The research essay is the principal assignment of the semester.

For this essay you will choose a topic broadly related to our theme of formation of self, do extensive research on the topic (at least four credible, challenging articles from journals or serious general interest publications), and then write an essay in which you synthesize and analyze the research you’ve examined, and develop your own argument that makes a case for a new interpretation, perspective, or idea regarding the topic at hand.

Your argument should grapple with and speculate how the topic is important or significant specifically in its effects upon the formation of self. This clearly allows you a good deal of leeway to speculate and develop your own ideas, as well as where appropriate to reference personal experience. But the essay is, importantly, not a personal reflection, nor should it be a regurgitation of the ideas you discovered in your research, or a polemic or jeremiad. This essay needs to deeply analyze the topic, taking into account where elements of the problem you’re examining do not admit of easy solutions, where there is uncertainty, and where viewpoints in opposition to your view have potential merit.

This essay will be a minimum of eight pages long (2,400 words), standard formatting.

Rough draft due: Monday, November 23

Final essay due: Wednesday, December 2

Reminder: This paper accounts for 40 percent of your grade.