ESSAYS #4 and ESSAY #5—English 1A
Dr. Leiby
Spring 2016
Essay #4 will be a research paper that presents an argument about a problem or problems
with the educational system (either in the U.S., or, if you like, in another country) and concludes
with at least one paragraph that posits a solution or solutions to the problem(s). Essay #5, a
major research paper of 5-7 pages, double-spaced, will be a revised, expanded version of
Essay #4, with at least two pages devoted to proving that the proposed solution or solutions
will indeed begin to solve the problem(s). Both essays must include the following:
1. The research paper should present a thesis that is specific, manageable, provable, and
contestable—in other words, the thesis should offer a clear position, stand, or opinion that
will be proven with research. You should analyze and prove your thesis using examples
and quotations from a variety of sources.
2. You need to research and cite from at least five sources. You must use at least three
different types of sources, all of which should be reputable ones suitable for an
academic research assignment.
o At least one source must be from an ECC library database (such as JSTOR Arts
and Sciences, ProQuest, EbscoHost Academic Search Elite or MasterFILE
Premier, Newspaper Source, ERIC, or Professional Development Collection).
o At least one source must be a book, anthology or textbook.
o At least one source must be from a credible website, appropriate for academic
use.
o The paper should not over-rely on one main source for most of the information.
Rather, it should use multiple sources and synthesize the information found in
them.
3. The paper will be approximately 5-7 pages in length (may be longer), not including the
Works Cited page, which is also required. This means at least 5 full pages of text. The
Works Cited page does NOT count towards length requirement.
4. You must use MLA format for the document, in-text citations, and Works Cited page.
5. You must smoothly integrate quotations and paraphrases using signal phrases and
analysis or commentary (the “sandwich method” to avoid “dropped” quotations).
6. You must sustain your argument, use transitions effectively, and use correct grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
7. Your paper must be logically organized and focused.
8. You should highlight on Essay #5 all content changes you made from Essay #4 and
attach beneath it the graded Essay #4. (Grammar corrections must be made in pen on this
original, graded copy of Essay #4, as well as made electronically on the final version of
Essay #5.) Do not highlight the new solution section (usually the last pages of the paper).
9. You must include with your essays peer review and Writing Center drafts, as well as
attach to your essays photocopies or print-outs of pages from all sources used (other
than the essays from The Mercury Reader or class handouts) with the author/title clearly
identified at the top of the first page (circled or highlighted) and the paraphrased and
quoted material highlighted or underlined on these photocopies or print-outs. Staple each
source separately and put them in alphabetical order as on the Works Cited page. Only
include copies or print-outs of new research and new peer reviews for Essay #5 (that is,
materials you did not submit with Essay #4), and submit your paper to Turnitin.com.
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Topic Selection. You may take a specific or a broad approach to this assignment, focusing on
one particular aspect of education at one level or on a broad issue affecting one or more levels.
For example, you might argue that parents are not allowed enough input into or control over their
children’s education at the primary level of public schooling, which lessens the chances that
elementary school children will succeed in later years; thus, you could propose a plan for more
parental involvement in elementary education, including the option of school choice. Or you
could argue that community colleges are not preparing students adequately to succeed at the
university level (too many drop out before completing four-year degrees), and thus the
community colleges need to raise their standards and use different teaching and counseling
strategies to ensure that their students can transfer to and graduate from major universities.
Consider choosing a topic related to education in which you have a personal stake, one that
matters to you and/or to your community. Before drafting your essays, you will first need to do
some preliminary research on your topic to discover various experts’ and groups’ perspectives
(for example, experts writing in teaching or counseling journals, teachers’ unions such as the
NEA or AFT, parents’ groups such as StudentsFirst or the national PTA, and commentators from
a variety of political positions). Decide where you stand in relation to these philosophies about
education. Which ones (or aspects of them) would be useful for articulating the problem you see
and the solution(s) you think might be feasible? Then begin to formulate your own position, your
own vision of what education should be and do, as you find evidence to support your stance.
Content and Organization. For your essays, you are to assume a college-educated audience,
but one uninformed on the problem. Thus, you must provide your readers with some
background information before presenting your thesis. Your thesis should appear early on in
your essay (at the end of the introductory paragraph) and should present an argument on both
the problem and the solution. You will need to provide enough detail to prove that the
problem does indeed exist and (primarily in Essay #5) that your solution is feasible, that it is the
best strategy. You must provide adequate evidence of the problem, discuss the effects of the
problem, as well as examine the causes of the problem before positing solution(s). In addition
to examples and cause-effect, you may use any combination of other methods of development
that you consider effective (narration, description, definition, comparison/contrast, analysis, and
so forth). For Essay #5 you will need an adequate transition between discussion of the problem
and the solution(s) you propose, as well as a conclusion paragraph that wraps up the entire
essay; also, be sure to revise your original Works Cited page from Essay #4 to include additional
sources used in the final version of your essay (Essay #5).
Due Dates.
Topic and Tentative Thesis (claim with reasons) for Essay #4 Due: March 11.
Research Questions and Plan Due: March 25 Works Cited page of Essay #4 Due: April 8
Outline of Essay #4 Due: April 8 (bring 3 paper copies or a file on flash drive).
(Peer Review) Draft of Essay #4 Due: April 15 (bring 3 copies or a file on flash drive).
Final Draft of Essay #4 Due: April 18 (include all research materials and drafts)
(Peer Review) Draft of Essay #5 Due: May 2 (bring 3 copies or a file on flash drive).
**Essay #5 and Portfolio Due: May 4 (unless you request and receive an extension).
Please Note: Conferences for Essay #4, when the essay will receive a preliminary grade and be
returned to you with suggestions for portfolio revision, will take place from April 21 to May 2.
Because both graded and revised essays must be submitted in the portfolio, which is due on
May 4, you should complete Essay #4 by April 18 and have a conference on it by May 2.
**PLEASE REVIEW THE SYLLABUS FOR IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL
GUIDELINES ON ESSAY #5 AND PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION**