1. Read the Writing and Formatting Your Essay document attached to this folder. If you do not follow these guidelines, you will not receive a passing grade.
2. Read the Essay Grading Guidelines document attached to this folder.
3. Write a four paragraph essay based on the thesis and topic sentences you submitted for the W1 and W2 assignments. If you want or need to change your thesis or topic sentence after reviewing the feedback you were given on your W2 assignment, you may do so. However, you must write on the assigned topic.
4. Include the following:
- Title for the essay
- Introductory paragraph that ends in an underlined thesis statement
- Two body paragraphs that each begin with an underlined topic sentence.
- A conclusion
- A Reference or Works Cited listing.*
5. Save the document as a Word file with the following file name: YourLastName W3
6. Upload your assignment to the Dropbox in the W3 folder
* References note:
Use a minimum of 2 authoritative, credible online sources to support your argument, at least 1 source in each body paragraph. Each quote should be introduced in the text: let the reader know in advance whom you are quoting and the context of the source. All sources are correctly cited in the text using parenthetical citations where needed, and each source is included in a Works Cited or Reference section at the end of the document, following either MLA or APA style guidelines (see course textbook) consistently. Do not cite sources in the body of the essay with Internet addresses (URLs), nor only use a URL for the reference at the end of the document.
W4 Essay
For this essay, follow the Writing and Formatting Your Essay Guidelines that you followed in the W2 and W3 assignments. As always, please review my notes/comments in previous essays before submitting this assignment. Doing so will help you avoid repeating past mistakes.
W4 essay prompt:
Is affirmative action good or bad for society?
For the above assignment, here are some articles for and against affirmative action. You are not required to use these, but you may, and you are encouraged to find additional online resources on your own:
(These sources are listed in 7th ed. MLA.In your paper, the second line of each reference will be indented)
For:
Drake, Bruce. “Public Strongly Backs Affirmative Action Programs on Campus.” Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, 22 April 2014. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/22/public-strongly-backs-affirmative-action-programs-on-campus/>.
Ogletree, Charles J., Jr. “The Case for Affirmative Action.” Stanford Alumni. Stanford U, Nd. Web. 27 May 2015. <https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=43428>.
Strauss, Valerie. “A Basic Flaw in the Argument against Affirmative Action.” Washington Post. Washington Post, 17 July 2014. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/07/17/a-basic-flaw-in-the-argument-against-affirmative-action/>.
Weissmann, Jordan. “The Best New Argument for Affirmative Action.” The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group, 31 July 2013. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/07/the-best-new-argument-for-affirmative-action/278241/>.
Against:
Hanson, Victor Davis. “The End of Affirmative Action.” National Review Online. National Review, 1 May 2014. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.nationalreview.com/article/376910/end-affirmative-action-victor-davis-hanson>.
Joshi, Rohit. “It’s Time to Change Affirmative Action in Colleges.” Huffington Post. HuffPost News, 15 March 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rohit-joshi/its-time-to-change-affirm_b_6466352.html>.
“Poll Finds Most Americans Oppose Affirmative Action When Defined as ‘Preferences’.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3 June 2009. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://chronicle.com/article/Poll-Finds-Most-Americans/47684>.
In addition, you may use other sources on the internet to support your argument. (Note: all sources you use to support your argument need to be available to me on the Internet or through the MSU library databases.)
As with all essays written for this class, follow the specific guidelines outlined in the Writing and Formatting Your Essay Guidelines. In addition, review the Essay Grading Guidelines to be sure that you are meeting all criteria.
Remember, take a stand (thesis statement), then use topic sentences to introduce paragraphs that support your stand/thesis. Below are a few example topic sentences. You do NOT need to use these: I simply want to provide you examples of a clear topic sentence.
Yes:
- Affirmative action promotes diversity in campuses and/or workplaces.
- Affirmative action gives the poor a chance to succeed.
- Affirmative action evens the playing field.
No:
- Affirmative action promotes reverse discrimination.
- Affirmative action could encourage the hiring of less qualified employees.
- Affirmative action reinforces racial stereotypes.
References note:
Use a minimum of 2 authoritative, credible online sources to support your argument, at least 1 source in each body paragraph.Each quote should be introduced in the text: let the reader know in advance whom you are quoting and the context of the source. All sources are correctly cited in the text using parenthetical citations where needed, and each source is included in a Works Cited or Reference section at the end of the document, following either MLA or APA style guidelines (see course textbook) consistently. Do not cite sources in the body of the essay with Internet addresses (URLs), nor only use a URL for the reference at the end of the document.
