ENGLISH ESSAY

Essay 2: Argument - A Social Topic Viewed Through the Media

Assignment: A social issue is on that concerns everyone in any given society. Subsequently, these issues concern each and every one of us to some degree. Therefore, we each have a stake in various issues listed in chapters 19-24. Your assignment is to choose a social issue, read the essays in that section of the text, identify the issues discussed and join in on “the conversation” that takes place. Write an essay in which you (1) unpack and define a social issue of your choice, (2) demonstrate your mastery of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, critical thinking, and reasoning, (3) explore how this particular social issue is treated by, represented in, exacerbated through, or perpetuated via the media, and, lastly, (4) detail what your role in all of this will be in the years to come: what will you do in the face of this issue? How will you address this issue as it manifests itself in your social sphere? Consider carefully what readers may already know about the particular social injustice you select to explore and define (or redefine), and how your essay can effectively add to their knowledge. Please keep your focus narrow by exploring and writing about detailed and specific examples. Keeping your topic as narrow as possible helps keep your essay on track. Also, please consider the social impact involved in this topic. Why should it matter to your reader? In what ways are you as the writer advancing our knowledge of ourselves and what is going on around us, and that we, in effect, may be contributing to the issues in our society. How are you going to reconcile truth and perception?

Objectives: As the writer, you will be able to—

—Ameliorate your diction and avail yourself of locution suitable for a scholar entering into “The Conversation” that transpires at this institution. (Improve your word choice) —Gain insight into a concept, issue, event, and field in which members of society or a society find themselves to be losing something or to be severely lacking in some way 
 —Gain further experience in conducting academic research 
 —Analytically examine subject matter, think critically about your topic, and utilize a variety of rhetorical strategies 
 —Write thoughtfully with thorough detail and supporting examples to substantiate the claims you state
 —Write with purpose and direction that demonstrates mastery in the rhetorical technique of argument 
 —Inform a reader of something new and/or surprising that they may not have previously known about your subject of investigation 
 —Persuade the reader of the need to consider your opinion as valid and true 
 —Affect the reader emotionally through use of compelling situational examples and case studies —Use language cleverly and charmingly, with an eye to sustaining reader interest throughout the length of your essay

Research:

Our class readings, videos, discussions and lectures provide a springboard for you to decide upon a topic and a focus worthy of investigation. You are expected to exercise some agency in your decision making. You will have examined a collection of essays on a specific topic that represent a microcosm of the social issue that you will explore. You are, therefore, required to consider other possible areas of exploration. Your challenge now is to decide upon a specific focus or lens through which you will investigate your issue in detail. Your paper will incorporate (a) a general discussion of the issue you are exploring via an extended definition of that issue, (b) a specific focus or lens that you use to view this issue (c) a case that illustrates the issue and a description of the context surrounding your specific case, (d) the location where this specific issue resides in society, (e) how the media has treated the issue you are exploring, and (f) how you intend to exercise some agency in this. You are expected to describe what you are going to do about it. Will you take up a cause? Will ignore it completely? Will you engage in a silent protest? Will you take part in it? Will you advocate for it? What can you do? What will you do? Conduct library and online research to find a minimum of 5 additional sources. Then consider how you can interest readers in your argument.

Planning and drafting:

Review your notes from all readings, videos, and class lectures. How can you present your argument clearly to readers and engage their interest? How much do they already know about it? What points do you need to sell to reader? How will you manage counterarguments throughout the body of your essay? How will you start your argument, ensuring reader interest? Make a plan for your essay and begin outlining and drafting it. To get the best result, writing requires 60% revision; you’ll need time to rethink and redo. Start early.

Critical Reading Guide:

What are your draft’s strengths and weaknesses? For example, does your focus seem too broad? Would visuals or better transitions make your explanation clearer? Get a classmate, a friend, a writing center consultant, or someone else to read and respond in detail to your essay, focusing especially on the parts where you are most unsure of your writing.

Editing and Proofreading:

As you consider your essay again in light of your reader’s comments, how can you improve it? If the beginning failed to engage the reader’s interest, how else could you begin? How could you integrate quotations more smoothly into your own text? Go through your draft systematically, making changes wherever necessary.

Revising:

Have you checked for errors that are especially likely in explanations of concepts? Have you forgotten to include commas around adjective clauses that are not essential to the meaning or around phrases that interrupt the flow of a sentence? Look for and correct these and any other errors.

Formatting: Your paper should—

--Be 1500 words in length, not including Works Cited page 
 --Be typewritten, stapled, double-spaced, and use 12 point, Times New Roman font 
 --Contain margins with no more or no less than one inch of space on all four sides 
 --Be thoughtfully titled 
 --Adhere to current MLA formatting standards for heading a paper and citing sources 
 --Cite a minimum of five additional reliable, scholarly sources. All five of these sources shall be from outside our class materials. At least two must be hardbound sources (i.e. from a book, journal, magazine).

Possible areas of exploration:

1. Our textbook lists six possible subject areas for you to explore: Social Networking, Violence on Campus, Food Matters, Competitive Sports, Freedom of Speech, and Advancements in Medicine. It is up to you to narrow your topic subsequent to having imbibed and synthesized the content of the materials. Be sure that you show how this particular issue is represented, for better or for worse, in the media.
 Argue an opinion on a topic or a case mentioned in the readings.

Due Dates:
 —Letter to one of the authors: 10/12 —Summary of 1 outside source that is required to make a cameo in your final draft: 10/14 —Annotated Bibliography (5 outside sources minimum): 10/19 —Essay 3 first draft: 10/21 —Peer Review of partner essay (bring copies & upload): 10/21 
 —Final Draft Essay #2: 10/28. Turnitin submission via Moodle. Grading: The rubrics I use for assessment of the above are in a separate file on moodle: Essay Rubric, Summary Rubric, Annotated Bibliography rubric, and Letter rubric.

Points Possible !Letter 0-5, Summary 0-10, Annotated Bibliography 0-15, First draft 0-10, Final draft 0-100 LRC extra credit = 5 points p/visit, max 10 points