Key
R/L 250
Fall 2017
Requirements:
· Write a five-page (no less than four, no more than six) essay on one of the three topic options below based solely upon (and using all of) our four articles about voting, using 11- or 12-point font
· Format the essay, text references, and separate bibliography page according to MLA style (see Hacker & Sommers pp. 170–71 for essay/works cited; use the bibliography entry models on the preceding pages for constructing the text references and works’ listings)
· Submit the final version through Canvas/Turnitin by class time on October 20
1. Construct a survey of key issues regarding voting as represented in our four articles. Draw on major themes such as why people choose or choose not to vote, youth vote (results from the recent election and discussion about them), and challenges both for voters in general and youth in particular. You may wish to consider constructing your essay in two parts: issues about voting in general, and how these things (and others) may affect young potential voters. This is specifically not an argument, but a digest of prominent themes and takeaways. You must illustrate or support all points with properly documented examples and references from the texts and cite all four articles at least once.
2. Create an argument in favor of young-adult engagement in the voting process. Use information from all four sources to support the proposition that young-adult voting is positive, and even necessary, for both themselves and the U.S. In your essay write at least one paragraph about disincentives and/or challenges and compose an argument overcoming them. Support all observations and points with properly referenced examples from the sources.
3. Compose an argumentative essay discussing voting on a theme of your choosing that is different from the above two options. This could, for example, take the form of discussing it as a cultural challenge (e.g., something that both potential young voters and society must grapple with to make successful), or a process and activity that is flawed, whose lip service is unconvincing and is, in the end, a waste of time. The main idea is that you create your own discussion and approach to the overall issue provided that you construct an actionable (and executed) thesis, recognizing that it will necessarily be an argument. You must use frequent, properly documented examples and points from all four sources to illustrate and/or support your own points.
If you choose the first topic, you will be writing an informational essay that takes no position of its own (though you can and should represent a stance the articles may take). You identify a few major themes among the articles, illustrating them with properly cited examples taken from all four sources. Your introduction broadly introduces the topic, offers a couple observations about why it’s worthy of discussion, and ends with a concrete thesis that foreshadows the themes of your body paragraphs as components of this issue. These themes are pieces of the mosaic, not means to an end.
If you choose the second topic, you are openly endorsing the concept that American youth should vote and this should be clear in your thesis passage. The thesis should end an introduction that takes us from a general observation introducing the topic to the specific supporting statement that foreshadows your overall theme and briefly touches on the components of your discussions—your body paragraph themes—that will carry the mission out. Your body paragraphs will be a variety of supporting contentions that rely on properly represented and cited observations, points, and claims from the articles for foundation and illustration. Remember not to reference yourself or your opinion directly unless you’re part of the plot—for example, you relate an anecdote about yourself that ties directly to a substantial theme in your essay. Also remember that, as with most well-constructed arguments, a side opposing your stance exists and deserves discussion; however, you must rebut this stance once you’ve articulated it
If you select the third option, you will be creating your own approach to the topic of voting and youth because at heart the views you want to communicate about this issue can’t be satisfactorily channeled into or expressed by topics one or two. Developing this direction means that it must therefore take the form of an argument, because that’s what it is. You may use only our four sources for information supporting and/or illustrating the body-paragraph themes that together make up your perspective. The introduction will open with a general observation about voting and lead us over a few sentences to the succinctly worded thesis that encapsulates your perspective and mission, ending with a few coming attractions (body paragraph themes). You must also observe the rules in the previous paragraph about two sides of an argument and self-references.
For all options: All the things we have discussed that make up good essays should be well-represented here: A good intro that leads us to a concise thesis passage that hints at the discussions to follow; focused body paragraphs led by good topic/transition sentences; thoughtful big-picture organization; and a conclusion that reminds us of the original mission, summarizes the big themes, and provides closure with the last sentence. This is our final MLA paper and yours should be nearly perfect in observing MLA style conventions: the essay formatting should be flawless according to the Hacker & Sommers model; text references must be frequent and cited properly in MLA style, and the bibliography listings and look should be above reproach.
Always feel free to consult me with questions.
This assignment addresses student learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, & 5 from page one of the syllabus.
Key dates:
Rough drafts turned in: October 6
Conferences: October 9–13
Final submission: By class time, October 20
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Assignment2F17.docx
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