The Element essay

Essay # 3—Discover & apply* your Element for your best academic self

Background

One of the most crucial factors that informs our future career is whether we are in our element, in other words, the melding of our passions with our talents. Sir Ken Robinson takes us through a process of thinking about our own element, ways to better understand our element and discover roadblocks as well as support for finding it within ourselves.

Assignment

You will write a 3-4 page paper (changed from 5 pp’s to make it easier for you during these times) after finishing the text. You will be asked to apply the concepts from Sir Ken Robinson’s The Element to explain how you have already (or might in the future) discover your element. Then explain how you might apply the discovery of your element (or of the concepts you learned) to you, or your education, or your major, or your path, or your career.

The body paragraphs should focus on supporting the thesis with the specific ways in which you are applying Robinson’s concepts to your element. Make sure you show the way the concepts in the book connect to your element, which will form the basis of your thesis. Make sure that you have a thesis statement that is focused enough to respond to an essay of a 3-4 full pages.

*(To refresh your memory of apply/application, see Bloom’s Taxonomy handout on Canvas)

Helpful hints:

· Start with a thoughtful free-write, and then develop a thorough brainstorm.

· Before you start, lay out a plan for how you would like to organize the shape of your essay.

· Include a catchy introduction that gives background to your ideas and ends with your main

point/thesis, body paragraphs

· Use Topic Sentences that support your thesis/main point

· Develop your body paragraphs with sufficient quotes to fully back up your TS Point.

· Use FANBOYS (Coordinators) & Subordinators throughout your essay (mark, highlight or

underline them) to show relationships between ideas.

· Use well-developed PIE paragraphs.

· Use AC’s (Adjective Clauses) and NPA’s (Noun Phrase Appositives) to develop flow in your

writing.

· Wrap up your thinking with a conclusion that summarizes your ideas as well as leaves the

reader thinking about the topic.

Typed, 3-4-page paper due on Canvas on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.