Fact Paper: Writing an Argument Based on Empirical Evidence

This assignment requires students to write a fact paper, a piece of persuasive writing that presents a person, object, or event using only verifiable facts. The objective is to convince the reader to adopt a positive or negative perspective on the chosen topic without using any evaluative language. Students must select a topic, compile relevant facts, and organize them thematically. The paper should include a descriptive opening, a preview of the main points, a body with section and paragraph previews, and a conclusion that summarizes the paper. The assignment emphasizes the importance of using well-researched sources, adhering to APA formatting guidelines, and avoiding opinionated language. Peer reviews are also a component of this assignment. The grading rubric assesses the student's ability to construct strong arguments, provide relevant examples, reason effectively, organize information logically, use clear and concise writing, and adhere to formatting guidelines. The paper must be between 990 and 1010 words, not including the reference page.

The Fact Paper
In this paper, you will describe a person, object, or event using only empirically verifiable facts. The objective of the
paper is to convince your reader to see the person, object, or event in either a positive or negative light while
ensuring that your paper remains completely free of any evaluative language. You paper should be 1000 words (plus
or minus 10 words) in length not including reference page.
Instructions
Choose a person, object, or event that you find interesting and that you can readily research. It is better if you choose
a topic about which people already have a strong opinion that differs from your own. For instance, most people like
chocolate ice cream, but perhaps you hate chocolate ice cream. If so, chocolate ice cream would make a good topic
for this paper. After you choose a topic, begin to compile facts about your topic that will help you to show your topic in
either a negative or positive light. To show chocolate ice cream in a negative light, for instance, you might look for a
medical study that links chocolate ice cream to mad cow disease, or find evidence that an unpopular person such as
Richard Nixon ate chocolate ice cream every day. Likewise, if you find a report concluding that chocolate ice cream
cures pancreatic cancer, it may be wise to omit those findings from your paper. Either way, you want to provide
only empirically verifiableinformation about chocolate ice cream. At no point should you disclose to your reader your
own opinion of chocolate or any other kind of ice cream. In other words, persuade us to dislike chocolate ice cream
merely by providing negative information about it that you have strategically organized to maximize persuasive effect.
Other requirements:
1) Your opening paragraph must be a vivid description of the topic of your paper. If your topic is algae and you wish
to present algae in a positive light, then you could, for instance, write an engaging description of the life cycle of
algae. Keep in mind, though, your opening description must also be free of any evaluative or opinionated language.
2) The introduction of your paper must include a preview of the paper. Your preview should give your reader a sense
of the main points you will cover about your topic.
3) The body of your paper should deliver on the promises made in your preview, and each section of the body should
begin with a preview of that section. For instance, if you promise in your introduction that the first section of your
paper will provide information about deaths that have occurred on rides at Disneyland, then the first section of your
paper should provide information about a number of deaths that have occurred on rides at Disneyland. AND, the first
sentence of that section should preview which deaths on which rides will be discussed. AND, the first sentence of
each paragraph should preview the specific deaths or rides discussed in that paragraph. For instance, the first
sentence of your paragraph on the Matterhorn might read like so: No fewer than nine people have died while riding
the Matterhorn.
4) Your paper should feature a conclusion that briefly summarizes the paper. Without drawing conclusions or stating your opinion,
end the paper in such a way that your reader will be persuaded to adopt your perspective on the topic.
Structuring your paper
Your paper should begin with a detailed description of your object or topic. The opening paragraph should make use
of vivid language to convey a “picture” of your topic and establish a positive or negative tone for the paper. After
compiling your facts, group them according to theme so that when you write your paper, you can organize the
information in a logical manner and avoid jumping from point to point. Even though your paper will consist exclusively
of facts, you still want it to flow and make sense. At no point should you draw any conclusions about your topic or use
any language that might convey opinion.
Peer Reviews
This assignment also requires that you review three other fact papers during. I will provide detailed review guidelines
for you to complete. If you do not have copies of your drafted paper ready for peer review, you will lose credit for this
portion of the assignment. Your draft must be very nearly completed so that your peers have something to review.
Formatting requirements
Drafts and final paper must be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and stapled. Do not fold the corners of
your paper in lieu of a staple. Use 12 pt. font, preferably Times New Roman. Please do not include a title page or my
name. Simply include your name, the semester, and the assignment (single-spaced) at the top of the first page.
Citations should be formatted in accordance with APA guidelines. Those guidelines can be found in The Pocket

Wadsworth Handbook and the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ (Links to an
external site.)Links to an external site.
Grading
When grading your paper, I will be looking for the following:
1) the use of vivid language and an engaging, descriptive opening to your paper;
2) the absence of evaluative words that cannot be empirically verified (Note: if there are more than four such words in
your paper, you will lose three points for each additional word);
3) successful organization of your facts according to themes and strategic organization of information for persuasive
effect (Hint: strategic use of inference will be generously rewarded);
4) successful presentation of your topic in either a negative or positive light;
5) the use of well-researched, reliable sources (no less than five) that establish credibility; and
6) adherence to the formatting guidelines detailed above, including complete and correct
citations for ALL of your facts and sources.
Rubric
Fact Paper (1)
Fact Paper (1)
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeAnalysis:
Strong Arguments
Well thought out and excellent
execution of your arguments,
you followed them through to
their end, nothing was left to
speak for itself
7.0 pts
Your argument is on the
right track but you left some
areas to be discussed still or
you made some evaluation
errors
5.0 pts
Your argument needs
significant work, consider
really developing your source
material and placing it in a
greater discussion
3.0 pts
You have no
clear
argument.
0.0 pts
7.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeAnalysis:
Relevant examples
Great examples provided,
from great sources, and well
developed, they added and
furthered your argument
5.0 pts
Good Examples, more strength needed.
Consider your sources and/or the way in
which you have them speak on the page
(don't let them speak for themselves)
3.0 pts
Significant work is needed to make
your examples relevant to the topic
and/or making them really well
developed and argued on the page
0.0 pts
5.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeAnalysis:
Strong reasoning
Great reasoning, really
thoughtful and you followed
it through to its end.
7.0 pts
Good reasoning,
thoughtful and you
followed it to the end
mostly.
5.0 pts
A little more is needed to "slam it home,"
focus some more attention to finishing
out your reasoning (follow it to its end)
4.0 pts
7.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeOrganizati
on
Great overall organization.
Stayed on topic, clear,
coherent, well constructed.
5.0 pts
Good overall organization.
Mostly stayed on topic with
clear and coherent structure.
3.0 pts
Significant work
with organization is
needed.
2.0 pts
No logical or
coherent form of
organization
0.0 pts
5.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeWriting:
Diction, syntax,
readability
Excellent use of diction/syntax,
and your readability was spot
on
3.0 pts
A little more is needed to develop your
diction and syntax, and your readability
was mildly affected by this
2.0 pts
Diction and syntax are seriously
flawed and really damaged your
readability
0.0 pts
3.0 pt
s
This criterion is Great grammar and punctuation Good G/P, minor fixes Okay G/P, significant fixes No sign of7.0 pt

Fact Paper (1)
Criteria Ratings Pts
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeWriting:
Grammar and
Punctuation
uses
7.0 pts
needed.
6.0 pts
needed.
4.0 pts
G/P.
0.0 ptss
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeCoherency
view longer description
Your writing moves along with good uses
of language and coherency.
5.0 pts
Your writing is somewhat choppy and
could use some smoothing out.
4.0 pts
No sense of fluidity in
your writing.
0.0 pts
5.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeFormattin
g: APA/MLA
citations, set-up,
and sources
Follows correct
formatting of
assignment.
7.0 pts
Minor fixes need to be
made in terms of
formatting
6.0 pts
Your formatting per the
assignment guidelines needs
consideration.
3.0 pts
Does not adhere to
assignment formatting
instructions.
0.0 pts
7.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeContent
Content was solid and well
thought out, really focused
and well presented
7.0 pts
Content needs minor improvement, try
focusing it more and really driving home the
presentation of it (strong solid statements)
4.0 pts
Content needs
significant
improvement
3.0 pts
7.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeSensory
paragraph
Your first paragraph was a well constructed sensory
paragraph that helped your audience have the
sensation of presence
5.0 pts
Good effort, try to develop it a little more,
really make your audience feel like they are
experiencing it
3.0 pts
5.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeLanguage
Free of evaluative language,
free of assumptions
5.0 pts
Mostly free of evaluative
language and assumptions
3.0 pts
Significant improvement needed regarding
relaying fact without evaluative language.
0.0 pts
5.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeConstruct
Clearly placed your topic in
a positive/negative light,
using well thought out
examples and a good overall
flow to get to that evaluative
free conclusion
7.0 pts
Your topic was placed in a
postive/negative light, try
adding a little more to
make it flow clearly to an
evaluative free conclusion
4.0 pts
More effort is needed to
make the positive/negative
light shown more clear.
Consider developing your
argument more logically.
3.0 pts
Not in a
postive/negative
light, or very unclear
how you made that
rational
0.0 pts
7.0 pt
s
This criterion is
linked to a
Learning
OutcomeSources
Minimum of 5
sources used -
well researched
5.0 pts
Four sources used,
or issues with
your research
choices
4.0 pts
Three sources
used and/or
serious errors in
research
3.0 pts
One to two sources
used and/or there are
major flaws in your
research choices
2.0 pts
If there is research
there, it is not marked
correctly or does not
aid your paper
0.0 pts
5.0 pt
s
Total Points: 75.0