english 101 essay

BASIC STRUCTURE FOR ESSAY 1

Use the topic sentences I give you. Then develop the paragraph following the structure in the left column: List your main points. Type your quotations.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

· GENERAL TOPIC of this essay: UNIVERSAL LOVE

· SPECIFIC TOPIC of this essay: UNIVERSAL LOVE IN THE DIGITAL AGE

· Briefly introduce your SOURCES with “Title” and full authors’ names.

· WRITE THE BIG QUESTION FOR THIS ESSAY

· THESIS STATEMENT: Answer the BIG QUESTION in the thesis statement.

BODY PARAGRAPH 1: “The Myth of Universal Love” and your position.

· TOPIC SENTENCE

· THEY SAY: Your summary of Singer, Rifkin, and Asma’s positions + QUOTATIONS.

· I SAY: Which argument do you find most convincing? Why?

TOPIC SENTENCE: In “The Myth of Universal Love,” I find _____________’s argument to be most convincing.

BODY PARAGRAPH 2:

“In Defense of Technology” and “The Limits of Friendship”

· TOPIC SENTENCE

· THEY SAY: O’Hagan’s position – 1 or 2 sentences + QUOTATION

· THEY SAY: Konnikova’s position – 1 or 2 sentences + QUOTATION

· Are these authors’ perspectives on “universal love” in the digital age SIMILAR or DIFFERENT? Explain.

TOPIC SENTENCE: Two articles, “In Defense of Technology” and “The Limits of Friendship,” introduce digital technology to the controversy about universal love.

BODY PARAGRAPH 3: Your position after reading and thinking about all three sources.

· Answer THE BIG QUESTION in this paragraph

· Give your REASONS in this paragraph.

· Use TRANSITION WORDS to mark each REASON: first, second, next, moreover, finally, etc.

TOPIC SENTENCE: After reading the three sources and reflecting on the evidence and ideas presented in them, I find that digital technology makes “universal love” [more] [less] possible.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH: Reflect on your answer to the BIG QUESTION. Did reading O’Hagan and Konnikova’s articles make you change your position on Asma’s article? Are you more or less hopeful now about the possibilities of “expanding our ethical care to include all of humanity” (Asma)?