Instructor: Deborah Blakely Averill

Course: English 115

The I Search Essay Digital Nation

First Draft Due: Tuesday Sept. 16th (minimum 3 pages)
= 20 pts. possible

Second Draft Due: Thursday Sept. 25th (minimum 3-4 pages)

=20 pts. possible

Third Draft Due: Thursday Oct. 2nd (minimum 4 - 6 pg. max.)

= 60 pts. possible

LRC Visit (with receipt)

= 20 pts. possible

Total Points Possible = 120

MLA format with Times New Roman 12 pt. font is required on
all drafts.
Writing Task: This paper is designed to teach the writer and the
reader something valuable about a chosen topic and about the
nature of searching and discovery. As opposed to the standard
research paper where a writer usually assumes a detached and
objective stance, the I Search paper allows you to relate your
experience of hunting for facts and opinions firsthand, and to
provide a step-by-step record of the search process. Its a research
paper that is overtly reflective.
Topic: Choose something from our broad topic (The Digital Age)
that truly interests you; a problem or concern you would like to be
more informed about. The topic, however, has to be
argumentatively rich, meaning there have to be many different

viewpoints on the issue. Its up to you to choose a suitable topic,

but there are some topics that cannot be researched. If you are
unsure, please ask me.
Format: This paper should include three things: 1) What I Know,
Assume, or Imagine; 2) The Search; and 3) What I Discovered.
The three-part format of this paper should not be organized
explicitly for example, set off with subheadings but implicitly.

Part 1: What I Know, Assume, or Imagine

Before conducting any formal research, write a section in which
you explain to the reader what you think you know, what you
assume, or what you imagine about your topic. You might want to
offer your ideas about the cause(s), provide an estimate of the
severity of the problem, and create a portrait of the typical person
affected by it.
Part 2: The Search
Test Your Knowledge, assumptions or conjectures by researching
your topic thoroughly. Consult useful books, magazines,
newspapers, films, and library databases for information. When
possible, interview people who are authorities or who are familiar
with your topic. You might want to check out a book on the
subject, read several pertinent articles in a variety of current
magazines, set up an appointment to speak to an expert, or
interview someone affected by the problem. Write about your
search in narrative form (chronologically with specific details) to
record the steps of the discovery process. Do not feel obligated to
tell everything, but highlight the happenings and facts you
uncovered that were crucial to your hunt and contributed to your
understanding of your topic. Document sources of information

using citations when appropriate and necessary

Part 3: What I Discovered
After concluding your search, compare what you thought you
knew, assumed, or imagined with what you actually discovered,
and offer some personal commentary and/ or draw some
conclusions. For instance, after completing your search, you might
learn that the problem is much more severe than you formerly
believed. Or you may find that the controversy is much
exaggerated. Were your beliefs changed on the subject? How did
your research influence them? This part of the paper will also
contain citations indicating the information you learned from your
sources.

Works Cited Page and In-Text Citations

Your essay should use a minimum of 3 different sources either by
quotation, paraphrase, or display of information documented in
MLA format. No long quotations are permitted. And for this
assignment, website sources are not permitted. You will need to
use the library database to search for sources. This essay requires a
Works Cited page that follows MLA specifications and uses proper
in-text citations. (Citing sources is in Chapter 17 of Writing
Arguments. Also, an example of a properly formatted MLA paper
appears on pg. 334.)
Audience
Address your paper to peer-scholars who might be interested in
your subject and could be interested in your analysis and/or
findings.