Formal Essay #4 – Final Research Paper - Prof. Matt Broderick
Readings:
“Conspiracy Craze – why 12 million Americans believe alien lizards rule us” – Olga Oksman
“Why so many people believe conspiracy theories” – James Tilley
“Conspiracy Theories – How to be a smarter news consumer” – BBC News
For our final research paper, you will be exploring a popular conspiracy theory of your choosing and developing a paper either supporting or refuting it.
Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length, incorporate at least two of the sources above, 3-4 outside sources (books, trusted publications, articles from the Rutgers database, reputable websites, etc), and include a works cited page.
The essay should be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, and include page numbers. Please make sure to proofread for spelling and grammatical errors.
Choose one of the following prompts:
Option 1: Support
Research a conspiracy theory of your choosing and analyze evidence and sources to prove this theory. Make sure to provide background and context and address counterarguments to your claim.
Option 2: Refute
Research a conspiracy theory of your choosing and analyze evidence and sources to disprove this theory. Make sure to provide background and context. Consider why this theory exists, and why people are inclined to believe it.