Critical Reading, Writing, and Research

1. ENG 102: Critical Reading, Writing, and Research

Argument Synthesis Essay (10% of grade)
Topic of the Essay
Human Gene Editing

Read through sources, noticing which arguments or ideas strike you as strong or weak
Determine where you stand on one (or more) of the issues raised in the articles
Determine an overall thesis/point for this issue
Determine what proof or evidence is in your sources that supports that argument
Organize your papers outline/organization plan around these arguments
Find the specific statistics/data/information from the sources that support those arguments
Write your initial draft
Do NOT organize this essay as a series of summaries of your sources. If you do so, it will be returned for revision. This essay MUST show synthesis of ideas from multiple sources supporting the thesis in the paragraphs.

Remember that a typical synthesis essay paragraph/argument will include three main points somewhere in the paragraph/argument:
1 a thesis,
2 supporting evidence from outside sources, and
3 an explanation/analysis of how and why the evidence really does support the thesis.

You will be evaluated on how well you:
Synthesize the source(s) into your own analysis
Use your own analysis/explanation in addition to the source(s)
Properly in-text cite the information that you use from the source(s) (MLA format)
Use proper grammar and sentence structure
Show Ethos/Logos/Pathos where appropriate
Properly cite the sources on the Works Cited/References page

As a college-level paper, the paper should be 3 to 5 pages, double spaced, with a 10 or 12
point typewriter style font, and 1-inch margins. There must be a Works Cited/References
page and in-text citations. You can use either an MLA or APA Format.

Last Completed Projects