Use various development strategies (such as compare contrast, definition, cause-effect, etc.). Pay attention to format and style.  Include a well-developed introductory paragraph with a clearly-worded thesis. Your thesis should be arguable; that is, you are not just explaining or describing your topic, but making a claim (of value, of policy) about it. Use the comments I gave you in the P&B to help focus your thesis.  Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. All of the ideas developed in the paragraph should support the main idea of the topic sentence. Bring in evidence and support. Include examples. Refer to ideas in your secondary sources. Develop all of the body paragraphs. Do not write only two sentences for a paragraph! Write an effective and developed concluding paragraph.  Write a variety of sentence types. Edit sentence structures for grammatical accuracy. Use correct punctuation and capitalization.  Edit diction. Edit out informal word choices. Edit out second person 'you.' Do not overuse third person (we, our); if used, be sure you have a referent for it. Include at least one counter argument or arguments. Respond to it.  Use signal phrases, signal statements, and paraphrasing to include ideas from secondary sources. Integrate and synthesize secondary sources. he Research Essay assignment tests your rhetorical skills. Both the content (the ideas that you will argue and evidence and support that you use) and form (how you will present your ideas structurally, organizationally, and grammatically) should make an effective and readable argument. Support your claim with credible evidence, critically-informed interpretations, and valid analyses. Persuade the reader to your stance through rhetorical appeals of logos, pathos, and/or ethos. Make your paper interesting to read by writing in a style that is not banal. Do not generalize or use general terms. Bring in specific examples and word choices.   Edit out informal tone.  To move into interpretation and critical analysis, ask yourself how, why, and so, what questions. For example, why is this important to know? What is the significance of this? Is the effect beneficial or something to be avoided? Why does it matter? How does this affect people, specific groups, communities, society, the environment, etc.? How does it shape (viewers, youth, subjects, people, etc.)? What are the ramifications (socially, psychically, geographically, culturally, economically, etc.)?