4 pages

ridiculous_argument_ii_1.docx

RIDICULOUS ARGUMENT

This is your required research/argument essay for EN140. As I mentioned in class, I see no reason to have you write an essay on the same old tired topics that you probably don’t really care about anyway, and I am tired of reading. While the topics we’ve come up with still probably aren’t ones you care about, at least you might have more fun writing them. I also believe that these “ridiculous” topics will take more critical thinking skills than an essay about, for example, why the drinking age should be lowered. This essay will also require some creative thinking, which is an important skill to hone.

REQUIREMENTS:

At least three pages, but less than five (not including the works cited page). In other words, your essay must go to the end of the third page, but not beyond the end of the fifth page. Any essay not meeting this requirement will lose an entire letter grade.

Formatted according to the guidelines posted on Moodle at the beginning of the semester.

You must include at least two outside sources, which must be cited in MLA format. Personal interviews are allowed, but do not count as one of your sources. In-text citations must include a signal phrase (As in: According to Author Name, “Blah blah blah blah blah.”). You can use direct quotes and/or paraphrases. Works cited page (which does not count toward your page requirements) must be formatted according to proper MLA guidelines. See your textbook, the writing lab, or go to the Purdue OWL online if you need help with your MLA.

Your sources must reputable/trustworthy. Look at newspapers, journals, government websites, and so on. Do not use anything even resembling wiki pages, Yahoo! Answers, About.com, or blogs from sources without established credibility. If I ask you why I should trust your source, you should be able to provide an answer.

Your essay must be well developed and organized: Your thesis must be clear and arguable. Your paragraphs must be focused, not rambling. If you can’t label the main, singular idea of each paragraph, it is not focused. You are not required to use the exact phrasing in the assigned topic, but if you make any changes, make sure not to change the overall argument.

Your essay must address the topic in a serious, academic tone. Your topic may be silly, but you should argue it like it’s the best idea in the world.

Your essay must be free from any major errors in spelling and grammar. I suggest reading your paper aloud. You will catch many errors that way. Although you should all consider it, second-language learners in particular might want to think about visiting the writing lab.

*You may not use any first-person pronouns (I, me, my, we, our, and so on).

*Your introduction and conclusion must be entirely your own. Do not include any outside source material in these two paragraphs.

TOPICS:

If you were absent the day topics were assigned, you must choose one of the following:

Uniforms in High School: Why Everyone Should Just Wear a Plain, Grey Jumpsuit

Uneven numbers of children should be outlawed in America to reduce the negative effects of “Middle Child Syndrome.”

RFID technology should be mandatory in all Americans to reduce kidnapping and human trafficking, and to track criminals.

Anyone wearing a cowboy hat should be required to also be riding a horse in order to preserve the sanctity of America’s historic cowboy/wild West heritage.

Every American should be required to own their own cow for milk to reduce the amount of plastic otherwise wasted on containers.

Colonialism is beneficial for the colonized.

THE FIRST DRAFT IS DUE IN CLASS ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH FOR WORKSHOP. BRING TWO STAPLED COPIES TO CLASS THAT DAY.

AT 9:05 THE DOOR WILL BE LOCKED. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER, AND WILL NOT RECEIVE POINTS FOR THE FIRST DRAFAT OR WORKSHOP.

FIRST DRAFTS FOR THE WORKSHOP WILL BE WORTH 50 POINTS.

YOU MUST SUBMIT A DRAFT TO MOODLE NO LATER THAN 5 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH SO I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH FEEDBACK. ANY ESSAYS SUBMITTED AFTER THIS TIME WILL NOT BE COMMENTED ON, AND YOUR ESSAY’S WILL BE GRADED ACCORDINGLY.

THE FINAL DRAFT OF YOUR SECOND AND THIRD ESSAYS ARE DUE BY THE BEGINNING OF CLASS AT OUR SCHEDULED FINAL EXAM TIME, WHICH IS 8 A.M. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH. ON THIS DAY YOU WILL TURN IN HARD COPIES OF BOTH ESSAYS AND WE WILL HAVE A SHORT WRITING ASSIGNMENT IN CLASS. THIS IS YOUR FINAL.

SO, TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS WHAT IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH:

FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY II (COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY)

FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY III (RIDICULOUS ARGUMENT)