fact paper

Purpose:

The Fact Paper is an opportunity to practice backing up your claims and arguments with facts.

Overview:

Using only facts, you will create an argument that counters a common assumption, popular opinion, widely-held belief, or well-known saying (e.g. proverb, ‘words of wisdom’ we often hear, or advertising slogan).

• Choose a common assumption, popular opinion, widely-held belief, or well-known saying
• Refute that common assumption, popular opinion, widely-held belief, or well-known saying with facts
• Use only facts in your paper
• Avoid opinions, evaluative language, or subjective descriptions in your paper
• Cite any outside sources

Include the following in your paper:

• At the top of your paper, write the common assumption, popular opinion, widely-held belief, or well-known saying that you are refuting in your paper
• Your paper should be at least 500 words (not including a references list or bibliography)

Further Thoughts on the Fact Paper:

After you choose a topic, begin to compile facts that allow you to support the argument you are making. Your essay should NOT be a report. You are not writing an encyclopedia entry. You are making an argument by presenting an artful, carefully-crafted perspective. If you think this is near impossible, consider that journalists do it all the time!

Though you are being artful, you want in every case to use only facts. At no point should you use language that discloses your opinions or use evaluative or subjective language of any kind. Your essay should only contain carefully collected and composed facts that you have strategically organized.

To make the body of your essay interesting, you want to think about how you present information. Where do you place each sentence? Can you put two sentences together that suggest things that you cannot come right out and say? When do you introduce certain details? Which details do you leave out? Think, too, about how you compose each sentence. It is better to be detailed than vague. It is good to have a combination of specific and general information. Consider how best to get your reader to see the topic from a certain angle. It is a matter of selection, arrangement, and presentation.

Have fun with it–them’s the facts!

Examples to Refute (yes, you’re welcome to write on these topics!):

• Disneyland = “The happiest place on earth”
• What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas
• Baseball is America’s favorite pastime
• Dog is man’s best friend
• Honesty is the best policy
• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Fact Paper

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThis paper contains relevant and carefully selected facts.		10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThough it does not explicitly state an opinion or use evaluative or subjective language, this paper expresses a distinct and compelling perspective. The paper does not read like an encyclopedia entry.		10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThis paper demonstrates careful attention to word choice and sentence construction.		5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThis paper is a joy to read because it contains very few typos or grammatical errors.		10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThis paper properly cites any outside sources.		5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThis paper adheres to assignment specifications (e.g. meets word count and lists the popular opinion being refuted.)		10.0 pts
Total Points: 50.0

 

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