In this paper, it is your task to research a question using academic sources. Your question should be honed and specific enough that you are able to find articles that address your question in meaningful ways. This means instead of asking "Why do Americans eat fast food," you might ask "What are the effects of a fast food burger diet on the human body," or "What bodily processes lead us to crave fats and sugars when we don't need them?"
You will use five academic sources through mulibraries.missouri.edu or another source of articles to find arguments that address your question.
Your paper should assess and build upon these arguments in order to attempt to either find an answer for or a better perspective on your question.
To help you think about what is expected of your research paper, consider Owl's guide to analytical research
This link suggests that your primary goal is not to persuade but to inform your audience, to synthesize information, and to explain how your sources when discussed together can provide a new and interesting perspective on your question.