Business & Finance J. Moore Assignments
Guidelines for Essay Proposal
Dr. Regina Golar
ENG 235: Technical Writing
Department of English, Journalism, and Media Communications
Table of Contents
2
General Guidelines ............................................................................................................. Pages 3-4
Library Resources .................................................................................................................. Page 5
Five-Paragraph Essay Structure .............................................................................................. Page 6
Quoting Library Books/Articles ............................................................................................ Page 7
Formatting the Essay Proposal .............................................................................................. Page 8
TurnItIn Report Information…………………………………………………………………Page 9
Grade Sheet (Outline) ………………………………………………………………………Page 10
Grade Sheet (Essay Proposal) ……………………………….………………………….Pages 11-14
Questions and/or Concerns .................................................................................................... Page 15
General Guidelines
3
In Professional and Technical Writing, Joe Moxley notes the following: “Proposals are persuasive texts that articulate ways to solve a problem, conduct needed research, or provide a service. […] Writers of proposals support claims with reasoning, library and Internet research, and original research […]” (Chapter 7.1: Proposals).
Accordingly, the task is to write an essay proposal as the final project for ENG 235: Technical Writing.
DIRECTIONS: Students will write a five-paragraph essay proposal on ONE issue that affects Stillman College. Students will read Chapter 7.1: Proposals in the textbook, Professional and Technical Writing, before attempting to complete this assignment.
TOPICS: Students may write on one topic listed below. Note: Students are not limited to the topics listed below. However, the chosen topic must relate to an issue that affects Stillman College.
Attendance Policy Registration Process
Financial Aid Process Student Code of Conduct
Technology Issues Security Issues
Parking Issues Pledging Greek/Non-Greek Organizations
Scholarships Library
Dining Hall Computer Labs
Educational Buildings Residence Halls
ORGANIZATION/STRUCTURE: The essay proposal is required to have five paragraphs:
• Paragraph One – Introduction (Include the hook, background information about the topic, and the 3-point thesis statement.)
• Paragraph Two – Point A from the thesis statement
(Include a direct quotation from your library research.)
• Paragraph Three – Point B from the thesis statement (Include a direct quotation from your library research.)
• Paragraph Four – Point C from the thesis statement (Include a direct quotation from your library research.)
• Paragraph Five – Conclusion (Include the restated thesis statement and a solution/call to action.)
4
LIBRARY RESEARCH: Students are required to include three sources within the essay proposal. A source is defined as a scholarly book or article from the library. IMPORTANT: Students are NOT using the general Internet to get sources OR artificial intelligence (AI) to get information. Each source (book/article) should come from the library!
• Paragraph Two should have the first library book/article that is quoted to support the claim. • Paragraph Three should have the second library book/article that is quoted to support the
claim. • Paragraph Four should have the third library book/article that is quoted to support the claim.
Note: No book/article should be used in more than one paragraph. Each body paragraph should have a different library book/article for a total of three books/articles.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH: To satisfy the requirement for original research, the essay proposal should include a questionnaire with at least ten questions created by the student that relates to the topic. (See the chart of topics on page 3.) The questionnaire should be designed as if the student is asking questions to a potential audience; it should state ten important questions that would provide greater insight into the student’s chosen topic from the audience. This questionnaire should be on its own page—not within the five paragraphs of the essay proposal.
DUE DATES: Friday, November 7: Submit the outline for the essay proposal. You are not submitting a traditional outline. Instead, the outline should include the following Key Features of Proposals (as stated in Chapter 7.1):
• PROBLEM – State the topic of the essay proposal. • FOCUS – Explain the urgency of the topic. Why should the audience be concerned? • DEVELOPMENT – State the 3-point thesis statement for the essay proposal. • METHOD – List the three library book/articles that will be used in the essay proposal. Students
should be sure to format the three citations based on MLA format (School of Arts and Sciences students) or APA format (School of Business students).
• SOLUTION – State the call to action. What exactly should the audience do to address the problem?
Sunday, November 16: Submit the complete project to Canvas, which includes the following: • Essay Proposal with Works Cited/References page • Questionnaire
` FORMAT: The essay is to follow MLA guidelines (School of Arts and Sciences students) or APA guidelines (School of Business students) for format and documentation.
GRADING:
RESOURCES: You may reference your textbook, Professional and Technical Writing, as you prepare this assignment; pay particular attention to Chapter 7.1: Proposals. You may visit the Academic Success Center, located on the ground floor of Batchelor, for free tutoring. As always, you may contact your professor, Dr. Regina Golar, at any time for assistance (Wynn Center #232A, rgolar@stillman.edu).
Outline = 50 points Essay Proposal = 200 points Questionnaire = 50 points
Library Resources
5
Follow these steps to access the resources at Stillman College’s Sheppard Library.
• Go to www.stillman.edu.
• Click “My Stillman.”
• Click “Sheppard Library.”
You should see the following:
• Online Database • Additional Resources • Articles
You may begin your research!
If you have any questions, you may contact the Sheppard Library’s staff at librarian@stillman.edu.
Five-Paragraph Essay Structure for the Essay Proposal
6
Note: Each paragraph should have a minimum of five sentences.
Paragraph One: Introduction
• Hook – interesting statement that grabs the reader’s attention. The hook should be the very first sentence(s) of the essay. Here are some ways to create an interesting hook to begin your essay:
o Quote from a piece of literature. (Be sure to cite the source!) o Quote someone famous. (Be sure to cite the source!) o Tell a personal short story. (Keep the story short, and don’t get TOO personal!) o Ask an interesting question. (Make sure the question is actually interesting!) o Define a word. (The word should be important to the topic of the essay!)
• Background Information – provides information about the topic of the essay. The background should be a minimum of three sentences in length. The background is NOT the hook, and it is NOT the thesis. The three sentences of background are separate from the hook and the thesis.
• Thesis Statement – main idea of the essay. The thesis statement should have three points that you plan to discuss in the essay (Point A, Point B, and Point C). The thesis statement is never a question; it is a one-sentence statement. The thesis statement is the last sentence of the introduction.
Paragraph Two: Point A from the thesis statement
• The first sentence of the paragraph is the topic sentence. o Topic sentenceàprovides the main idea of the paragraph.
• Be sure to use a transition in the topic sentence. o Examples of transitions: First, Second, Next, Also, Last, etc.
• Be sure to use a keyword from the thesis. o Keywordàthe main word(s) stated in point A of the thesis.
Paragraph Three: Point B from the thesis statement (See notes above about Point A.)
Paragraph Four: Point C from the thesis statement (See notes above about Point A.)
Paragraph Five: Conclusion
The conclusion provides the final thoughts about the topic. Here are ways to create a conclusion:
• Review the main ideas of the essay. Be sure to restate the thesis statement. Note: Do NOT restate the thesis statement word-for-word as stated in introduction; change the wording and the sentence structure just a bit.
AND
• Include a solution. Review the Call to Action that was submitted with the original outline. Explain what can be done to address the problem.
Quoting Library Books/Articles
7
Students in the School of Arts and Sciences should use MLA Format:
See below for an example of a fully developed direct quotation:
Signal phrase, “Actual words from the book/article” (parenthetical citation).
According to John Smith, “SENTENCE” (124).
Visit the following link for additional information: https://owl.purdue.edu à MLA Guide à MLA Formatting Quotations
*******************************************************
Students in the School of Business should use APA Format:
See below for an example of a fully developed direct quotation:
Signal phrase, “Actual words from the book/article” (parenthetical citation).
According to Smith (2019), “SENTENCE” (p. 124).
Visit the following link for additional information:
https://owl.purdue.edu à APA Guide à In-text Citations: The Basics
Formatting the Essay Proposal
8
Students in the School of Arts and Sciences should use MLA Format:
Include the following information when formatting your assignments: student’s name, professor’s name, class, and inverted date. Follow the formatting below:
Student’s First and Last Names
Dr. Regina Golar
ENG 235
Date
Visit the following link for additional information:
https://owl.purdue.edu à MLA Guide à General Format
*******************************************************
Students in the School of Business should use APA Format:
Include the following information when formatting your assignments: student’s name, student’s affiliations (school and college), class information, professor’s title and name, and date. Follow the formatting below:
Student’s First and Last Names
School of Business, Stillman College
ENG 235: Technical Writing
Date
Visit the following link for additional information:
https://owl.purdue.edu à APA Guide à General Format
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TurnItIn Reports
This semester, each assignment is tagged to TurnItIn, which reviews students’ submissions for matching language on the Internet. The TurnItIn report for each submission will be available as soon as you submit your assignment.
Please note that any submission that TurnItIn flags as having greater than 30% matching language (or less, depending on the report) that is not documented/cited will be subject to penalty, including zero credit for the assignment and/or being recommended to the Office of Academic Affairs for disciplinary action.
To protect against TurnItIn flagging your submission, please adhere to the following guidelines:
• Students are NOT allowed to use samples from the Internet. • Students are NOT allowed to use any form of artificial intelligence (A.I.). • Students are NOT allowed to use any outside sources.
Be sure that you are typing your own work—not borrowing anything from the Internet or another person.
If your TurnItIn report has greater than 30% matching language, then you are welcome to revise and resubmit your assignment before the deadline.
Please contact Dr. Regina Golar at rgolar@stillman.edu with any questions or concerns.
Professor: D r. R
egina G olar E
N G
235: T echnical W
riting
G rade Sheet
See C anvas for additional details.
Please contact D r. Regina G
olar at rgolar@ stillm
an.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Y our outline w
ill be graded based on the criteria below .
Student’s N am
e: ______________________________________
O utline for the E
ssay Proposal
The outline dem onstrates com
petency in the follow ing areas:
PR
O B
LEM
Topic of the essay proposal G
ood
+10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts.
N eeds
Im provem
ent
+3 pts.
Failing/ N
ot Included
+0 pts. FO
C U
S U
rgency of the topic G
ood
+10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts.
N eeds
Im provem
ent
+3 pts.
Failing/ N
ot Included
+0 pts. D
EV ELO
PM EN
T Three-point thesis statem
ent G
ood
+10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts.
N eeds
Im provem
ent
+3 pts.
Failing/ N
ot Included
+0 pts. M
ETH O
D
Three library books/articles G
ood
+10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts.
N eeds
Im provem
ent
+3 pts.
Failing/ N
ot Included
+0 pts. SO
LU TIO
N
C all to action
G ood
+10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts.
N eeds
Im provem
ent
+3 pts.
Failing/ N
ot Included
+0 pts. N
otes:
T
O T
A L
: ____/50
10
Professor: D r. R
egina G olar G
rade Sheet E ssay Proposal
Student’s N am
e: _________________________________________
Paragraph O ne: Introduction
H ook - interesting statem
ent that grabs the reader’s attention. The hook should be the very first sentence(s) of the essay. H ere are
som e w
ays to create an interesting hook to begin your essay:
o Begin w
ith a quotation from a piece of literature. (Include a signal phrase, quotation m
arks, and a parenthetical citation.) §
Be sure to cite the source on a W orks Cited/References page!
o Begin w
ith a quotation from som
eone fam ous. (Include a signal phrase, quotation m
arks, and a parenthetical citation.) §
Be sure to cite the source on a W orks Cited/References page!
o Tell a personal short story. (K
eep the story short, and do not get TO O
personal!) o
A sk an interesting question. (M
ake sure the question is actually interesting!) o
D efine a w
ord. (Include a signal phrase, quotation m arks, and a parenthetical citation.)
§ Be sure to cite the source on a W
orks Cited/References page!
H ook (essay’s opening)
G ood
+10 pts. A
verage +5 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Background inform
ation - provides inform ation about the topic of the essay. The background should be a m
inim um
of three sentences. The background is N
O T the hook, and it is N
O T the thesis. The three sentences of background are separate from
the hook and the thesis.
Background (at least three sentences) G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+3-6 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Thesis Statem ent - m
ain idea of the essay. The thesis statem ent should have three points that you plan to discuss in the essay (Point A
, Point B, and Point C). The thesis is never a question; it is a one-sentence statem
ent. The thesis is the last sentence of the introduction.
Thesis Statem ent (last sentence of introduction / only one sentence /
topic / keyw ord(s) to indicate argum
ent / Point A , Point B, and Point C)
G ood
+20 pts. A
verage +10 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts.
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Professor: D r. R
egina G olar G
rade Sheet E ssay Proposal
Paragraph T w
o: Point A from
the thesis statem ent
• The first sentence of the paragraph is the topic sentence.
o Topic sentenceà
provides the m ain idea of the paragraph
• Be sure to use a transition in the topic sentence.
o Exam
ples of transitions: First, Second, N ext, A
lso, Last, etc. •
Be sure to use a keyw ord from
the thesis. o
K eyw
ordà the m
ain w ord(s) stated in point A
of the thesis statem ent
Transition in topic sentence for Point A
G
ood +2 pts.
A verage +1 pt.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Topic sentence w
ith keyw ords from
thesis for Point A
G ood
+8 pts. A
verage +4 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Body paragraph for Point A
fully developed (organization, developm
ent of ideas, at least five sentences) G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Library research (direct quotation, cited properly, relevance to topic)
G ood
+10 pts. A
verage +5 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Level of argum
ent G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Paragraph T hree: Point B from
the thesis statem ent (See notes above about Point A
.)
Transition in topic sentence for Point B G
ood +2 pts.
A verage +1 pt.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Topic sentence w
ith keyw ords from
thesis for Point B G
ood +8 pts.
A verage
+4 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Body paragraph for Point B fully developed (organization, developm
ent of ideas, at least five sentences) G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Library research (direct quotation, cited properly, relevance to topic)
G ood
+10 pts. A
verage +5 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Level of argum
ent G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
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Professor: D r. R
egina G olar G
rade Sheet E ssay Proposal
Paragraph Four: Point C from the thesis statem
ent (See notes above about Point A .)
Transition in topic sentence for Point C G
ood +2 pts.
A verage +1 pt.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Topic sentence w
ith keyw ords from
thesis for Point C G
ood +8 pts.
A verage
+4 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Body paragraph for Point C fully developed (organization, developm
ent of ideas, at least five sentences) G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Library research (direct quotation, cited properly, relevance to topic)
G ood
+10 pts. A
verage +5 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts. Level of argum
ent G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Paragraph Five: Conclusion
The conclusion provides the final thoughts about the topic. H ere are w
ays to create a conclusion:
• Review
the m ain ideas of the essay.
o R
estate the thesis statem ent. N
ote: D o N
O T restate the thesis statem
ent w ord-for-w
ord as stated in introduction; change the w
ording and the sentence structure just a bit. ***O
R ***
o Sum
m arize m
ain points of the essay. To sum m
arize the m ain points, take the three points from
the thesis statem ent
and turn them into three separate sentences.
Conclusion - restates thesis/sum
m arizes m
ain points G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Conclusion - provides solution/call to action G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
Conclusion - developed fully (organization, developm
ent of ideas, at least five sentences)
G ood
+10 pts. A
verage +5 pts.
N eeds Im
provem ent
+0 pts.
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Professor: D r. R
egina G olar G
rade Sheet E ssay Proposal
G eneral M
LA W
orks Cited page / A PA
References page G
ood +10 pts.
A verage
+5 pts. N
eeds Im provem
ent +0 pts.
N otes:
T O
T A
L : ______/200
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Questions and/or Concerns
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Regina Golar at rgolar@stillman.edu.
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