Think of this paper as having three major sections.
Section #1 is your introduction. This is your first chance to capture the attention of your audience. See Assignment #1.
Section #2 is the body of your essay.. You will explain your message to the readers. Obviously, this is MANY paragraphs.
Section #3 is the conclusion.
All sections may contain multiple paragraphs.
The total essay should be 5-7 pages in length.
Use MLA 8 formatting. (Several of this week's assignments will help you learn that.
Week #7 - Assignment #1 Writing Introductions
Read
A. Seven tips for writing effect Introductions https://writing.msu.edu/how-to-write-a-good-introduction/
B. Guidelines and a sample: https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/introductions-conclusions
C.Writing a great hook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkefst9D6n0 Yes, this is silly. However, it makes some great points.
D. What not to do in an introduction plus samples of what you, the writer, should do! http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/intros.htm
E. One more set of tips: https://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Essay-Introduction
Post the Top 10 recommendations for writing effective introductions.
(20 points. )
Week #7 - Assignment #2 An Overview of the paper
Review how to write an effective introduction and how to organize the rest of your essay.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/argument_papers/index.html
Toward the top of the page on the right side you will see a list of topics. When you are on the site, you will be able to click on each. You will be taken to specific information related to that topic.
Read through each section. Then, explain what you learned about each of the six topics. Write a summary sentence or two for each. (25 points.)
Here are the six sections/topics.
- Creating a Thesis Statement
- Organizing Your Argument
- Organizing Your Argument Slide Presentation
- Logic in Argumentative Writing
- Paragraphs and Paragraphing
- Transitions and Transitional Devices
Week #7 Assignment # 3 In-text Citations
When you write your War Paper, you will need to give credit to your sources. This site offers excellent instructions. https://owl.excelsior.edu/citation-and-documentation/mla-style/mla-in-text-citations/no-page-numbers-mla-text-citations/
You will notice that there is a menu on the left hand side. As you write your own essay and need information about how to write your own in-text citations, you can click on the type of source that you actually used to get a sample of how to write your own.
In addition, here is the link to the Diana Hacker sample essay if you need to see the big picture: https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Hacker-Sample%20MLA%20Formatted%20Paper.pdf
It is often useful to look at a sample essay and make yours look the same.
Tasks:
A. After studying the information about in-text citations, take a look at your own research notes. Which guidelines for in-text citations will you use?
- Do you intend to include information from an interview in your essay? What are the guidelines for interviews?
- Did most of your information come from the Internet? Did the information include an author's name or not? How do you write in-text citations for that Internet sources?
- Did you consult a book or watch a video or movie? How should you cite those within the text?
- Will you include lines from stories, poems, or music? How are those cited withing the text?
Again, look at your own sources and explain how to use in-text citation for each. Although you might include information from more sources, include at four here. (40 Points Total)
B. Correctly provide in-text citations in your own essay. (This will be posted under Assignment # 5)
Week #7 - Assignment #4 - Works Cited Page
A. This site provides information about formatting entries for your Works Cited page. It is a separate page at the end of your essay. Look at the menu on the left and click on the type of source you used in your essay. You will see an example of an entry for that type of source.
B. If you are ever on campus and can get by the Writing Center in Estrella Hall, be sure to pick up an MLA guide. It is printed on hot-pink paper. You can't miss it. It is a nice hard copy to have for reference. (Not required)
C. When you actually create your Works Cited page, consider using EasyBib. It is a free Works Cited creator.Nothing is really free. There are many ads on the site. Focus on the task at hand and try not to get distracted.
Here are some tips for using the site.
1. If you have never used the site before, you will need to create a log-in name and password. I have used the site for years. The site will not contact you.
2. Once you have logged in, click on the "Create a project" button. Then name your project. I would probably call mine War.
3. Do select MLA 8 as the style.
4. When you click on the project, you should see a screen that enables you to "create a citation."
5. On the next screen, you will see orange buttons that let you select the type of citation. Notice that there is a gray button that says "more." Do select the type of citation you need to create. You will be taken to a screen that asks for information.
If you are citing from a web source, if you provide the URL, Easy Bib will fill in the blanks. For some entries, you will need to provide the information yourself.
If you don't know something, don't make it up. Leave it blank.
- Once you have entered all of the sources you cited in your essay, click on your project name. You will be taken to a screen where you should see a button that says "export." Click on it.
- The next screen gives you a drop-down menu. Select Microsoft Word. Then click on the green export button. Your correctly formatted paper will appear at the bottom left of your computer screen as a Word document. Click on it and watch your beautiful Works Cited page appear.
- From there, you can copy/paste onto your essay.
For this assignment, create and post a "practice" Works Cited page. It must contain at least three entries that you cite within your War essay. Use MLA 8 formatting.
(10 points for each correctly formatted and punctuated entry
10 points for using correct spacing throughout along with Works Cited correctly placed.
40 points total
Week #7 - Assignment #5 Draft
Write the draft of your War essay.
1. You selected a topic and conducted research. Now it is time to write.
Pay attention to the introduction. (See Assignment #1.)
Think about the organization. No matter which organizational pattern you use, you should think of this essay as a work in three parts: introduction, body, conclusion. That does not mean that you will only have three paragraphs. The introduction could be several paragraphs. Just be sure the reader know the thesis/topic/message you are going to convey. The body of the paper will be many paragraphs. This is where you will will share what you discovered and show the readers why your message is important. The conclusion might be several paragraphs as well.
2.Just in case you need some ideas for an effective conclusion, here are two links. Both provide useful tips. Please read through them. They are short but important!
3. Again, here is the link to a sample MLA 8 formatted paper. When finished, your paper should be perfectly formatted.
Tips:
- Font 12 - Use it throughout.
- Headers on every page (Set this up in Word. It will do this for you.)
- Title - correctly written and capitalized
- All spacing is double. Nothing is more than that.
- All font is the same. Nothing is in bold.
- In-text citations
- Separate Works Cited page - remember that all entries on this page have been cited in your essay.
Post your draft on Canvas. It is worth 50 points.
Week #7 - Assignment #6 - Discussion Board
In an in-person class, we would devote some time to the discussion of topics and our goals for the completed essay. We would talk about the message/thesis we planned to share in writing and talk about how our research progressed.
For the discussion board, talk, in writing, to the class. Share your topic and explain why you selected it. Tell a little about your research. What did you find most interesting or frustrating? Also, share the message you are trying to convey in the essay. If you need help or want additional thoughts about the topic, now is the time to ask your peers!
Your original post should be on the board by midnight on Thursday, February 27, 2020.
Two responses to others need to be posted by midnight on Monday, March 2, 2020.
(50 points)
