ALP ENGLISH 12 5 NOVEMBER 2021 PROFESSOR HOLMAN PROSPECTUS FOR THE RESEARCH ESSAY
A prospectus allows a writer to decide what her/his/their paper will look like—the writer can try out ideas, think about the ideas, and plan the writing – it should allow the writer to ponder how to support the stance and consider what others’ objections to it may be. And these guidelines and suggestions should allow you to write a prospectus for your research essay:
1. In a sentence or two, state your thesis, and write the opening paragraph of your research essay.
2. Write a scratch outline. List three to five reasons you will give readers to persuade them that your stance is best. Your reasons may come from Becoming, other sources, in-class writing, or personal experience.
3. Identify three important sources that support your argument. For each one, explain its importance in two or three sentences.
4. List at least one objection or reservation you would expect from readers who do not agree with your stance on this issue.
5. Identify a source that challenges your position. In one or two sentences, explain how you will argue against it convincingly.
6. Try to support your argument. Select one of the reasons you listed in item two and write a page or so supporting it with facts, examples, statistics, anecdotes, or personal experiences.
