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The Assignment

For this assignment, you will draft a formal, academic essay in MLA format that details an argument about your selected topic. You will use the outline from the previous assignment as a guide, but you can make modifications to your thesis and argument as necessary.

Here are the basic requirements for your essay:

(1) Your essay must be 4-5 pages in MLA format with an additional Works Cited page. 

(2) You must use at least 4 sources in this essay, two of which MUST be academic journal articles. The other two may be journal articles or other credible, academic sources. 

(3) Your essay must be organized with a formal structure, developed with concrete evidence and analysis, documented in appropriate, ethical MLA style, and written with a formal, clear style. 

Please use the following guidelines to help develop a successful essay:

(1) Your essay should begin with an introduction that introduces the topic and ends with a strong thesis. Your thesis should state your argument and its major reasons in a clear, concise manner. Think of it as a mini-map of your paper for a reader. 

(2) Then, you should include a background paragraph that offers your reader more information about the topic and its current debate (or relevant history). Make sure your reader is clear about the exigence of the argument; in other words, why does this argument matter NOW?

(3) After, you should include two to four paragraphs that identify your two to four major reasons. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that links back to the thesis, and you should support each body paragraph with sufficient, credible evidence and analysis.

(4) Before you conclude, please add a Refutation of Opposing Arguments, where you will present the opposing side or potential obstacles and offer a refutation in order to convince your reader and eliminate bias. 

(5) Finally, compose a conclusion paragraph that ties all of your paper's points together and argues an overall significance. 

(6) Each body paragraph should include concrete evidence from research. You should integrate your research smoothly and ethically. Use identifying tags to introduce your sources and show your reader an outside idea. Always analyze the significance of the research before you move on to the next point! Example: In Jason Ree's article, he notes that, "QUOTE" (32). This reveals that...

(7) Your tone and style needs to be academic and polished. This helps add credibility to your voice. Reading aloud will help the most with this! Avoid first and second person in this style of writing. 

Once you have completed your draft, please submit it to Blackboard as well as to NetTutor to receive feedback from an e-tutor. To do so, open the Optional Resources tab on the left-hand side of our Blackboard site. Once that opens, you will see another NetTutor link, which will launch you to their homepage. Choose the second option "Live Writing Tutor and Paper Center." After that, choose the third option that allows you to upload your paper, then click the button that says "Upload a Paper to NetTutor." After you have uploaded your paper, a live tutor will read your paper and post feedback, which you will be able to download by revisiting the NetTutor site (see directions posted below). This usually takes around 48 hours.

After you receive feedback from NetTutor, upload the feedback to Blackboard to receive full credit for your rough draft. 

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Assignment Requirements

Your paper should reach a minimum of four pages, 1000 - 1200 words, not including the Works Cited page. You must submit this draft by the due date listed for this assignment. 

Formatting Requirements

MLA format

Grading