to those in your field, but also accessible enough that others outside your field can understand and evaluate your argument.
This is a research paper: Use a substantial amount of outside evidence, including plenty of scholarly sources, some peer-reviewed sources. Document all sources properly in MLA format, including an additional works cited page.
My major is Criminal Justice