Directions:

In order to complete the requirements for the second essay, follow the numbered steps below:

Step 1

Consider an area of interest for yourself beyond the classroom. What are you interested in? Are you interested in any of the following?

• sports
• movies/television series
• art
• fashion
• current affairs, politics

Pick any topic that interests you. After this comes the tricky part: come up with an argument concerning your topic. Consider how you could discuss it from an academic perspective. What ongoing debate could you posit your discussion in? For example, let’s say I’m fascinated by Barbie dolls. What could I say about them? What argument can I come up with? Take a look at the following thesis statement:

e.g. “The arrival of Barbie dolls in the 1950’s not only coincides with the onset of the anorexia crisis afflicting young women in the United States, but is directly responsible for it.”

As you can see, I don’t simply start chatting away at my reasons for loving Barbie dolls-I make an argument. I declare that they are directly responsible for the anorexia crisis afflicting young American women. This is debatable as many people are sure to disagree that the dolls are responsible for such a health crisis.

When picking a topic, you might consider how the subject you choose sheds some light or insight on some aspect of our society, culture, or human nature. For example, in “Hidden Intellectualism,”Graff compares the world of academia to sports to discuss how competition actually rules universities. What will your essay reveal?

Step 2

Research your subject. You will need at least three sources (these can include the readings from class). Make sure that you do NOT write a book report. We’re not looking for a summary of the plot of your favorite movie, for instance. You need to make an argument about something. An argument is debatable. For further help in coming up with a thesis statement, refer back to the Week 1 Module Lecture: Academic Writing Is an Argument-2.

Step 3

Fill out the outline template included in this week’s module

The outline will help you organize your thoughts before you get started on your rough draft. Remember to copy and paste the template onto a word or google document, fill it out, and then submit it as an Assignment.

Write the outline (20 points).

Step 4

Write your essay.

Your essay should be about 3 pages and address the prompt above.

It should adhere to MLA format (double-spaced, use 12 font Calibri or Times New Roman) and cite authors accordingly.

The works cited page must be written on a separate page and include at least three sources

How to Structure Your Essay:

Introduction (1-2 paragraphs)

Your introduction should do the following:

Establish what your topic is and what argument you’ll be making about it. For example, if you’re discussing hip hop, you can declare that rap lyrics encourage sexism and misogyny in young men. If you chose to talk about the movie Titanic, for instance, you could state that the ship itself symbolizes society, and its various tiers society’s various classes (i.e. the boiler room and its workers might represent the working class and the upper levels of the ship the social elites).

Introduce the claims driving your argument forward and which you’ll elaborate on in your body paragraphs.

Body (3-4 paragraphs)

Your body paragraphs should do the following:

Discuss your specific claims. Each claim should be discussed in a separate paragraph.

What specific evidence do you provide to back your argument and claims? Which texts or authors are you basing your arguments on?

Include your opponents’ counterarguments in one of your body paragraphs. How will you respond to those who disagree with you?

Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs)

Your conclusion should wrap everything up. You can briefly restate your thesis and emphasize why your subject matters. You could consider addressing the following questions:

Why does your argument or subject matter?

What should your audience further consider regarding your subject?

Try to end your paper on a strong note.

The essay is due Tuesday, (100 points).Directions:

In order to complete the requirements for the second essay, follow the numbered steps below:

Step 1

Consider an area of interest for yourself beyond the classroom. What are you interested in? Are you interested in any of the following?

• sports
• movies/television series
• art
• fashion
• current affairs, politics

Pick any topic that interests you. After this comes the tricky part: come up with an argument concerning your topic. Consider how you could discuss it from an academic perspective. What ongoing debate could you posit your discussion in? For example, let’s say I’m fascinated by Barbie dolls. What could I say about them? What argument can I come up with? Take a look at the following thesis statement:

e.g. “The arrival of Barbie dolls in the 1950’s not only coincides with the onset of the anorexia crisis afflicting young women in the United States, but is directly responsible for it.”

As you can see, I don’t simply start chatting away at my reasons for loving Barbie dolls-I make an argument. I declare that they are directly responsible for the anorexia crisis afflicting young American women. This is debatable as many people are sure to disagree that the dolls are responsible for such a health crisis.

When picking a topic, you might consider how the subject you choose sheds some light or insight on some aspect of our society, culture, or human nature. For example, in “Hidden Intellectualism,”Graff compares the world of academia to sports to discuss how competition actually rules universities. What will your essay reveal?

Step 2

Research your subject. You will need at least three sources (these can include the readings from class). Make sure that you do NOT write a book report. We’re not looking for a summary of the plot of your favorite movie, for instance. You need to make an argument about something. An argument is debatable. For further help in coming up with a thesis statement, refer back to the Week 1 Module Lecture: Academic Writing Is an Argument-2.

Step 3

Fill out the outline template included in this week’s module

The outline will help you organize your thoughts before you get started on your rough draft. Remember to copy and paste the template onto a word or google document, fill it out, and then submit it as an Assignment.

Write the outline (20 points).

Step 4

Write your essay.

Your essay should be about 3 pages and address the prompt above.

It should adhere to MLA format (double-spaced, use 12 font Calibri or Times New Roman) and cite authors accordingly.

The works cited page must be written on a separate page and include at least three sources

How to Structure Your Essay:

Introduction (1-2 paragraphs)

Your introduction should do the following:

Establish what your topic is and what argument you’ll be making about it. For example, if you’re discussing hip hop, you can declare that rap lyrics encourage sexism and misogyny in young men. If you chose to talk about the movie Titanic, for instance, you could state that the ship itself symbolizes society, and its various tiers society’s various classes (i.e. the boiler room and its workers might represent the working class and the upper levels of the ship the social elites).

Introduce the claims driving your argument forward and which you’ll elaborate on in your body paragraphs.

Body (3-4 paragraphs)

Your body paragraphs should do the following:

Discuss your specific claims. Each claim should be discussed in a separate paragraph.

What specific evidence do you provide to back your argument and claims? Which texts or authors are you basing your arguments on?

Include your opponents’ counterarguments in one of your body paragraphs. How will you respond to those who disagree with you?

Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs)

Your conclusion should wrap everything up. You can briefly restate your thesis and emphasize why your subject matters. You could consider addressing the following questions:

Why does your argument or subject matter?

What should your audience further consider regarding your subject?

Try to end your paper on a strong note.

The essay is due Tuesday, (100 points).