In college courses and the workplace you will be required to write reports giving information. Informative writing, also known as expository writing, is the most common form of writing in college and at the workplace. In this assignment you will write an informative paper about a controversial topic. A controversial topic has two or more points of view that are strongly opposed to each other. The abortion and the legalization of marijuana issues are examples of controversial topics.
Content
You will write an essay which gives the reader a comprehensive overview of the topic. You will write about the background of the issue, its history. Think of this part of the paper as a story told in a chronological order. Next, write about the current status of the issue. Finally, you will tell the reader about the two different, opposing arguments connected with the issue. In this part of the paper just present the two sides of the argument. Don't take a side. Your opinion isn't needed in an Informative paper; save it for a persuasive paper.
Organization
To help you with the organization, you are required to do an outline. Go to the link at the bottom of the page for the outline format.Introduction : I emphasize the importance of a strong first paragraph. It sets the stage for the rest of the paper by telling the reader what the paper is about. It needs the following information:
1. Lead-in sentences approach the topic from a general point of view. The first two sentences of this handout lead in to the specific topic.2. The thesis statement comes next. It tells the reader the topic.
3. Last, an essay map tells the reader what the essay covers. In these sentences you tell the reader that you will be writing about the history, the current status of the topic and the opposing viewpoints.
Body: Your body will have four paragraphs, one for the history, one for the current situation, one each for the opposing points of view.
Conclusion: Summarize the thesis statement and the main points of the paper. Don't use the final paragraph to introduce a new topic or even a new aspect of the paper's topic.
Research
This assignment requires that you do some research. You will need at least two sources for the paper. To help refer to the handout I gave you at our orientation about help on research topics for open-campus students. A Library Presentation and Assignment will also help you to do good research. Submit one Research Note Form for each source.
Possible Topics
English as the official language of the United States, handgun control, the TASP test, campaign finance reform, Internet censorship, bilingual education, censorship and the arts, the role of human rights in our country's foreign policy. You can choose one of these topics, or you can choose your own. If you do choose another, I have to approve it before you proceed. I will not accept abortion or the legalization of marijuana as topics.