Prof. Dodington - English 101 - Rage Against The Machine: Home

English 101, Sec. 11130 (Prof. Dodington)             Essay #3 Project Instructions

Essay #3: Joining a Conversation You’ve Researched

Final Draft due:  April 29^th, 2016

The Basics:

17. 6–8 pages, not counting the Works Cited page; MLA style
17. minimum 5 sources, 2 of which may be articles from the text we have discussed in class and 3 of which you have worked with a librarian to identify as appropriate for your topic.
17. Due date for pre-writing, rough and final draft given below

Description of the Task

Write a researched argument about how technology (or social media) is positively or negatively affecting your future career field, your relationships to friends and family, children’s play, politics or social activism of our world, or another issue that you have checked with the professor.

            This paper is your own argument, but you should take into account

what you’ve learned during this course: begin by showing the conversation your

paper is responding to (“they say”), have a clear thesis statement of your own argument (“I say"), include quotes and incorporate them smoothly, point out possible objections to your argument, use appropriate transitions, and explain why the issue matters.

            You might also consider adding metacommentary (text Chapter 10) and finding ways to include your own voice, even though this is academic writing.

What do I have to do?

1. Choose one topic about technology’s impact on an area of interest to you and develop a question that will guide your research on the topic. For example, you might ask, “What technological tools are currently impacting the working procedures and workplaces of accounting firms?”
2. Use Library resources to identify at least 3 new sources to develop the argument/ conversation that answers that question. Work with a Librarian to make sure that you have reliable sources.
3. Highlight and annotate articles you select--the “They Say” and “I Say” elements of the argument --so that you are able to identify the conversation. Is there a naysayer in the argument?
4. If you wish, identify 2 articles in our text that would be good members of a conversation on the topic you have chosen to discuss. It is not required that you use the text’s articles.
5. Use graphic organizers to identify what the authors will discuss in the conversation on the topic.

Description of Pre-Writing and Drafts of the Assignment and their due dates

1-page Proposal: Write a one-page proposal for Assignment 3, explaining what topic you’ve chosen and any others you’ve considered. Describe your decision-making process and think ahead to the research process: How will you investigate this topic? What sorts of sources will you look for? What questions or concerns do you have about the project? I will be looking for specific answers to these questions!

Due: Wed, April 6th

Working argument and thesis statement: Develop a working argument (conversation on technology) for Assignment 3, including both “they say” and “I say” components, and limiting the argument to no more than a paragraph or a short list of bullet points. End the paragraph with a Thesis statement that is one (1) sentence.

Due: Wed, April 13^th with annotated bibliographies explained below

Annotated Bibliographies: Discuss and evaluate the minimum of 5 sources you’ve found for Essay 3 by writing 5 annotated bibliographies. (You may revise and use annotated bibliographies of two (2) of the authors we have read and discussed in our text. Three articles must be new research and analysis.)

            Summarize each source briefly, explaining what “they say,” and write a short

response to each that includes an evaluation and what you say as well as how you might use these sources in a longer paper.

Due: Wed, April 13^th with working thesis statement explained above

What must the rough and final drafts include?

1. A thesis statement that answers a question with a specific point(s) that you will prove with reference to articles you have read
2. Summaries of the 5 chosen articles, as well as your statements of what you think about the topic.
3. Use of TS/IS templates to “sandwich” quotations and paraphrased points from other authors, and establish the TS of the articles and the IS of your opinion.
4. 6 to 8 pages of well-organized paragraphs that have been proofread to eliminate common errors.

Rough Draft Due: Fri, April 22^nd

FINAL Draft due: Fri., April 29th

This guide is a collection of resources you can use to find information on your topic

If you are still developing your topic and only have one keyword go to the Background Information Tab to use sources to develop your topic and generate keyword

If you need detailed articles  use the find articles tab and  select a database to search

If you need help creating citation consult our MLA Guide 

If you need to keep track of your citation and research use Easybib