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Prof Heiss
Essay #1 - Writing about Topics that we are Passionate about.
For your first essay, you are being asked to write about a topic that you have a passion for or
connection to, and displaying your knowledge of the topic as well as developing an opinion
about a controversy within the subject area.
For this essay, you will be required to submit a proofread, original piece of writing that expresses
your own ideas and shows off the research you have done about this topic. Please refrain
from using AI in the writing of this essay. Essays that are found to have used AI or any
other LLM will be graded a 50 with no chance for revision.
Essay #1 will be scored out of 100 points
Section 1: Thesis Statement Organizer (10pts)
FIrst, include a Completed Thesis Statement Organizer at the top of your document.
Begin your submission with a Thesis Statement Organizer, using the format provided in class
and using the template.
Topic
Subtopic
Research Question
Thesis Statement
Section 2: The Essay (90pts)
●​ Word Count: 1350-1500 Words (Not including your header and works cited/references
pages)
●​ Broken into four parts. Please divide your piece into the four parts. Do not combine into
one solid narrative essay.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE ASSIGNMENT SHEET FOR ESSAY 1, FOUND IN MODULES
Part 1: Informing your reader about the topic.
●​ 250 -500 words
○​ 2 sources used
○​ 3rd PERSON POV ONLY
○​ In your own words (using formal academic style), explain what your topic is. Do
whatever kind of explanation or world building that you need to in this subject so
your reader knows exactly what they need to, so when they get to Part 2 and Part
3, they have the background and context necessary to understand why Part 2 is
important and Part 3 matters.
●​ Use at least 2 Academic sources or 1 Academic and 1 Trade source in this section to
support your knowledge. You may directly quote or paraphrase.
○​ We may be knowledgeable in this topic, but we need to provide the reader with
sources that support/explain/display what we know so the reade doesn’t just
have to take our word for it.
■​ Remember: Developing Authority
PART 2: HISTORICAL FIGURE (2A) OR HISTORICAL MOMENT (2B)
●​ +/- 500 words
○​ 2-3 source used
○​ 3rd person POV ONLY
●​ CHOOSE EITHER PART 2A or PART 2B
○​ Make sure this is clearly marked in your header for Part 2:
●​ For Part 2, you will be displaying your research skills for your reader, to show that you
have the background knowledge necessary, to display your research skills, and to show
your judgement of “what is important.”
○​ Part 2 asks you to choose either (2A) a notable Historical Figure having to do
with your topic, OR (2B) a notable historical event that marks an important
breakthrough, event, or period in the topic.
●​ For this section, you should be using 2-3 outside sources. You may use a
combination of academic/scholarly and non-academic “Good” sources to complete this
section.
●​ Topics:
●​ 2A - Choose a prominent figure from history or today in your chosen topic/field.
○​ Explain who the person is, what their relation/importance to the field is, and why
they are worth being mentioned.
■​ What is a notable accomplishment of this person and/or how did they
Impact/ change the field in a meaningful way
●​ Part 2B - Choose a moment/period of your topic’s history that had an impact on
history and/or society.
○​ Choose a specific chronological event that has importance to the topic or the
field.
■​ Explain what the event was, who the people involved were, why this event
was meaningful, and how it changed the field and the world going
forward.
●​ How did this impact the field, and/or How did this affect society?
●​ What came from this event?
PART 3: DEBATES WITHIN THE TOPIC/FIELD
●​ +/- 500 WORDS
○​ 2 sources used
●​ For Part 3, you will be taking a position on one contemporary discussion within the field.
CHOOSE A CURRENT/CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSION/DEBATE/DISAGREEMENT
CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITHIN THE FIELD.
1.​ First, Inform the reader of the current debate. Inform them of the topic of the debate and
what the two (or more) sides are arguing.
Use 1 source that discusses this debate. It doesn’t have to take a position - just use the
source to inform the reader of the debate.
i.​ This is most likely coming from a Non-Scholarly “good” source (either
trade, journalism, or popular)
2.​ Second, take a position: What side are you on? What is your take?
i.​ Explain what your opinion is or position?
1.​ Why are you on the side that you are?
a.​ What is right about the side you have chosen?>
b.​ What is wrong about the other side(s)?
ii.​ How did you come to this position?
1.​ What experience did you have that led you to this position?
You should use 1 Non-Scholarly “good” source for this.
PART 4: FINAL TAKEAWAY
●​ 100-200 WORDS
●​ Assuming you have done all of the other parts, you should have now developed the
authority needed to have your own opinion about the subject without needing to support
it. You can provide suggestions for the future, demands for the community (readers), a
call to action, or any kind of wish list. You have built the authority to have your own
opinions.
●​ In this last part, 100-200 words, provide any final thoughts or takeaways.
○​ 1st PERSON POV ONLY - THIS IS YOU TALKING TO THE READER
DIRECTLY
Make mention of an aardvark