This document provides instructions for Writing Assignment #3, a research-supported essay for the WRTG 101 course. Students must write a 1300-1500 word essay analyzing the impact of technology on either education or their chosen field of study. The essay must include at least 6 sources, with 4 from academic databases and 3 being scholarly journals. Students can take a persuasive or expository approach. The first draft is due on February 22nd and will be reviewed by the instructor before being revised.

1. WRTG 101
Writing Assignment #3: Research-Supported Essay
Writing Assignment #3 will be a
research-supported essay
.
Courses that fulfill the General Education Requirements (GERs)
at UMUC all have a common theme—
technological transformations
.
In following this theme throughout this semester in WRTG 101,
we have read the analyses of various authors on innovations and
technological transformations in education and in other fields.
In this essay, you will continue this theme of technological
transformations.
You have two choices for your essay topic.
Please choose
one
of the two choices.
Please note that both choices are identical to the choices you
had for writing assignment #2, the cause-effect essay.
You may write on the same topic that you wrote on for writing
assignment #2, but, if you do, you will want to adjust the topic
in any way your instructor directs you.
In addition, of course, you will expand on the number of
sources you use to defend your argument.

2. Technology and Education
Analyze the impact of a particular trend in technology on
education.
Our discussions in the class up to this point might be helpful
for you as you consider ideas for this topic.
You might analyze any one of the following.
These are just examples.
Many approaches are possible for this topic.
The potential impact of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
on higher education.
You might focus on a particular field of study for this choice.
The impact of online courses on education.
You might focus on a particular field of study for this choice.
The impact of digital media on online courses
The impact of the computer on writing courses or courses in
other disciplines
The impact of certain forms of technology on reading skills or
reading habits

3. Whether video games should be introduced into schools and
used to help educate students
Technology and Your Field of Study
Analyze the impact of technology on a field of study of your
choice.
This option represents a more general approach to the essay.
Some examples might be the following. These are just
examples.
Many approaches are possible for this topic.
The impact of mobile devices on cybersecurity
The impact of the Internet on the field of advertising
The impact of cloud computing on a particular business field
The impact of the Internet in an area of communication studies
The impact of the Internet on global marketing strategies
The impact of a particular type of technology on health care

4. Outline for the essay
The essay should have the following elements:
an engaging introductory paragraph.
You might even want to cite sources in the opening paragraph to
make your opening engaging to the reader.
an effective and clear thesis statement
a statement of definitions and background on the topic on which
you are writing.
You will want to define any terms necessary for the reader.
You may want to provide a historical background on your topic.
unified, supported, and coherent body paragraphs that defend
the thesis
sources cited throughout the body paragraphs that support the
arguments in the paper
an effective conclusion
a “references” page that lists the sources cited.
The references should be listed in APA format.
The sources and citation format for this essay
You are required to use
at least six
sources for this essay.

5. At least
four
sources must be acquired through the databases subscribed to
by UMUC’s Information and Library Services.
In addition, at least
three
sources are to come from scholarly journals.
Keep in mind that
if the sources are scholarly, the argument you make in the paper
will be more persuasive.
For this reason, feel free to use all scholarly sources if you can.
In addition, please feel free to cite more than six sources.
You may find that seven or eight sources (or more) are
necessary to establish your argument and defend your thesis.
Please do not feel limited to using only six sources.
Use more if you would like to or need to.
Please cite your sources and list them at the end of your paper
using APA format.

6. Length:
1300-1500 words
The strategy for this essay:
This essay can be a
persuasive essay
, in which you try to persuade the reader of a particular
position.
Or
it can be an
expository essay
that synthesizes material, an essay in which you give
information to the reader and synthesize the different
viewpoints on an issue.
The following examples help illustrate these two approaches.
For a
persuasive essay,
you could take the position that video games should be
integrated into school science curricula to teach middle school
students.

7. You would cite articles that demonstrate research studies and
other pieces of evidence to support the claim that video games
can enhance instruction in science classes and will help middle
school students learn science more effectively.
If you write a persuasive essay, please
follow one of the following three options for organization
:
Classical (deductive) approach
Inductive approach
Refutation approach
More information on these three styles is given in the following
video tutorial:
http://info.umuc.edu/academicwrtg/WRTG101_101S/wa3_lectur
e_f.html
For an
expository essay
, you could
synthesize
information on this topic, one that summarizes and analyzes the
evidence for and against using video games in school curricula.

8. Due Date
The first draft of this assignment is due
Saturday, February 22
.
How to Submit the Essay
You will not be graded on this first draft.
You will receive comments from me, and you will revise the
paper based on my comments.
For this reason, please post your first draft, no matter how
confident you feel about the paper.
Your instructor will work with you in developing the paper.
A suggested rubric for this essay is as follows.
Instructors may adjust this rubric if they would like to.

9. Introduction
topic introduced effectively
.4
strong thesis provided
.3
Statement of the problem or situation
.6
Paragraph development
unity maintained
.6
support provided
.6
coherence maintained
.6
Research
Current
.3

10. scholarly as appropriate
.4
woven into the paper effectively
.4
cited correctly in the paper
.3
listed correctly in the “references” page
.3
Grammar and mechanics
Punctuation
.4
word-level grammar
.4
sentence-level grammar
.4
Total
6.0