Assignment Details
Description: For your final essay, explore a controversial issue within your field of study, arguing for a potential change or solution to this issue. In essence, your Argument is a Problem/Solution research paper, supported with C.(credible/current) R.(relevant/reliable/recent) A.(accurate) A.(authoritative) P.(purposeful) (C.R.A.A.P. Research sources. With the help of a professional BC Librarian, try to use sources from the past three (3) years to account for rapid changes in technology, design, etc. You may consider the list below for sample ideas that relate to your Career Pathway and to promote creative thinking; however, you are certainly not restricted to writing about one of these topics; in fact, you’re strongly encouraged to explore other avenues of strong interest and controversy within your prospective professional career Pathway.
AHCD: Should people face criminal charges for hate speech online?
Business: Must corporations do more for employees’ well being and mental health?
Education: Should charter schools receive public funding?
Health Sciences: Should parents be required by law to vaccinate their children?
IMCT: Should automotive companies continue to pursue driverless vehicle technology?
Public Safety: Should police officers in all states be required to wear body cameras that cannot be turned off?
SBSHS: Should sex work be legalized throughout the United States?
STEM: Innovative
(If you need more details about Broward College’s various career pathways, visit the “Programs and Degrees” webpage.)
WRITING TASKS:
· Before you begin your research, you should choose which stance you will take on the topic (i.e., are you for the issue, opposed to it, or some combination of both). Develop a strong, specific thesis that argues a specific claim about that topic (i.e., don’t simply argue “I am for ______” or “I am against ______”). Include a counter-argument in your Annotated Bibliography and in your paper. Remember–you’re arguing for a specific change that you want to see happen in order to rectify the issue at hand.
· To help build the ethos and logos appeals of your argument, you will be required to use/incorporate at least five (5) sources in your paper, using paraphrases, summaries, and selected direct quotes form your sources. Do not use sources such as personal blogs or Wikis for your paper. Only one of your five sources may be more an article from a magazine, newspaper; or book. Primarily, you will rely on journal articles, government websites, research studies by reputable organizations, etc.).
· Consider the audience of your essay. Consider that your reader is college educated and receptive to using critical thinking to assess or weight perspectives, points-of-view, dimensions of an argument, and expert opinion. Keep in mind that while recognizing opposing viewpoints certainly lends credibility and ethos to your argument, you don’t want to undermine your own claims. Give credit and acknowledgement to other opinions, but simultaneously reinforce your own ideas
Predominately, you will use third person (not first or second person pronouns; i.e., no use of “I,” “we,” or “you/your” in your paper).
Assessment: Your grade will derive from your abilities to argue your thesis successfully with convincing /compelling evidence, specific details/examples, case studies, expert opinion, and other pertinent sources, as well as to organize your thoughts in an effective, logical style to help the reader clearly understand your argument. Consult the Essay Rubric for a detailed list of the criteria that comprise A, B, C, D, and F essays.
Peer Reviews: When you bring in your typed rough draft on the day of peer review, you will trade your essay with a classmate so that you can both read each other’s work and provide helpful, constructive criticism to one another. In addition, I will provide each of you with a worksheet to help guide you through the peer review process. Once you and your classmate have finished, you will trade back your essays so that you can each utilize the comments when revising for your final draft.
NOTE: If you are unable to attend class on the day set aside for peer reviews, it is your responsibility to “make up” the peer review by contacting a classmate willing to review your essay outside of class, submitting your essay to a tutor in the campus Writing Lab, or submitting your paper to Tutor.com. Friends or family members are not considered peer reviewers. Keep in mind that even if you are absent for a peer review, you are still responsible for turning in your final draft on time. Papers turned in without being peer reviewed will be docked five (5) points.
Requirements: You should submit an MLA-formatted 1250-word essay (not counting the MLA Works Cited page), word processed/double-spaced (not counting the MLA Works Cited page). Use Times New Roman font in 12-pt size. MLA guidelines require pagination (numbering your pages accordingly with Surname/page no. in upper right corner) and MLA-specified margins. “Signal” the Reader when source material is used your paper, and incorporate one block quote along with pithy portions of direct quotes for emphasis. Primarily, your source material will be in the form of paraphrases and summaries from the original source. To avoid plagiarism, ALL SOURCE USED must have MLA INTERNAL CITATIONS!
