Essay #3 

Your response to the following essay prompt will be a thesis-driven argument.  Your thesis statement will be the main, specific claim which unifies the entire essay, and your body paragraphs will support your thesis with arguments, examples, and details on its behalf.  The Essay must be presented as a formal academic essay and conform to all of the rules and expectations of formal academic writing, including the guidelines below:

 

Problem-Solution: Choose a single constituency or group of Americans facing issues of inequality ( the Essay is about people of color in America) Then, explain the role of government in rectifying the inequality and creating a more just, equitable future for your chosen group..

 

 

Some questions to consider are

 

1)         Is there a single, all-encompassing definition of American success, or do a variety of "successes" exist?  Why might different factions of the American population, such as those of different genders, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds, have differing versions of success?

2)         What level of responsibility should government bear in fostering just and equitable lives for its citizens?  Should the government be heavily involved or more hands-off?

3)         What are some examples of how the American government can help all citizens have opportunities for safe, successful lives?

4)         Conversely, what are some examples of the types of government assistance that should be avoided?

5)         What are the downsides to a government that provides too much or too little help to its citizens?

 

 

 

Your essay structure must meet the following requirements:

 

•           An original title

•  An introduction paragraph which both captures the reader's attention and contains your thesis statement

•  A thesis statement which addresses the essay prompt and then elaborates with added specificity (for example, your thesis might read, "Justice in America today means _______________________ for (people of color), and the government's role is to _______________________ in order to make such a just, equitable future attainable."  Fill in the blanks and you have a very strong thesis statement.)

• Body paragraphs which clearly support your thesis in argument, examples, and details

• A conclusion paragraph which does more than just repeat the language and ideas of your introduction and thesis.  Try to show how your thesis has expanded or become even more specific over the course of 5+ pages of writing. 

 

 

 

Each paper must follow these guidelines:

 

• Final Drafts: 5 to 7 full pages, not counting the Works Cited page.  More is acceptable, but not necessary.  Less will result in an automatic drop of one letter grade before I consider the content. The sources you will use for this assignment are two of our four class readings from Gramm and Early, Cottom, Acemoglu, and Baumgaertner, and three additional sources from your own research, for a total of 5 pieces of material from which you must quote, paraphrase, or summarize, no more or less.  You should try to find web or print sources which are a) reliable (.gov and .edu are good choices), b) directly related to your essay topic, and c) composed by authors who are trusted experts in their fields. 
• Essays must follow MLA standards, be double-spaced, with one-inch margins, last name and page number on all pages.

 

 

Essay #3 Revision Checklist

 

 

Superficial Elements

 

- proofread for spelling, including titles, authors, and source material/quotations

- check for a proper Works Cited page w/entries for each source

- introduce authors (full name) and their works before quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing the source; all subsequent mentions of authors use last name only

- essays must be at least 5 full pages (which means down to the last line of page 5)

- avoid contractions, slang, or informal language

- no 1st person (I, me, we, us, my, mine, etc.)

- no comma splices, fused sentences, or fragments

- use present tense in signal phrases (ex. Cottom says, ".......")

- check for correct use of colons and semicolons

- do not underline; italicize instead 

 

 

 

 

Argument and Analysis

 

- use only the amount of source material necessary to argue your thesis; work under the assumption that your readers are familiar with your readings - extended summary is repetitious and so unnecessary

- develop your body paragraphs with both claims/arguments and examples

- do not end paragraphs with another's words, end on your own argument

- make sure your thesis and topic sentences express claims rather than statements

- fully develop your paragraphs or combine them; 3 sentences or less is usually too short