discussion

For this week’s discussion post, I would like each student to share about a topic/issue (maybe 2) that you are considering for the Essay III assignment. If you weren’t in class, be sure to look at the assignment first. Once you have considered the assignment and topic options, you may reply to some of the following:

-Why did you choose this topic? How or why are you invested in this topic? Why is this topic important or relevant for schools/students today?

-What are some possible causes or effects your paper may present? Explore what things in a student’s life or experiences lead to this issue? How is a student affected by this issue in terms of their ability to succeed at their education or personal life? How might it affect them in the short term and long term? Feel free to share an example/experience, personal or not, that show the causes/effects.

-Discuss what you think young adults/students can do to impact this issue; what are some ‘possible solutions’ to this issue? What things could a school club or organization do to help? What activities can be done to help a student deal with this issue?

Essentially, I’m asking you to share about your possible topic/issue on Essay III (min. 300 for original post 

English101 Final Project Essay Assignment

For the final project in this course, each student will produce an essay informing your audience on the causes and effects of an issue young adults/students face and “solutions’ that can be supported or implemented through a school organization/club to combat the issue. The organization/club is your creation (and will be featured in your presentation), although you may take cues from already existing organizations working on the same issue. Your essay should inform the audience on background/history (intro), causes, effects, and ways to deal with or solve this problem (body paragraphs). In this assignment handout, you will find information on Topic Choice, and Essay Guidelines and Requirements:

Possible topics to locate ‘issue’ – check larger list of examples on Canvas

Issues of Faith/Religious Tolerance

Impact of Social Media/technology

Drugs/Alcohol

Emotional Stress/Self-Esteem (body-image/depression)

Gender Issues/LGBTQ Equality

The Environment/Climate Change

TOPIC CHOICE – THESIS PROPOSAL

Each student will choose a topic from the above list or propose a unique topic to the instructor during the proposal process. Any and all topics and theses must be approved as part of the proposal, due Tuesday, Mar. 3rd. Once approval for the topic and thesis has been given, the topic cannot change. Slight adjustments to the thesis may occur, but you should try to avoid a major shift. The proposal form will be found on our class Canvas page, and online submissions are expected. Consider which topic will best fit your needs both in terms of personal interest, but also the assignment requirements (note: a list of recent topics/issues students have researched is on Canvas).

A GENERAL OVERVIEW – ESSAY ASSIGNMENT

Your final assignment will consist of a research paper 4-6 pages in length, typed and double-spaced. The essay will be an informative essay that discusses the current issue in society affecting young adults and highlights what your organization can do to combat it, so there is an element of persuasion. Standard MLA documentation must be utilized with all source use. You will begin the assignment by first conducting exploratory research looking for articles, and also investigating an organization working on the issue. After learning about their efforts, each author will perform further research using the library databases to help learn about and support what their ‘original’ organization can/needs to do to improve this issue. Over the course of your research, you will find information about the social issue, its causes and effects, as well as discover possible solutions your organization could offer.

RESEARCH GUIDELINES

This assignment requires the use of at least 3 research sources. Two of these sources should come from the Cascadia/UWB Library. Use the periodicals and bookstacks (physical sources) or the Library Database to locate sources. If you find a source outside of Cascadia’s library (like an org. webpage or news article), you must approach me before going forward with the source. All Internet sources must be approved by instructor before inclusion into your essay! In-text documentation must follow MLA guidelines and an appropriate works cited page is also required. The essay must follow MLA guidelines for formatting and citations.

AUDIENCE

Your audience is undecided on your issue, and needs to be informed on the topic, so that they can understand its importance. This should guide your tone and presentation of the issue. It’s important to stay formal, and not to take for granted the needs of your audience. Your audience is at your education level and therefore, has an introductory knowledge of your topic but needs some explanation of the complexities of the issue (causes/effects), so that they feel the need to take action and support your organization’s work on it. It may be helpful to imagine that your audience is looking at multiple issues and considering which one they want to “invest” in trying to deal with. Your job (purpose) as author is to convince them that your issue is most critical, and your organization is well-suited to respond to the problem.

ORGANIZATION STRATEGIES FOR YOUR ESSAY

Introduction: Help your audience understand the student issue you chose by providing a sense of the issues relevance, as well as any background info or terminology necessary for comprehension. The intro will also need to preview the main ideas you are going to present in your BP’s. This introduction should conclude with a focused thesis statement presenting a specific stance/position/perspective on the issue.

BODY: This section will generally have three main functions (although the balance may be different depending on the topic): reporting to your audience on the causes of this issue, exploring the effects this issue has on students, and providing how a school organization/club would work to improve the situation or help students overcome the issue. The issue or topic of your paper will guide what the support should focus on, but reflect back on the various support approaches used in Essay I and II for help, and let your research guide your major points. Support section 4-6 paragraphs.

Conclusion: This is your last chance to push the importance that this issue is taken seriously. Use this as a lawyer uses a closing argument to demonstrate how your body evidence of support proves your stance to be logical and coherent. Discussion of “what’s at stake” if nothing is done to deal with the issue may also play a role in the conclusion. Conclusion should be 1 paragraph in length.

Requirements:

· 12pt – Times New Roman

· Double spaced with title and header on first page

· A minimum of 4 pages, max of 6

· Must use at least 3 different text(s) and no more than 5.

· Proper MLA In-text documentation and Works Cited page

Assignments and Due Dates

· Proposal and Annotated Bib of min. of 2 database/library sources and 1 organization website due Mar. 3rd (10pts)

· Detailed outline due Mar. 10th (20pts) and rough draft on Mar. 17th (20pts)

·

Final Draft due on Thursday, Mar. 18th (100pts)

Past Topics/Issues from Students:

Alcohol use on college/university campuses

Free speech on college campuses

Use of technology in learning

Impact of social media on teens/young adults

‘Fake News’ or propaganda on social media

‘Rape Culture’ at universities in the US

Representation of LGBTQ in literature/art

Effect of social media on ‘relationships’ (friends, family, peers)

Financial literacy of college students – Rising cost of college and student debt

Student stress/anxiety

Water pollution and access to clean water

Prescription drug use in academics

‘Right to Carry’ (guns) on college campuses

“Bringing religion/spirituality into the classroom”

Integration of technology into the classroom

Gender discrimination at colleges

Use of ‘emotional support’ animals

Challenges international students face

Challenges ‘first-generation’ students face

Veterans transitioning to student life