This week’s activity is designed to help you continue working with APA formatting style and to demonstrate your knowledge on the provided sources you are reading this week. Your first step is to read both provided sources located here: Expository Essay Assignment Instructions. While you will eventually choose just one of these two articles as the focus of your essay, you need to read and complete this week’s activity for both. This assignment has two parts.
Part 1: Create an APA reference for each source
Refer to the APA Resource Module for assistance in constructing proper references. Here, you need to create the full reference that would appear on the References page of your essay.
Part 2: Summarize each source
Spend some time reflecting on the information you have read in each article. Ask yourself how you can break the article down to contain only the most essential information. Be sure to omit any descriiptive information or additional details. Only identify the main ideas found within the text. Remember – summaries should be written in your own words. While you might choose to directly quote in the essay, you should show your understanding of the articles by using your own words to summarize the main points in this assignment. This part of the assignment should be completed in paragraph format—no numbers or bullet points (4-6 sentences).
Format: Open a new document in Microsoft Word and use Times New Roman, 12-point font. Double-space the entire document. Begin with the APA reference (Part 1), and be sure to use a hanging indent for the second and each additional line of the reference. Then, starting on a new line, begin your source summary paragraph (Part 2). Be sure to complete this activity for both sources.
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Expository Essay Assignment Instructions
YOUR GOAL: An expository essay is a type of academic writing where you seek to inform and explain. For this assignment, your objective is to select from one of two provided topics, investigate the chosen topic closely by examining a total of two articles on the topic, and then describe and explain that issue to your readers in a five-paragraph essay.
THE PROCESS: First, in Week 5, read the two readings assigned this week and reflect upon each issue. While both are linked below, each article is also provided in Module 5 in RealizeIt, where you will read and show your knowledge on the article. As you decide which topic to choose as the subject of your Expository Essay, ask yourself which issue you are drawn to or most curious about. You might even want to do some freewriting on both topics to generate ideas. You must know your article well. If not, you will have a difficult time explaining the specifics of the issue to your reader. For Week 5, the two articles/topics are:
Social Media & Relationships: “Social Media’s Growing Impact on Our Lives (Links to an external site.),” by Summer Allen
The Marriage Trend: “Why Are so Few People Getting Married? (Links to an external site.)” by Jay Zagorsky
Once you have decided which of these topics you will write about, you will move into Week 6, where you will read a second provided article on your chosen topic. In Week 6, you do not have to read the second article on both topics, but can focus your efforts only on the topic of your choice. You will use these two sources to draft your essay. Remember, you must know your issue well in order to inform your readers adequately. You are not required to do further research beyond the provided two sources, but, if you chose to use additional sources, be sure to include them within your References page.
Here are the additional readings assigned in Week 6 (remember: you only need to read the article on the topic of your choice):
If you choose to write about social media, your second article is: “Benefits and Costs of Social Media in Adolescence,” (Links to an external site.) by Yalda T. Uhls, Nicole B. Ellison, and Kaveri Subrahmanyam
If you choose to write about the marriage trend, your second article is: “Middle Class Marriage is Declining, and Likely Deepening Inequality,” (Links to an external site.) by Richard Reeves and Christopher Pulliam
Finally, write your essay.
Weekly Breakdown:
To guide you through this process, we’ll work through several steps these next few weeks. Here’s how they will break down:
Step 1/Week 6 – Read both provided articles and choose your topic – either
Social Media and Relationships OR
The Marriage Trend
Step 2/Week 6 – Read the additional article assigned for your chosen topic, and construct an annotated bibliography using both of your provided sources.
Step 3/Week 7 – Complete the first draft of your essay and submit it to a Smarthinking tutor.
Step 4/Week 8 – Taking your Smarthinking tutor’s comments into consideration, revise your draft and submit it to your instructor.
Step 5/Week 9 – With your instructor’s feedback, revise and edit your essay. Submit the final, polished draft.
Step 6/Week 9 – After you’ve completed your essay, take some time to reflect on the revision process. In a one-page document separate from your essay, include the following:
Paragraph 1: Explain the changes you made to your essay after receiving the feedback from your Smarthinking tutor. (75-100 words)
Paragraph 2: Then, discuss the changes you made after receiving your instructor’s comments. (75-100 words)
Paragraph 3: Reflect on the overall revision process. Describe what was difficult and what you found most effective. (75-100 words)
EXPOSITORY ESSAY COMPONENTS:
One introductory paragraph that reveals a broad knowledge of your issue. You must include a thesis statement that identifies the main point or purpose of your essay. Your thesis statement will alert your readers to what issue is specifically being investigated.
Three body paragraphs that isolate the most relevant parts of the issue you’ve explored using both provided sources for your topic. This section will be the lengthiest portion of the paper, and you must provide detailed information so your readers can become knowledgeable.
One conclusion paragraph. Your conclusion should revisit the main points of your issue. You may choose to include your perspective here as well.
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS:
APA formatting, including a title page, page numbers, 12-point Times New Roman font, and double-spacing. Don’t forget to use the APA Template and resources provided in the APA Resources – 7th Edition module.
A reference page that includes citations for all sources you’ve used (you must use the two provided).
3-4 (750-900 words) pages of content (excluding title and reference page).
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