ESSAY TOPIC: EDUCATION Required: 4-6 pages, Times New Roman, font size = 12, MLA format, double-spaced. Work cited page. The foundational groundwork for this essay is Michael Moores Idiot Nation, which is a chapter from his 2001 book, Stupid White Men . . . and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation. This is your base text. https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=idiot+nation+michael+moore You will select 3 outside sources that make arguments that connect with the base text. You will have a list of sources to choose from, You will use these texts to clarify, extend, and/or complicate some of his claims (you must use variety; not ALL texts should clarify, just as not ALL texts should complicate). Some texts might even do two (like extend as well as complicate). Keep in mind that your purpose is neither to prove Michael Moore right or wrong (ie. do not share whether you agree or disagree); instead, you should examine points he may have overlooked. DEFINITIONS: Clarify: to bring into focus, to help explain, illuminate, or elucidate. Providing evidence, examples, stories, cases or support that make something easier to understand or that sharpen the point made. Extend: to advance, develop, expand or take further some element of an existing argument. Extending an argument involves presenting additional evidence or reasons that are in line with the original argument but go beyond it. Complicate: to present evidence or arguments at odds with an authors position and which suggest the position needs to be revised (i.e. that its scope or degree of certainty needs revision, or that exceptions have not been considered.) It usually involves suggesting that an author has not dealt with the full complexity of an issue, has failed to consider relevant evidence, or that there is something missing. Complicating an argument may involve exposing problems, contradictions, or presenting counterexamples and counterarguments that challenge some part of the argument. Note: As with most sets of terms, there is some overlap between these. For example, something that extends an argument may also clarify it. Other Criteria for this assignment: Audience: Write the paper as if addressing an educated reader unfamiliar with the text. Evidence: Present and analyze specific quotations and examples from the text as evidence for the claim(s) or overall argument. Structure: Use an effective structure that carefully guides the reader from one idea to the next. Pay careful attention to transitions between ideas and paragraphs. Presentation: Edit your paper thoroughly so that sentences are readable and appropriate for an academic audience. Use proper MLA format. Due at 9 pm on thu 5/3 ( pacific time )

ESSAY
TOPIC: EDUCATION

Required: 4-6 pages, Times New Roman, font size = 12, MLA format, double-spaced. Work cited page.

The foundational groundwork for this essay is Michael Moores Idiot Nation, which is a chapter from his 2001 book, Stupid White Men . . . and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation. This is your base text.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=idiot+nation+michael+moore


You will select 3 outside sources that make arguments that connect with the base text. You will have a list of sources to choose from, You will use these texts to clarify, extend, and/or complicate some of his claims (you must use variety; not ALL texts should clarify, just as not ALL texts should complicate). Some texts might even do two (like extend as well as complicate). Keep in mind that your purpose is neither to prove Michael Moore right or wrong (ie. do not share whether you agree or disagree); instead, you should examine points he may have overlooked.

DEFINITIONS:
Clarify: to bring into focus, to help explain, illuminate, or elucidate. Providing evidence, examples, stories, cases or support that make something easier to understand or that sharpen the point made.
Extend: to advance, develop, expand or take further some element of an existing argument. Extending an argument involves presenting additional evidence or reasons that are in line with the original argument but go beyond it.
Complicate: to present evidence or arguments at odds with an authors position and which suggest the position needs to be revised (i.e. that its scope or degree of certainty needs revision, or that exceptions have not been considered.) It usually involves suggesting that an author has not dealt with the full complexity of an issue, has failed to consider relevant evidence, or that there is something missing. Complicating an argument may involve exposing problems, contradictions, or presenting counterexamples and counterarguments that challenge some part of the argument.

Note: As with most sets of terms, there is some overlap between these. For example, something that extends an argument may also clarify it.

Other Criteria for this assignment:
Audience: Write the paper as if addressing an educated reader unfamiliar with the text.
Evidence: Present and analyze specific quotations and examples from the text as evidence for the claim(s) or overall argument.
Structure: Use an effective structure that carefully guides the reader from one idea to the next. Pay careful attention to transitions between ideas and paragraphs.
Presentation: Edit your paper thoroughly so that sentences are readable and appropriate for an academic audience. Use proper MLA format.

Due at 9 pm on thu 5/3 ( pacific time )