Essay 2 Assignment Information (Prompt) Essay 2 Meets the Following Learning Outcomes for English 1301: 2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution, following standard style guidelines in documenting sources. 3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose. 5. Use edited American English in academic essays. -------------------------------- Topic: Problem Analysis In this essay, you will identify, and analyze, a significant problem in our society. If you would like to write about a problem in another country, that is fine as well. I suggest choosing a “problem” which has a personal importance to you. What do you care about? Heath? Safety? Transportation? Education? Government? Business? Animals? Food? The military? Taxes? Religion? Relationships? Technology? Retail? Etc. The list is endless, but there are a few topics which are off-limits. See below. The following topics are off-limits: abortion, d

Ideas for Finding Sources for Essay 2 How many sources are required in Essay 2? THREE What is the maximum number of sources allowed? THREE How many scholarly/academic sources are required: THREE How many random (Googled) sources are allowed: NONE! Only use scholarly sources on Essay 2! Essay 2 Outline - Assignment Information Your Essay 2 Outline should contain your thesis and your three, or four, main points. Supporting points are not necessary for this outline. Please do not use research on outline assignments. Outlines should be 100% your own words and ideas. Please use the format illustrated below; include the four required subtitles: Thesis:; I. First Point:; II. Second Point:; III. Third Point:; IV. Fourth Point: (Four required subtitles) Thesis: Your thesis should identify your chosen problem and provide three-to-four possible reasons/explanations why this problem negatively affects the United States, or your chosen country. I. First Point: First reason why this problem negatively affects the United States, or your chosen country - write a full sentence - include details and examples. II. Second Point: Second reason why this problem negatively affects the United States, or your chosen country - write a full sentence - include details and examples. III. Third Point: Third reason why this problem negatively affects the United States, or your chosen country - write a full sentence - include details and examples. IV. Fourth Point: (optional) Fourth reason why this problem negatively affects the United States, or your chosen country - write a full sentence - include Possible ACADEMIC (Scholarly/Library) Sources 1) One option for an academic source: - Give a definition, statistic, or general information about your topic from a peer reviewed, academic journal article I suggest finding articles in the Academic Search Complete Website (EBSCO): http://web.b.ebscohost.com.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ehost/search/basic?vid=0&sid=355fa8c0-38ec-4990-b429-cc83ba3e59c4%40pdc-v-sessmgr03 (Note: if this link does not work, go to Libraries http://www.lonestar.edu/library/index.htm > Research Databases then > Academic Search Complete.) Video showing how to find scholarly, academic sources on the EBESCO database (7 minutes): https://youtu.be/U9Wtf3ShnU8 2) Another option for an academic source: - Give a definition, statistic, or general information about your topic from: Opposing Viewpoints: - Opposing Viewpoints http://go.galegroup.com.lscsproxy.lonestar.edu/ps/start.do?p=OVIC&u=nhmccd_main (Note: if this link does not work, go to Libraries http://www.lonestar.edu/library/index.htm > Research Databases then > Opposing Viewpoints.) 3) An additional option for an academic Source: - Cite a definition, statistic, or general information about your topic in an e-book - You are also welcome to use the public library's resources to find e-books - Search for E-books in our library's catalog: https://hcpl2.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/lsc/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ** Most importantly: be sure to use at least 3 academic / scholarly sources in Essay 2! If all of your sources are Googled, you are not meeting the requirements of Essay 2. ** Essay 2 Assignment Information (Prompt) -------------------------------- Essay 2 Meets the Following Learning Outcomes for English 1301: 2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution, following standard style guidelines in documenting sources. 3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose. 5. Use edited American English in academic essays. -------------------------------- Topic: Problem Analysis In this essay, you will identify, and analyze, a significant problem in our society. If you would like to write about a problem in another country, that is fine as well. I suggest choosing a “problem” which has a personal importance to you. What do you care about? Heath? Safety? Transportation? Education? Government? Business? Animals? Food? The military? Taxes? Religion? Relationships? Technology? Retail? Etc. The list is endless, but there are a few topics which are off-limits. See below. The following topics are off-limits: abortion, drug legalization issues of any kind, drinking age issues of any kind, and cell phone issues of any kind. These topics are common, controversial topics often addressed in high school essays. Please choose a more creative and challenging topic for Essay 2. Remember: Essays must have a thesis (an argument) to be effective. In this essay, your thesis will give the specific problem and at least three, to four, reasons why (an advanced organizer / road map) that issue is a problem. Thesis examples (Do not use these examples - come up with your own!): Thesis Example: Child hunger continues to be a catastrophic issue in the United States for several reasons. . . . (three-to-four reasons here). Thesis Example: One significant problem in the United States is the lack of access to affordable health care for low-income individuals. This lack of access to affordable health care negatively affects low-income individuals in the following ways: . . . (three-to-four reasons here). Thesis Example: Air pollution negatively impacts Americans’ everyday lives by… (three-to-four reasons here). ________________________________________ ESSAY FORMAT For this research essay, your paragraphs should follow the structure below: • First paragraph: Introduction including a "hook" to grab the reader s attention, a brief discussion of the topic, a strong thesis, and an advanced organizer (road map – your three-to-four reasons) (1 paragraph) • Body paragraphs: Minimum of four body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should be led by a clear topic sentence and supported with 1-2 direct "quotes" each from secondary sources. If you only have three “reasons,” rather than four reasons, focus two body paragraphs on different aspects of your most significant, or complicated reason. (4 paragraphs) • Last paragraph: Conclusion summing up your arguments in the essay in fresh words and a final thought to leave the reader with a strong impression (1 paragraph) The essay length is THREE FULL PAGES - AT LEAST 900-1,000 Words - typed, double spaced. Paragraphs must be at least 6 sentences each. Essay 2 should contain a minimum of six paragraphs and maximum of nine paragraphs. Underline your thesis (thesis must be in paragraph 1). Students who plagiarize a phrase, a sentence, or an idea will receive a ZERO on this assignment! No exceptions. Please cite your sources correctly and consistently. As always, incomplete work will not be graded. Please finish the essay at 900 words. Submit your Essay to the LATE ESSAYS dropbox, if more time is needed. ------------------------------------- This essay requires scholarly research cited in MLA Style. A research essay encourages the writer to perform in-depth analysis, develop a thesis and supporting points, and synthesize external sources in support of the thesis. Students will create a separate Works Cited page in which they cite their sources in MLA style. Students will also cite sources correctly in the body of the essay (in-text citations). I suggest incorporating one-to-two short (1-2 line) “quotes” in each body paragraph as evidence supporting your topic sentences. Do not use quotes longer than three lines. One-to-two line quotes are preferable. Quotes of four lines, or more, are too lengthy for this short essay. Please do not use quotes which are four lines, or longer. Be careful not to "over-cite" your sources. Seventy-five percent of your essay should be your own words and ideas. Only 25% (at the most) should be information cited from your sources. THREE academic / library sources are required. The maximum number of sources allowed in Essay 2 is THREE SOURCES MAXIMUM! If you incorporate more than three sources in this short, three page essay, there will be an automatic deduction of 30 points to your final essay. Do not let your sources write your essay for you! As noted a above, only 25% of your essay should be quotes, paraphrases, or summaries. Choose academic / library sources, such as: an academic journal article (also known as a scholarly article), or an e- book. Academic journals and e-books are currently available through our college library – 100% online. You do NOT need to go to campus! See the “Ideas for Finding Sources for Essay 2” document in the Essay 2 folder. Examples of academic journals: (There are thousands of academic sources available through our library! These are just a sampling!) Harvard Medical Journal Scientific America Adolescent Psychiatry Journal of Communication Journal of Mass Media Ethics Management Quarterly Ecology Journal of America Do not “GOOGLE” sources for Essay 2! Only two, scholarly sources are required. You will be able to find two, quality, scholarly sources through our library’s online databases. You can also use the online databases of the public library, if you have a public library card. ________________________________________ POINT DISTRIBUTION · 5% - Following required format (see FORMAT section above) · 5% - Works Cited page in MLA Style · 20% - Citing Sources Correctly in the body of the essay (In-Text Citation) · 40% - Content (clear thesis, good supporting evidence, and sufficient detail) · 5% - Organization (paragraphs are unified and coherent with sufficient transitions and emphasis) · 5% - Language/Word Choice/Style (sentences are correct and varied, diction is clear and concise, and tone and voice is appropriate {third person point of view}) · 20% - Grammar and mechanics (standard English usage, excellent proofreading, few punctuation or grammar errors) 100 POINTS TOTAL