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ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Instructions

Sample Student Essay Assignment Instructions

Overview: This assignment is designed to help you understand the requirements of the Informative

Essay. Seeing a completed student paper will not only provide you an example of appropriate tone and

organization for the Informative Essay assignment, but also help you understand where you’re headed

before you choose a topic.

Directions: Read the “Sample Student Informative Essay” and answer the following questions. Please

use full sentences and answer each question thoroughly. When you’re done, save it as a .doc, .docx, .rtf,

or .pdf file and upload it to the appropriate MyHills location.

1. Describe how the student introduces the topic.

2. Do you find this introduction effective? Why or why not?

3. Based on the thesis, what major sections do you expect to see in the body of the paper?

4. List the main points made in the background section.

5. Do you see any logic to the way the background section is arranged? Explain.

6. List the major arguments the student explains in favor of taking a gap year.

7. List the major arguments the student explains against taking a gap year.

8. Describe how the student concludes.

9. Do you find the conclusion effective? Why or why not?

10. How would you describe the tone of this essay?

11. What do you think the student did well in the essay?

12. How do you think the student could have improved the essay?

13. After reading the essay, do you think students should take a gap year?

© Kameo Cragoe and Indian Hills Community College

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Handout

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Topic Suggestions: Informative Essay

Following are some suggestions that meet the criteria provided in the LU02 “Topic Selection Guideline

and Suggestions” mini lecture, but you are certainly welcome to investigate other topics. You do,

however, need to get approval from your instructor for all topics.

Education

1. Should we use alternative means to license teachers?

2. Are regulations governing academic eligibility of athletes effective and fair?

3. Is full inclusion of special needs students in the regular classroom an educationally sound idea?

4. Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools?

5. Should all states be required to adopt the Common Core Curriculum?

6. Are programs such as the one-to-one approach to education (which provides a lap top computer

for each student) educationally sound?

7. What can be done about the student debt problem?

8. Should graphic novels be included in the literary canon?

Medical

1. Should regulations and policies on stem cell research be revised?

2. Should terminally ill patients have the right to assisted suicide?

3. Are cochlear implants for children born deaf a good idea?

4. Are medications for treating ADD and ADHD being overprescribed?

5. Should Planned Parenthood be defunded?

Law

1. Should the NSA be allowed to collect information on citizens in order to monitor for dangerous

activity?

2. Should the US consider the use of torture with terrorism prisoners?

3. Should the use of stun guns be prohibited?

4. Should the US legalize prostitution?

5. Should divorce laws be more lenient?

Environment

1. Are genetically modified crops safe?

2. Are large corporate hog facilities a threat to family farms and/or the environment?

3. Should oil drilling be allowed in national preserves?

4. Should ethanol be subsidized by the government?

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Handout

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Government

1. Should there be term limits on senators and members of Congress?

2. Should there be term limits on Supreme Court justices?

3. Should the government “bail out” major businesses who are in financial trouble?

4. Should we privatize social security?

5. Should the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) be repealed?

6. Is drone warfare ethical?

7. What is the best way to reform current immigration laws?

8. Should private citizens and corporations be allowed to own drones?

9. Should fast food restaurants’ menus be regulated by the government?

Sports

1. Should the academic requirements for the athletic eligibility be stricter?

2. Should Title 9 be abolished?

3. Should stricter safety rules be implemented in high school and college football?

4. Should college football replace the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) with a playoff system?

Technology

1. Is net neutrality a good idea?

2. Do violent video games contribute to violent behavior in children?

3. Does the use of social media contribute to problems with more traditional means of

communication?

© Kara Beary and Indian Hills Community College