Essay 3: Research Essay
For this assignment, you are going to research the current Starbucks unionization campaign. You will research all the relevant facts and timeline of the unionization campaign and learn about the issue from the perspective of both Starbucks workers and Starbucks management. Assume your audience has no knowledge of this topic. Incorporate your research and inform the reader about the topic, but this essay will be centered around an argument about whether you support the Starbucks workers efforts to unionize or not.
Argument and Thesis
Your essay will be centered around an argument about whether you support the Starbucks workers unionizing or not. State your support or opposition and your reasons why in a thesis statement at the end of your introduction. Develop your main points in the body paragraphs of your essay.
Research
Since you should assume that your audience has no knowledge of this topic, you must present the following information in your essay regardless of your argument:
Provide the facts and timeline of this issue. When and where did Starbucks workers begin the current unionization campaign? How many Starbucks stores have unionized? Include any other relevant facts, events, and information that an audience unfamiliar with this issue would need. Find sources such as straight news reporting with a balanced presentation of information.
Present the Starbucks workers perspective. What problems do the Starbucks workers want to address? What are their demands? What rhetoric do they use – what words, phrases, imagery, and arguments do they make in support of a union? What actions have they taken? Find sources that present the issue from their perspective and include arguments they make in their own words.
Present the Starbucks management perspective. How has Starbucks management responded to the union organizing? What rhetoric do they use – what words, phrases, imagery, and arguments do they make against unions? What actions have they taken to stop workers from joining a union? Find sources that present the issue from their perspective and include arguments they make in their own words.
Include relevant context. Context is any information that isn’t directly about the current Starbucks unionization campaign, but is nevertheless relevant helps your audience better understand the issue. For example, provide any context that allows your audience to evaluate the arguments made by both workers and management.
Assignment Requirements
Your essay must be at least 1,500 words.
You must include at least 5 sources.
You must have sources presenting both the pro-union and anti-union perspective.
Your essay must be in MLA format.
Cite all sources in-text and in a Works Cited according to MLA rules.
Essay 3 Grading Rubric
Thesis 20 pts
State whether you support the Starbucks workers unionizing or not and your reasons why in a thesis statement at the end of your introduction
Organization 40 pts
Body paragraphs should have one main topic
Begin body paragraphs with a topic sentence which states the main topic of the paragraph in your own words
Everything in a body paragraph should directly connect to the main topic. When you have a new topic, start a new paragraph
Essay is sequenced logically and effectively
Development 50 pts
Develop body paragraphs with relevant examples, details, quotations, explanation, analysis, etc…
Demonstrate knowledge of the current Starbucks unionization campaign
Develop all main points stated in the thesis
Your essay must be at least 1,500 words
Research 50 pts
Use sources presenting both the pro-union and anti-union perspective
Evaluate sources effectively considering authority, credibility, bias, and perspective
You must include at least 5 sources
MLA format and citation 40 pts
Format your essay in MLA style
Properly introduce and incorporate all quotes, paraphrase, summaries
Cite sources in-text according to MLA rules
Cite all sources in a Works Cited according to MLA rules
Total 200 pts
