For your third essay assignment you are to write a research proposal in which you briefly describe and outline your desired topic for your final essay (essay #4). You are free to choose whichever topic most interests you, so long as it is an appropriate topic for a college-level essay. A few topics that you may not write about are marijuana/drug legalization, abortion, or conspiracy theories (e.g. Sept. 11 was an inside job, Sandy Hook was a false flag attack, etc.). If you have any questions about choosing a topic, please contact me well in advance of the due date.



Requirements for Proposal:

• 300-600 words

• MLA Format

• No first or second person (e.g. I, me, we, you, our, us, my, etc.)

• A brief outline of your topic and the position that you are taking/arguing.

• A clear and arguable thesis.



Along with your research proposal, you will also submit an annotated bibliography in which you will list and briefly describe the sources that you are going to use for your final paper (see pg. 553-55 in your Bedford Handbook).



Requirements for Annotated Bibliography:

• Minimum of five scholarly sources

o At least two of these sources must come from the online databases accessible through the Texas State library.

o At least one of these sources must come from an actual book/text from the library.

o At least three of your sources must be from the past fifteen years.

• MLA Format

• Each entry must be followed by a three- to seven-sentence summary, evaluation, and synthesis (i.e., comparison to the other sources you will be using).

• No first or second person.