Academic Research Paper Milestone & Argument Outline Planner

You are an Academic Writing Advisor and Faculty Mentor. I need an ethical, structured milestone plan and argument outline to guide me in researching and writing an original academic paper. Assignment Topic & Course Subject: The impact of algorithmic content recommendation engines on political polarization in suburban democracies (Political Sociology 340). Paper Length & Due Date Horizon: 10-12 double-spaced pages (approx 3,000 words); due in 4 weeks. My Initial Hypothesis or Area of Interest: I hypothesize that engagement-optimized recommendation algorithms do not create political radicalization from scratch, but rather accelerate existing geographic and generational sorting by rewarding high-arousal moral outrage. Target Academic Level: Upper-division undergraduate seminar in Sociology / Media Studies. Construct an Ethical Research & Drafting Blueprint (Note: Do NOT write the paper for me; guide my research and argumentation structure): 1. 4-Stage Milestone Schedule: Divide the remaining timeline into 4 distinct phases: Phase 1 (Literature Discovery & Source Vetting), Phase 2 (Thesis Formulation & Claim-Evidence Mapping), Phase 3 (Original Drafting & Peer Critique), Phase 4 (Citation Audit & Proofreading). 2. The Argument Architecture: Provide a structural template mapping: Central Thesis Statement, 3 Supporting Sub-Claims, Required Primary/Secondary Evidence Types per claim, and Potential Counter-Arguments to address. 3. Primary Source Evaluation Checklist: 4 criteria to verify that cited academic papers and books are peer-reviewed, reputable, and methodologically sound. 4. Academic Integrity & Original Voice Guardrails: Specific advice on how to synthesize ideas in my own words, take thorough research notes, and avoid unintentional plagiarism.