### Research Assignment

#### Prompt:
Conduct research on an issue affecting the world and your life today. Choose one of the issues listed below. Then write an argument essay in which you argue and support your position on your chosen issue by providing three strong reasons and addressing one counterclaim. Use MLA style to properly cite three to five credible, relevant sources, both in the text and on a Works Cited page.

Choose one of the following issues:
1. Should students be able to evaluate their teachers?
2. Is technology positively or negatively affecting the way people communicate with others?
3. Should people be prosecuted or held responsible for what they post on their social media accounts?

#### Directions for Developing Your Claim:
1. Brainstorming: Select one of the three brainstorming activities: idea mapping, free writing, or listing. Use your chosen brainstorming activity to generate ideas about which position you will take and why you are taking this position.

2. Claim Statement: Write a clear, focused statement (in one sentence) about the position you are taking on this issue. This is the claim for your argument essay.

3. Supporting Reasons: Write two or three sentences about why you are taking this position in your argument essay.

4. Submission: Your teacher may ask you to submit your brainstorming, claim, and reasons for your position, so be prepared to do so.

#### Example Claim Development:
Issue: Should students be able to evaluate their teachers?

Claim: Students should be able to evaluate their teachers because it provides an incentive for the teacher, assists teachers to improve in areas where they could be lacking, and provides a proper evaluation of their teacher.

Supporting Reasons:
1. Allowing students to evaluate their teachers gives teachers an incentive to improve their teaching skills.
2. Teacher evaluations from students can highlight areas where teachers need improvement.
3. Student feedback offers a proper evaluation of teachers, leading to a higher quality of education.

Example Explanation:
Allowing students to evaluate their teachers will give teachers an incentive to improve on their teaching skills. If teachers know that they are going to be evaluated by their students, they will work harder due to the incentives given to them. For example, a teacher who is lazy and unenthusiastic about their job will realize that if they don't improve, they can be terminated and replaced. This will ultimately lead to students receiving a higher quality of education.