Essay with Rough Draft

The Writing Process: These are the steps I require for the research paper. The research strategies are worth points toward your research paper grade, and there are some required Zoom dates which I have put in bold. If you miss a step, don’t dismiss it. You must turn in every step, even if it’s late—you just lose points. This is not the time to fall behind! Late work must be completed by the next class session. If you get further behind than that, the research paper will be ineligible for submission. To reiterate, I will not accept an essay if I have not seen the COMPLETE process work along the way.

 

Due:    Oct 27/28         Rough draft outline (MLA format)                                                                                            

Due:    Nov 12            Revised outline                                                                                                                            

Due:     Nov 18/19       Rough Draft Due with Works Cited Page                                        

Due:     Nov 25        Final Draft Due  (2,000 word minimum without the W.C.)                                         

                                                                                                                                                                               

Prompt

 

We have been exploring the Los Angeles riots through both the written and video production of Twilight Los Angeles: 1992. For the essay, you will select a topic explored by Anna Deavere Smith and develop your discussion with further research.

                                               

Topic Ideas:

· Many of the voices here explore the issue of racial tension in the United States, including how pervasive white privilege is in our society. Has reading this text given you a new awareness of white privilege? White privilege might be a part of a discussion about use of force or the American Dream, or it may be the center of another topic, like whether awareness can help bring about change.

· We have heard “No Justice, No Peace” throughout this work, and Maxine Waters says that the riots were “the voice of the unheard.” Is violence a justified means of coping with police oppression? Smith explores the issue of use of force from both the police and the civilian angles. Does use force remain a topic of concern in our society today?

· Civil rights contribute to the American Dream, to the idea of being able to succeed in the United States. Are civil rights available to all, equally? In other words, is the American Dream achievable today?

· We have heard that the media contributes to the perception of black men posing a threat. Twenty-five years later, does the media do a better job of portraying all races fairly? Does the media have an effect on other populations? I wonder about the polarization West talks about. Is there too much of a split in liberal/conservative news sources to inspire dialogue?

· Jessye Norman makes me think of the ways that music can help people cope, and Deavere’s work makes me think of art’s function in exploring controversial topics. Does art contribute to communities understanding each other better and finding common ground?

· Is there a topic that you want to explore that I didn’t cover here? Pitch it to me. I want your research to be centered around something that matters to you!

 

In this essay I’ll be looking for:

 

· Your ability to create an original argumentative thesis from a close reading of the primary text.

· Application of varied research techniques as demonstrated on the works cited page.

· A systematic method for accurately recording research in the form of annotations and note-cards.

· Use of both direct quotation and paraphrase.

 

Source Requirements

· Two sources must be from one of our library databases (EBSCOhost, MagillOnLiterature, Opposing Viewpoints) You’ll find these by following the research strategies we learned during the orientation.

· One must be an ebook. You might find this through the library catalog or a textbook from one of your other courses.

· My only requirement for the rest of your sources is that they are reputable. No Wikkipedia, About.com, 123HelpMe.com kinds of sites. You might use audio or visual sources. Interview an expert on your story. Have fun with your research!

 

Important:

· Gather more information than you think you’ll need. This might require looking at ten to fifteen sources. There’s nothing worse than working on your paper and realizing you’re short a source. Never walk away from a source before you know how you would cite the information. Photocopy (or take a picture of) the title page. Email the source to yourself or write down all relevant information from the website you visited. You don’t want to have to access that material again.

· Body paragraphs consist of a mixture of primary, secondary and tertiary sources. The skill you are developing here is your ability to synthesize source material.

· Submitting the research paper requires that all sources in the paper are on the works cited page. This is not magic. Spend the time to make sure that you can match the parenthetical citations to what you have on the works cited page. If you have not used a minimum of 6 sources (one primary + five secondary) the essay will not pass.

· This is your third essay of the term. Now is the time to clarify any questions you have about the notes I’ve been putting on former essays. Making mistakes that I know I have corrected before is unacceptable with the number of resources available to you!