English 170 homework

Essay 1 Topic

Television is an interesting form of entertainment.  With a proper cable subscription, one’s television can display 75+ channels of moving pictures.  At some point in our lives, we have watched television.  There are numerous reasons why television appeals to many people.  In an effort to appeal to large numbers of people, many television shows look to outdo one another for ratings.  Unfortunately, a quest for ratings sometimes leads to a lack of valuable and educational material.  While it is easy to chastise television for some of its raunchier shows, we might agree that television can offer some valuable, quality television programs.

For this essay assignment, consider the following:

In your opinion, is television good or bad for American society?  In either case, what evidence can you provide to strengthen your point?

For this essay, you will want to do the following:

• Choose 1 or 2 shows that can help strengthen your argument (focusing on too many shows will cause you to lose track of your main point)
• Incorporate outside sources that agree and help strengthen your position in the essay (a minimum of 2 sources are required aside from your television show as an example)
• Remember that it is not enough to say, "Television is bad" or "Television is a good thing."  You must explain how and why.

APA Format:

• Length is 3 pages
• Font: Times New Roman
• Spacing: double-spaced

Remember, a strong essay will have a clear thesis statement that establishes your position.  The remainder of your essay will support your thesis statement with reasons and evidence.