RESEARCHED ILLUSTRATION ESSAY (a.k.a. Example Essay)

ASSIGNMENT

3 TOPIC: Select a topic. –as a class –democracy rules Death penalty Drinking age Health care reform Abortion Immigration …

4 ASSIGNMENT AYK: Write a journal discussing “all you know” regarding this topic. –What you know before research. No more than 1 ½ pages. If you know much, be concise. If you know little, at least ½ page

5 ASSIGNMENT RESEARCH: Then, research that particular side to which you have been assigned. Research = –official Web sites –reliable, credible sources –our college library’s databases  NO Wikipedia, about.com, blogs

6 ASSIGNMENT ILLUSTRATION ESSAY: Then, in a Classic Illustration/Example Essay, you will argue your side of the issue. –Should it be lowered? –Shouldn’t it be lowered? Specifics on the format are below.

7 DATABASES Britannica Online CQ Researcher Opposing Viewpoints EBSCO History Reference Lexis-Nexis Ethnic Watch Gender Watch

ESSAY FORMAT

9 INTRODUCTION Introduce your subject. –Generalization ** –Quotation * –Question –Quip –Statistic * Get us on the topic of this debate. –Lately, several college presidents have urged lawmakers to reduce the legal drinking age in their respective states.

10 ESSAY FORMAT INTRODUCTION Narrow towards your thesis: –“some” –“others” –Some Americans have ignored this issue, while others have raised their voices on the matter. –Some Americans are passively watching the news coverage. However, other citizens are quite involved with the process, actively campaigning for their side of the debate.

11 ESSAY FORMAT INTRODUCTION End with a strong thesis statement: –topic + main idea + support (3 reasons) –clearly and succinctly state your claim or argument (What is your position?) –clearly and succinctly announce your 3 reasons Topic + Main Idea + Support. LDA + Should be lowered + because. LDA + Shouldn’t be lowered + because.

12 ESSAY FORMAT BODY 3 Body paragraphs 1 reason per paragraph 1 (at least) example per reason

13 ESSAY FORMAT BODY 1)NAME the reason: –Topic + Main Idea + Reason #? 2)EXPLAIN the reason: –“That is” or “In other words” 3)ILLUSTRATE the reason: –specific examples to illustrate this reason 4)JUSTIFY the reason: –“warrant statement” (“thus” or “therefore”)

14 ESSAY FORMAT BODY Begin each Body paragraph with a Topic Sentence: –refer to the previous reason (s) as you segue to this reason –repeat 2/3 of your thesis statement + this reason “name the reason” –“Another reason the death penalty should be enforced is its cruelty.” –* “In addition to its expediency and its cost- effectiveness, the most important reason the death penalty should be enforced is its cruelty.”

15 ESSAY FORMAT BODY Then, briefly explain the reason: –re-word it, clarify it –“explain the reason” –“In other words” or “That is to say” –the naming and the explaining should consist of no more than 3-4 sentences –so...be brief

16 ESSAY FORMAT BODY Support that 1 reason with specific and relevant examples (It is the Example essay!): –be specific: somebody doing something concrete details –be relevant: examples should be clear, pertinent, germane, related to the reason/point –“illustrate the reason” –TRANSITIONS: “For example” or “For instance”

17 ESSAY FORMAT BODY End each Body paragraph with a Warrant Statement: –“Thus,” “Therefore” –relate the evidence back to your point, to your topic sentence –justify this example: Why is it relevant to your point? How does it help prove your reason? SO WHAT?!

18 ESSAY FORMAT CONCLUSION Refer to your opening. Repeat your thesis and main points. One last chance to persuade. Discuss where this issue is to go from here. End with an appropriate Clincher Sentence.

19 ESSAY FORMAT WORKS CITED proper header –last name-page number Works Cited: –centered –no, no, no, no all caps

20 ESSAY FORMAT WORKS CITED Follow the proper MLA format as described in your handbooks. –Pay especial attention to the MLA format regarding databases and Web sites. –Databases: original publishing information AND database information

21 ESSAY FORMAT WORKS CITED Alphabetically arrange all sources. Reverse Indent all sources. For longer URLs to fit on the lines, hit “enter” after a slash. For database URLs, stop after the “.com.”

22 ESSAY FORMAT Consult the “Outline Template” available on our WebCT site under the “Example Essay”

REMINDERS

24 REMINDERS Argue one side of a particular issue. –Make a claim. Should be lowered. Should not be lowered. –Support that claim with your 3 best (more persuasive, significant) reasons. –Back up those reasons with specific examples.

25 REMINDERS Example Essay = “reasons”: –No “history lessons” in the Body paragraphs. This is the place for your reasons only. –This is not a “types” essay: Classification: types of mental illnesses, of STDs, of rape… –Rather, it is a “reasons” essay.

26 REMINDERS Do not end a paragraph with another’s words or ideas. –This is your essay. –Thus, you are using researched evidence to support your ideas. –You are not summarizing the issue or the research. –Always end with a “warrant statement.”

27 REMINDERS Lead-in verbs should be in the present tense: –claims, asserts, points out –NO “says” because of the print medium Put “quotation marks” around direct quotes. Use direct quotes or paraphrase—do not “ride the fence.” –Either quote the original in its entirety OR put it completely in your own words.

28 REMINDERS PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS : –* the purpose is to get the reader to your Works Cited page so do not interfere with the flow of the essay so keep it short –*the 1st item on the bibliographic line: author, article –*and the page number or “subheading” –period comes after the parentheses –if the author’s name is not in the sentence, put it in the (Smith 89) –if no author’s name is given, then attribute the article to “the unnamed” or “the anonymous” author –as part of your lead-in, mention the credentials of your source (Ethos)

29 REMINDERS PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS: –if your source is an online article or Web site (note the spelling!), put in the ( ) the “subheading” or “subtitle” under which your information appears. –only a space between the author and the page number or “subheading” (no punctuation) –truncate: only the author’s last name shorten long titles no URLs –(Smith 89) or (Smith “Smoking: Effects”) or (“Smoking: Effects”)

30 REMINDERS CITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31 Legal Drinking Age MUST BE 18 YEARS OLD TO DRINK MUST BE 21 YEARS OLD TO DRINK

32 Legal Drinking Age 21 vs VS.