you have to create an argument supported by research. Most of the paper will be devoted to developing your own ideas – your argument – but you will also provide supporting evidence from at least five sources. Your task will be; identify a current problem in society, one that is growing because it is not recognized or adequately being addressed, and propose a solution. This solution will be your thesis claim, the controlling idea you develop in the paper.
The problem you identify may be large or small, local, national, or global. Think creatively; brainstorm. Once you have narrowed your topic, make the strongest argument you can, taking into account the limitations as well as the possibilities of your stance.
You must cite at least five sources for this paper. Include sources as academic or professional books or articles, an interview or survey, or a DVD. Cite all of the sources on the Works Cited page.
It is first your ideas, and second how you support and explain them, that will make a great paper. This will be mostly your conversation, but you will allow five voices (your sources) to join in. Each of your paragraphs should begin (topic sentences) and end with your own words. Many, but not necessarily all, of your paragraphs will include source material that will either support your position or present opposing perspectives for you to out-argue. Be sure to include correct in-text citations every time you cite a source, whether you quote, paraphrase, or summarize.
Begin with an introduction that catches the reader’s attention. You might, for example, discuss the topic in general before narrowing down to your thesis, or acknowledge the opposition’s perspective and then take exception to that. You might provide background information, perhaps establishing the topic’s importance with an emotional appeal, or use a relevant quote from a credible source. Regardless of your tactics, definitely conclude your introduction with a strong thesis statement.
Remember that all the body paragraphs in your essay must develop and provide evidence to support your thesis claim, yet there are infinite possibilities in what approach you take. Be sure to include “signposts” to remind readers of your thesis and how each of your body paragraphs develop that controlling idea. Use appropriate rhetorical strategies to achieve your goal, which is to change, in some way, the position of your audience or, even better, to inspire readers to take action.
In your conclusion, remind readers of your main points and leave them something worthwhile to remember. Make your topic important.
This paper must be a minimum of four double-spaced pages in correct MLA style using in-text parenthetical citations and including, as page five, a correctly-formatted Works-Cited page.