Order # 9677

English 101 Winter 2017 Essay 3

Purpose

This essay provides you the opportunity to conduct primary and secondary research on a topic that is personally meaningful to you. You will locate, evaluate, incorporate, and cite sources using MLA style as you write the essay.

Required Reading

This assignment requires you to read (and incorporate) the following:

 Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine, 2008. Print.

 Original research in the research databases and/or Google Scholar

Background

In her book Mindset, Carol Dweck draws a distinction between a fixed mindset—the belief that traits like intelligence and talent are determined at birth—and a growth mindset—the belief that intelligence and talent can be nurtured through effort. Her thesis is that “mindsets change what people strive for and what they see as success” (12) and that these mindsets can be changed.

Reading Task

Dweck outlines several key areas where one’s mindset can affect one’s success in life. Your task is to choose an area that interests you: education (as a student or as a teacher or coach), sports, parenting (as a parent or as a child), business, or interpersonal relationships. Begin by reading the relevant chapter in Dweck’s book.

Ch. 4	Sports
Ch. 5	Business
Ch. 6	Relationships
Ch. 7	Parenting, Teachers, and Coaches

Research Task

An easy first step is to look up (and potentially use) some of the sources she cites in her endnotes. Then conduct additional research to find out how and why mindsets are fixed, whether or not mindsets can be changed, and what effects fixed and growth mindsets have on success in the arena you have chosen.

· You must have 5 sources other than Dweck.

· Two of your sources must be peer-reviewed journals. We will talk about what that means.

· You must have a Works Cited page in MLA format. There are many online, automatic generators to help you as well as full explanation of MLA in The West Guide (peach pages). See The West Guide pages 385-393, 399-401, and page 336.

Writing Task

In a four- to five-page double-spaced essay, address the following questions:

HOW CAN A PERSON SHIFT FROM A FIXED TO A GROWTH MINDSET IN THE AREA YOU HAVE RESEARCHED? WHAT IMPACT WOULD CHANGING TO A GROWTH MINDSET IN THIS AREA HAVE ON SUCCESS?

We will talk about how to form a thesis that addresses these questions.

Grading

This essay is worth 100 points.

(Rubric to follow)

Remember:

· As always, direct quotes and paraphrases need in-text citations, like so (56). More info on citations is in The West Guide pages 359-361.

· Make sure that your essay has an introduction, conclusion, and topic sentences for body paragraphs.

· Apply the feedback that you got from Essays 1 and 2 to keep from losing points for the same mistakes.

This assignment was adapted with permission from an assignment by Dr. Kimberly Manner.