Research Paper Cover Sheet
Required 1-page submission · LI 100: Writing With Joy: Self-Regulated Learning
The cover sheet is a required one-page document submitted alongside your argumentative research essay. It asks you to reflect on your writing process, rhetorical choices, use of evidence, response to feedback, and growth as a writer.
Answer each of the five prompts below in complete sentences. Your responses should be thoughtful and specific, avoid vague or one-word answers.
The Five Prompts
Intended Audience / Reader
"Who is the audience/reader for this essay?"
Think about who would benefit most from reading your argument. Consider their background, values, and what they already know about your topic.
Examples:
- ›Higher education faculty and administrators who design curriculum
- ›K–12 teachers looking for inclusive classroom strategies
- ›Readers who currently hold an opposing view you want to persuade
- ›Policymakers working on an issue your essay addresses
- ›Fellow college students who are new to your topic
Rhetorical Strategy
"What is one thing you did as a writer in this essay to try to reach that audience/reader?"
A rhetorical strategy is a deliberate technique a writer uses to persuade, connect with, or inform their audience. It's a choice you made, in tone, structure, evidence, or language, specifically because of who you were writing for.
Examples:
- ›Ethos (credibility): Citing peer-reviewed research and institutional reports to build trust with an academic audience
- ›Pathos (emotion): Opening with a personal or real-world story to create empathy before presenting data
- ›Logos (logic): Using statistics and cause-effect reasoning to appeal to readers who value evidence
- ›Acknowledging the counterargument: Showing you understand the other side before rebutting it, which builds credibility
- ›Accessible language: Avoiding overly technical jargon so a general audience can follow the argument
- ›Framing around shared values: Emphasizing equity and belonging because your audience already cares about those outcomes
Strongest Piece of Evidence
"What is your strongest piece of evidence in this essay? What makes that piece of evidence particularly strong?"
Strong evidence is specific, credible, and directly tied to your thesis. Identify a quote, statistic, or study, then explain why it works.
Examples:
- ›A direct quote from a peer-reviewed journal that defines a key concept in your argument
- ›A statistic from a government or institutional report showing the scale of the problem
- ›A finding from A Dam Good Argument that supports your claim about effective argumentation
- ›A real-world example or case study that illustrates your thesis in action
- ›A quote from a Writing Spaces essay or the Berea Writes! handbook that aligns with your claim
One Revision Made Based on Feedback
"What is one aspect of your essay that you changed based on feedback from a reader?"
The reader could be a friend, peer in class, instructor, Writing Resources Consultant, etc. Be specific about what changed and why the change improved your essay.
Examples:
- ›Added a clearer thesis statement after a peer said the argument felt unclear in the introduction
- ›Expanded the counterargument paragraph after my instructor noted it felt too brief or dismissive
- ›Revised a body paragraph to include more analysis after a peer reviewer said I was summarizing instead of arguing
- ›Reorganized two body paragraphs after a Writing Resources Consultant pointed out a logic gap between them
- ›Strengthened transitions between sections after a reader said the essay felt disconnected
- ›Added page numbers to in-text citations after a peer reminded me they were missing
Writing Skill to Continue Developing
"Based on your writing in this essay, what is one writing-related skill that you can keep working on to make your next writing project even stronger?"
Be honest and specific. This is a reflection on your growth, not a criticism. Every writer has skills to develop.
Examples:
- ›Integrating sources more smoothly, introducing quotes with framing sentences and following them with analysis
- ›Writing stronger topic sentences that clearly connect each paragraph to the thesis
- ›Varying sentence structure to avoid repetitive patterns and improve readability
- ›Developing counterarguments more fully before rebutting them
- ›Improving transitions between paragraphs and sections
- ›Being more concise, cutting unnecessary words or restating ideas
- ›Paraphrasing more effectively instead of relying too heavily on direct quotes
Sample Cover Sheet
This sample is based on a sample argument-driven essay "Writing With Joy: How Self-Regulated Learners Build Stronger Arguments".
Research Paper Cover Sheet
LI 100: Writing With Joy: Self-Regulated Learning
Student Name · Dr. Greer-Effs · Fall 2026
Paper Title: Writing With Joy: How Self-Regulated Learners Build Stronger Arguments
1. Intended Audience / Reader
My intended audience is fellow first-year college students who feel anxious about argumentative writing. I am writing for peers who may not yet see themselves as confident writers but who are open to evidence-based strategies for building stronger arguments and managing writing anxiety.
2. Rhetorical Strategy
To reach this audience, I deliberately grounded my argument in strategies from A Dam Good Argument and several Writing Spaces essays on revision and self-regulation. I anticipated that anxious student writers would be skeptical of abstract advice, so I prioritized concrete, step-by-step strategies over vague encouragement. I also framed the argument around outcomes, confidence and stronger essays, rather than obligation, because I believed this audience would be more persuaded by evidence that the strategies actually work.
3. Strongest Piece of Evidence
My strongest piece of evidence is Delf, Drummond, and Kelly's claim in A Dam Good Argument that a strong argument "anticipates and answers the opposing view" (2022). This is particularly effective because it comes from our main course text, making it credible and familiar to my audience. It also directly supports my central claim that self-regulated learners build stronger arguments by engaging counterarguments rather than avoiding them.
4. One Revision Made Based on Feedback
After sharing a draft with a peer reviewer in class, I was told that my counterargument section felt dismissive, I had only briefly mentioned the opposing view before quickly moving on. Based on that feedback, I revised the counterargument paragraph to more fairly represent the concern that structured writing strategies might feel formulaic, and then provided a more developed rebuttal using a Writing Spaces essay on revision. This change made my argument feel more intellectually honest and stronger overall.
5. Writing Skill to Continue Developing
One skill I want to continue developing is integrating sources more seamlessly into my own prose. At times in this essay, I noticed that my quoted material felt "dropped in" rather than woven naturally into my argument. In future writing projects, I want to practice introducing sources with stronger framing sentences and following up quotes with more analysis in my own voice, so that the source supports my argument rather than replacing it.
Formatting Reminders
- The cover sheet is 1 page only, be concise but thorough
- Include your name, instructor name, course, and paper title at the top
- Write in complete sentences, no bullet points or one-word answers
- Submit the cover sheet as the first page before your essay
- Follow the same font and spacing as your essay (Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced)