I need help for essay

Explaining a Position

To understand a topic fully, the writer often finds it necessary to do research which will help support the assertion made in the thesis. Before undertaking the search for secondary material, the writer must have a clear sense of purpose to guide the research. The more open-ended or vaguely framed your thesis is has a direct effect of the quality of the process, not only in locating material, but, more importantly, in carefully and critically reading and integrating that material into your essay. This essay requires you to locate a limited number of secondary sources to help you present and support your response.

The first step is to have a clear controlling thesis position on the topic. At this stage, the thesis need not be finalized, but it should be more than a general announcement or overgeneralized opinion. A thesis that establishes concrete and narrow limits gives you better control of locating supporting material. Your thesis also needs to express a clear position—^taking a stand, framing an argument—on the topic. This will also help direct your research more effectively.

The second step involves locating sources that are the most suitable to your thesis position; obviously, this relates to the particular approach. For example, you may find that providing a sense of the history of the topic is needed. This kind of material will be very different from an approach that looks at a contemporary aspect. Your search should begin with Connelly Library; use material from the internet only after carefully evaluating it; remember that most internet search engines are keyword based, which can bring in not only millions of sites, but ones that have no relation to your essay. Also remember not to limit your examination of internet results to the first page; often more suitable material can be found if you look through at least five pages of results. However, don’t get caught up in the search, since the number of sources is limited. You are not allowed to use Wikipedia as one of your formal sources. You will also not be allowed to use newspapers as sources. Be careful in you search of journals to avoid using book reviews for source material. You are to locate 3 secondary sources for this paper.

The third step involves careful reading of the selected material. You, of course, must make sure you understand the content presented in the source. Just as important as critically reading, you must critically evaluate the source material; after all, you have selected a source because you feel if supports your position. Therefore, you need to think how the material fits into your analysis and discussion of the topic. Accomplishing both of these steps means that you must manage your time effectively. Too much time spent searching takes time away from critical reading; waiting until the last minute to do the research produces an essay that is rushed and, as a result, presents a very weak presentation in terms of content and style.

The fourth step requires you to make the necessary technical choices about the structure and development of the content, as well as tone and language. You must also pay attention to the influence of your reader on these decisions. You should draft the essay at least once in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these choices and make the necessary adjustments. Since you are now incorporating secondary material into your essay, you must be sure you have copied all identification information about the source completely and accurately. You will be using the MLA format for citing materiaUn the essay and on the works cited paged. This will be reviewed in class.

You are to present an essay that provides background/explanatory information about your topic.

Your thesis position must be narrowly focused and presented in concrete language that asserts a clear opinion/position.

You must choose a structure that presents the support for your thesis in a smoothly organized manner.

You must provide sufficient concrete support for the thesis based on secondary sources.

You will be limited to three (3) secondary sources. You may use academic sources [Connelly’s databases as well as high end popular sources and the internet. However, you must carefully evaluate them. No newspapers will be acceptable as sources.

You must incorporate secondary material accurately in the paper and on the works cited page; this includes citing direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. All in-text citations and the works cited page must use MLA format.

You must avoid building the paper simply on a string of references to source material.

You must develop that support as completely as necessary for the reader to understand your position.

You must present the essay in a style that is clear and straightforward and suitable to the academic environment. This includes third person and present tense.

You must proofread your essay carefully to correct grammatical and mechanical errors.

The essay length is 4-5 pages of text. One line on the last page does not qualify as a page; to be acceptable the last page of essay must be at least one third filled. The works cited page is not included in this count, but must be numbered. All papers must have page numbers.