Research Paper

Persuasive Letter Based on Research: Ethics

To demonstrate your understanding of the research process and to engage in a thoughtful analysis of a meaningful contemporary issue, you will write a letter to a publication, person, corporation or organization that persuades them on a specific ethical issue.

Topic Selection
Arthur Miller’s All My Sons finds its action developing against the backdrop of corporate ethics. While Joe Keller’s conflict—whether or not to send off faulty parts—may seem easy to resolve because of its life-or-death consequences, many ethical issues today are much more nuanced. For your research, examine a contemporary ethical issue tied to current corporate and consumer practices.

Sample Topic
I recently watched the documentary Food, Inc., which is about the U.S.’s food industry, and I am even more committed to organic food. Now, I will write a letter to Costco (where I love to shop) urging them to begin stocking organic skim milk for ethical and economical reasons. One of my research sources will even be the film, so you could choose to respond to a documentary.

Letter Paragraph Organization
Your persuasive letter paragraphs do not need to follow the PIE format of literary analysis. In fact, business letters are brief, rarely do they go beyond one page of single-spaced type. Your letter should follow this organizational plan:

Introduction—creative attention device and specific ethical thesis—the point you want to prove. (2 sentences)

The basic arguments on both sides of the ethical question. Consider the consequences, pros and cons of each position. You may need to include some brief background information. Information in these paragraphs will be supported with in-text citations. Using “according to” or other signal phrases works well in a business letter; however, you may use parenthetical, in-text citations. (2 – 3 paragraphs)

Conclusion—Based on your research, what is the best ethical response to your issue? In other words, what’s your call to action? What do you want people to do? Why? (1-2 sentences)

Note Taking
Complete some type of note-taking that ensures you are properly paraphrasing information and using direct quotations correctly so that you do not plagiarize. Annotating printouts with highlighting and paraphrasing in the margins works well for note taking. Alternatively, you use paper or note cards to capture information without printing it. Just be careful to use quotation marks when you are copying lines exactly.

Research
As you conduct your research, you must find a minimum of four credible sources. Credible web sites have a known author (usually one that can be contacted), links that work, few grammatical errors, and listed resources.

You should find at least one on-line database article.

In your final letter, reference at least three of your sources. Researchers often consult more information than they can use because this allows them to select the best information.

Final Products
1. One-page letter (typed, single spaced block formatting, 12-point font, one-inch margins)
2. A properly formatted MLA works cited page