ENG 111: Ketchum: Social Issues Essay 3

This guide is specifically designed to help students of Ketchum's Eng 111 class access the library's resources for the purpose of the Social Issues Essay.  The tabs at the top cover different aspects of the assignment.

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Length:                                4 - 5 pages, not counting the works cited page.

Font:                                    12 point Times New Roman or equivalent

Margins:                              1 inch each side

Info:                                      Name, Professor, Class, and Date on the top left (MLA rules)

Title:                                     Something unique; centered

Page #s:                               Last name then #; top right of page

Related:                               Essay 3 Slide Presentations (separate guidelines and assignment link will be posted)

The Prompt:  Your assignment is to write an essay which (1) examines a social, political, or cultural “hot topic,” identifies and explains the problem, (2) explores multiple credible perspectives, and (3) ultimately proposes a solution (or at least steps toward a solution).

1. First, you will capture the reader’s attention in an academically sophisticated manner. Then, you will objectively present important background information to your reader. The reader should have a clear understanding of the history surrounding the issue as well as the significance of the current situation/problem. Next, you will reveal your position on the issue in your thesis statement, which should both state the problem and hint at the proposed solution (which will be discussed in detail in the final section of your essay).

2. The next two sections of your essay will be dedicated to summary and analysis of your chosen position articles (the ones on NY Times Room for Debate, Opposing Viewpoints, or Issues & Controversies). You will state and defend your position on the issue in your conclusion section. Your position may align closely with one of the op-ed articles, or you may present your reader with another outside source that better supports/represents your argument.

3. The final section of your essay will focus on a proposed solution, recommendation, or plan of action, supported by a scholarly research article. Do not restate your thesis or attempt to rewrite your introduction in the conclusion.

**You must use HEADINGS to organize your essay. Refer to the sample essays to see how headings should be used.**

Notes:

Use of the first person pronouns (I/me/my/mine/we/us/our/ours) is only allowed in the hook and conclusion, and sparingly at that. 

Use of second person pronouns (you/your/yours) is PROHIBITED.

Your essay must include a WORKS CITED page and MLA IN-TEXT PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS; you must use MLA 8th edition guidelines. Every source listed on the Works Cited page must be explicitly mentioned and used in the essay, and vice-versa. Essays which don’t clearly incorporate multiple outside sources will not earn a passing score.

This essay will contain section headings. Details will be discussed in future memos, and I will share sample essays with the correct formatting.

You are required to incorporate a minimum of FIVE outside sources into this essay – you may include more.

• A reference source (CREDO) (used in Introduction)
• A recent online news article (a report of a current event; NOT an op-ed) (used in Statement of the Problem)
  • Choose a topic from Opposing Viewpoints database, NY Times “Room for Debate” site, or Issues & Controversies database. Each debate page features at least two position articles.
  • You will summarize and analyze at least two position articles within the essay. (used in the two Viewpoint/Position sections)
• A “wildcard” source of your choice (used in Conclusion). In most cases, this will be a third position article from one of the above databases.
• A peer reviewed scholarly journal article (NCLIVE database) (used in Solution/Recommendations)

No doubt you already have an opinion on the issue, but this paper must be research based. In other words, you should locate sources, read, think, and THEN form your opinion, which will aid in the creation of your thesis, opposing viewpoint, and rebuttal. FIRST STEP: locate and read credible sources!

            Claim:           Your opinion, in your own words

            Evidence:     Information from a credible outside source

            Warrant:      Your “follow up” and discussion of the evidence you’ve presented.

Essay 3 Organization:

Hook (1 paragraph; can be short; no heading)

Introduction (1-2 paragraphs; teach topic to reader)

Statement of the Problem (proof that this issue is current & relevant; 1 paragraph) Thesis statement will be last sentence of this section. Position A (focus on one of the op-ed articles)

• Paragraph 1: summary of one of the debate articles, including explanation of author’s rhetorical situation
• Paragraphs 2: analysis (topic sentence, signal phrase, quote/paraphrase & elaborate). Create an appropriate heading title for this section.

Position B (focus on the other op-ed article)

• Paragraph 1: summary of another debate article, including explanation of author’s rhetorical situation
• Paragraphs 2: analysis (topic sentence, signal phrase, quote/paraphrase & elaborate). Create an appropriate heading title for this section.

Conclusion (Your position on the issue)

• You are expected to incorporate at least one outside source into this section. It may be one of the sources already mentioned, or you may incorporate another source which best represents/supports your position.

Solution/Recommendations (1-2 paragraphs)

• Pretend that you are a consultant in a professional field related to this issue. Write out a proposed plan of action, steps to a solution, or set of recommendations. Support your plan with credible evidence via a scholarly, peer reviewed journal article from the NC Live database.

Works Cited (on its own page)

The following skills are imperative for success on essay #3!

1. Summarizing an Outside Source (for summary paragraphs):

• Provide relevant information about the rhetorical situation of the source (author, author info, publication info, etc.).
• Briefly touch on the PURPOSE and CONTENT of the text.
• Compose 1-2 sentences to concisely communicate all the information in 1-2.
  • In Publisher “Title,” author job Author Name PURPOSE/VERB CONTENT.
  • In the Time magazine article “Cats are Cool,” social researcher Bob Smith makes the argument that cats are better pets than dogs.
• Divide the text into 3-4 sections. Compose one sentence to represent each section of the body of the article/essay.
• Identify the conclusion. Compose one sentence that objectively “bottom lines” the conclusion.
• Don’t forget your in-text parenthetical citation at the end of your final sentence of summary!

Incorporating an Outside Source (for analysis paragraphs):

• Open the paragraph with a topic sentence—a claim, in your own words. (The outside source info is the EVIDENCE you are using to back your claim.)
• Briefly explain rhetorical situation and content of outside source (author info / publication info)
• Signal phrase/setup (choose a strong verb describing what the source is DOING)
• Quote, paraphrase, or summarize
  • If you borrow exact wording, you must use quotation marks.
  • If you use quotation marks, you may not change the wording.
• Cite (parenthetical)
  • Should direct readers to the first word(s) of the corresponding works cited entry.
  • If you get the first words into steps 1 or 2, AND your source has no page numbers, the need for an in-text parenthetical citation is removed!
• Follow up with an explanation, example, reflection, etc. Your follow-up should be at least as long as steps 1-4 combined.