when effectively processed and integrated, grief and personal loss can serve as catalysts for personal growth and resilience among athletes, ultimately leading to improved performance.

By the end of this writing project, you will be able to:

• Develop an argumentative thesis that articulates a position on a significant issue
• Use evidence from research to provide relevant background information, examples, and counter-arguments
• Employ strategies of argumentation including making a claim, supporting claims with evidence, and identifying and engaging with alternative perspectives
• Attribute and cite sources using signaling phrases, in-text citations, and works cited page
• Apply genre conventions for a research-based academic essay including structure, design, formatting, language usage, and mechanics
• Compose a text using the writing process by drafting, reviewing, collaborating, revising, and editing

The research-based argument is the culmination of your semester-long research project. In this paper, you will make an argumentative claim on a significant topic; this claim should be developed and supported by summarizing, analyzing, and synthesizing perspectives from sources. You will demonstrate your skill in articulating complex ideas, examining claims and evidence found in your research materials, supporting your ideas with relevant reasons and examples, sustaining a coherent discussion, and employing rhetorical strategies to convince your readers to agree with your stand on the issue or at least to believe in the soundness and reasonableness of your position.

You will complete a required rough draft of your research-based argument. The draft should be at least 1,000 words long and should include a working introduction, your argumentative thesis, parts of your argument including the counterargument or alternative perspectives, and a working conclusion. As a draft, it is perfectly acceptable for sections to be incomplete or missing, but the more writing you provide, the more feedback you will receive that will strengthen your final paper. The draft will be graded as Complete/Incomplete. Your instructor will provide feedback on your rough draft that will help you revise your draft for the final assignment. If you do not turn in a rough draft, your final research-based argument will be penalized 20 points.

Length: 2,000-2,500 words

Genre: Argumentative research paper

Citations: Include MLA or APA in-text citations and works cited/reference page

Audience: Your English 102 instructor

Points worth: 100 (30% of your final grade)

For grading details, see the grading criteria and rubric below. 

Research and Writing knowledge – 50 points

• The writer makes a clear and nuanced argumentative claim about a significant topic or problem.
• The writer supports the claim throughout the essay by providing necessary background information, evidence, and examples to fully explain the claim and persuade the reader.
• The writer evaluates and integrates evidence and connects the evidence to the overall argument.
• The writer identifies alternative positions on the claim, fairly evaluates these positions, and integrates these positions into their own focused argument.
• The writer integrates evidence from popular and academic sources by using appropriate paraphrases, summaries, and quotes. 

Attribution and Citation – 10 points

• The writer attributes and cites sources correctly by using signaling phrases, in-text citations, and works cited/reference page.

Genre conventions – 30 points

• The writer uses a consistent organizational structure throughout the argumentative essay.
• The argumentative essay includes an engaging introduction, unified body paragraphs, a satisfying conclusion, and appropriate transitions.
• The writer’s choices related to word selection and sentence structure are appropriate for the audience and purpose.
• The writer pays careful attention to vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting to accurately convey meaning and build credibility.

Writing Process – 10 points

• The writer created multiple drafts of the research plan and participated in instructor conferences.
• Successive drafts of the essay demonstrate the ability to explore and develop ideas, learn from instruction, apply feedback, and self-correct.