5 paragraph research essay on discrimination

UNIT 1 – EXPOSITORY EXEMPLIFICATION RESEARCH ESSAY ON DISCRIMINATION

Decide on which THREE authors you would like use as part of your essay. Read the selections. For each article/essay, find THREE examples of how the author experienced discrimination.

“What’s in a Name?” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. p.2 “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. p. 558 “Just Walk on by: A Black Man Ponders his Power to Alter Public Space” by Brent Staples p. 233 “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer p.225

The introduction should start with an interesting statement, fact, definition, quote, or question to grab the reader’s attention (HOOK).

Next, you should have a brief historical overview of discrimination in America. You will research facts to show how events and laws developed in hopes of ending and preventing discrimination. You MUST use MLA in-text citations to give credit to the sources of these facts whether they are paraphrased or quoted. No more than one quote per paragraph in your essay!

There should be a transition sentence that will connect this history to the idea that minority authors have expressed their experiences and frustrations with discrimination in their literary works.

The last sentence should be your thesis statement where you state that minority authors have exemplified their experiences with discrimination in their writing/literary works. You should state the names of the authors in the order that they will appear in your body paragraphs.

In the body paragraphs, you must state the title of the reading selection and the author’s name. The examples in the body paragraphs must include:

• the discriminatory act/event • how the author felt as a result • how the author reacted/responded to this experience

Each body paragraph should end with a transition sentence that leads the reader to the next paragraph.

The conclusion should restate the thesis statement in different words. Follow it with a brief summary of the evidence provided in the body. End the paper with a concluding sentence which highlights the importance of this topic, hopes for the future, or a quote.

Make sure the ENTIRE PAPER IS WRITTEN IN THIRD PERSON! This is a research essay that should use formal language. Avoid contractions, slang, or informal words or phrases. All sources must be cited in the essay using MLA in-text citations.

The last page of your paper should be the Works Cited page which lists, in alphabetical order, the sources you used. Please refer to MLA 8th edition guidelines

Introduction

-HOOK -?, quote, interesting fact

-BACKGROUND INFO - History of discrimination in America

Transition to the experiences of minority American authors

THESIS STATEMENT– Examples of discrimination are evident in the

literary works of ________(support 1), __________(support 2) ,

and _______(support 3).

SUPPORT #1—MAIN IDEA—followed by examples—remember to include in-text citations for quotes and paraphrased evidence. The last

sentence needs to lead to the next piece of support.

SUPPORT #2—MAIN IDEA—followed by examples—remember to include in-text citations for quotes and paraphrased evidence. The last

sentence needs to lead to the next piece of support.

SUPPORT #3—MAIN IDEA—followed by examples—remember to include in-text citations for quotes and paraphrased evidence. The last

sentence needs to lead to the next piece of support.

CONCLUSION: Summarize your support from paragraphs 2, 3, 4.

Then restate your thesis statement in DIFFERENT WORDS.

END WITH A BANG!

What you hope to see in the future. Make a statement about the impact of these events/concepts. Leave the reader with a thought about the

topic. Similar to a hook but use a different strategy from your introduction.

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION (use in-text citations after paraphrases – only one direct quote allowed per paragraph)

Hook:

Background history:

Transition to author’s literary works:

Thesis statement:

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 (use in-text citations after paraphrases – only one direct quote allowed per paragraph)

State the title and author of the literary work (essay, article, letter, etc.).

EXAMPLE 1:

EXAMPLE 2:

EXAMPLE 3

TRANSITION SENTENCE:

BODY PARAGRAPH 2 (use in-text citations after paraphrases – only one direct quote allowed per paragraph)

State the title and author of the literary work (essay, article, letter, etc.).

EXAMPLE 1:

EXAMPLE 2:

EXAMPLE 3

TRANSITION SENTENCE:

BODY PARAGRAPH 3 (use in-text citations after paraphrases – only one direct quote allowed per paragraph)

State the title and author of the literary work (essay, article, letter, etc.).

EXAMPLE 1:

EXAMPLE 2:

EXAMPLE 3

TRANSITION SENTENCE:

CONCLUSION

Restate thesis in different words:

Summarize key points from the body:

End with a concluding sentence: