Order 817955: On Prompt
Paper #1
Rough draft due 2/19/18
Final draft due 2/23/18
Content:
For your paper, you are required to answer one of the following prompts. You can choose which prompt to answer.
1. How and why did America perceive itself as a global power at the turn of the century?
2. How is capitalism a value system, as well as an economic system?
3. Race relations in America were contested long before the Civil Rights movement. Why does DuBois argue that black Americans saw life through a “veil?”
I expect you to draw from at least two primary sources and one secondary source to make your argument - although the creative selection and utilization of that source is up to you. If you chose to use online sources not accessed through the library, they must be from a .org or .edu site. Please keep in mind that drawing on sources that do not contribute to your argument will not benefit your paper. I expect your work to include parenthetical citations to any work that you use, in the format of (author, page). For instance, if you use a quote from W.E.B. DuBois’ The Souls of Black Folk, please write (DuBois, 31). Personal notes can be referred to by your name and the date of the lecture those notes were drawn from. For instance, (Smith, Lecture Notes, 2/15/17) - but these do not count as a secondary source. You will need a works cited page that includes a complete citation of all of the work you use (author, title, date, location). I will not be strict about the format of citations, as long as I can tell where the source is from. You may use either Chicago, APA, or MLA citation style.
Formatting (rough draft):
Formatting (final paper):
Your final paper is expected to be 3-5 pages, in twelve point Times New Roman font. Most of you will likely find that you need 4-5 pages to develop a solid paper. Margins should be one inch, papers should be double-spaced, and each page should be numbered in the bottom right hand corner. Your paper should also include a title page (not numbered, or numbered “0”) which contains your name, the title of your paper, the chosen prompt, and the date. These are the easiest points to receive and the easiest points to miss. I WILL take off points for those of you who do not follow these specifications.
Papers should be turned in both in electronic and hard copy. Electronic papers should be submitted to the BLACKBOARD drop box in either .doc or .docx format. I am a PC user and cannot read .odx or .pages files. If you do not have access to Microsoft Word, please speak to me about an alternative arrangement. Hard copy papers should be turned in in class on the day they are due, and should be stapled. If possible, I prefer them to be printed on both sides.
Expectations:
A successful paper for this course will
· Have a title that addresses/summarizes the argument and themes of the paper
· Have a strong, incisive, and well-defined thesis
· Have a graceful, well-crafted introduction and conclusion
· Have strong topic sentences for each paragraph, which summarize the content of the paragraph and demonstrate clear links to the overall argument of the paper
· include meaningful citations of course materials, including at least one primary source
· be effectively organized
· show signs of close and careful proofreading.
Please keep in mind that I will take points off for clarity of sentences, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors. I expect that your writing is able to convey your meaning; these mistakes hinder that process of communication. Sloppy writing is not acceptable! Likewise, I will reward essays that are crafted with elegance, and writing that is well thought out, creative, and incisive. I am happy to help you with your paper on an individual basis, but I will only do so if you come to my office hours one week prior to the due date with a clear outline or a full draft. For help with organization, spelling, and grammar, I highly recommend that you seek help through the Writing Center, where you can get an appointment with a tutor (see http://casa.tamucc.edu/wc.php).
Tips:
With these requirements in mind, I offer a few tips for writing a successful essay for this class.
· Do not try to sound smart. You are smart. Rather, come up with a clear idea and present it concisely. Boated vocabulary will not serve you well; if your thesis becomes bogged down in the mire of prolific and extravagant verbiage, I won’t know what you mean (see, not fun, is it?). You may find that writing an essay by hand prior to typing it helps you think through your points more concisely.
· Outline your argument before you begin writing your paper. It is far easier to make corrections to your thesis at this stage than it is to change it after you have written the paper. This will also help you figure out the best structure for your paper without needing (yet, anyway) to worry about word choice, grammar, and spelling. Most good writing begins with a good outline!
· Read your essay aloud to yourself. I know this is an awkward experience, particularly if you’re not alone in the room. A friend can help in this process. But reading aloud allows you to recognize where sentences are awkward - when you stumble over a sentence or a phrase, mark it, and rewrite it. Continue this process until your essay makes sense out loud, and you stop stumbling.
· Most importantly, please consider making good use of the many different resources TAMU CC has to help students with writing. Recognize if this kind of writing is a new experience for you; and allow yourself to learn how to write as well as to learn the material. This experience will help you in this class and future ones!