Social Issue Paper ELA 3-4H
Purpose: Research a social issue that plagues current American society, propose a solution
to this problem, and persuade your reader to act. General examples: distributive injustice,
gender inequality, divorce, racism, the technological divide, educational funding, etc. Pick a
topic that is personally interesting to you!
Steps to Success:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Pick a topic & have it approved
Write a topic proposal
Draft thesis
Draft works cited page
5)
6)
7)
8)
Draft a rough draft
Peer-Edit
Self-Edit
Compose final essay
Topic Focus: Your topic focus needs to be specific! If it is too broad you will have a hard time proposing
a realistic solution and persuading people to act on your solution.
Topic Selection: This is done on a first come, first served basis! You can start signing up this week.
No two people in the same class can have the same stance.
Topic Proposal: February 22nd ***Please see the separate handout for guidelines.***
Thesis: I will begin approving thesis statements on February 22nd.
Required Sources: You need a minimum of 3 different sources. You need at least one of each on the
list below:
1. Webpage (reliable)
2. Scholarly/Peer-reviewed Journal Article
Parenthetical Documentation: You need to correctly use the following in your paper:
o 3 direct quotes
o 3 paraphrases
Works Cited Page: February 26th You will draft a works cited page that follows MLA formatting—do not
use sites like “Son of Citation” or “Citation Machine, as they are generally unreliable.
 12 point legible font
 Correct MLA header
 Alpha order
 3-5 sources (you will only need 3 for your
final draft)
Rough Draft: March 7th
 Typed, with correct MLA heading
 Introduction that ends with an approved
thesis statement (bold your thesis)
 All of your body paragraphs that are 8-10
sentences in length with research
embedded
Final Paper: March 11th at midnight on Turnitin.com.
 Highlighted vocabulary words: @ least 5
from lessons 9-12
 Typed, with correct MLA formatting

(margins, heading, header, font size etc.)
 Introduction that ends with a thesis
statement

 2-3 body paragraphs: 3 direct quotes and
3 paraphrases correctly cited throughout

these paragraphs. Each body paragraph
should be 8-10 sentences in length.
 Conclusion that wraps up your main
points
Turnitin.com Final Paper is due March 11th by midnight.
Works Cited Page: must include all
sources used in your paper. You need a
minimum of 3 sources.
5 highlighted and correctly used
vocabulary words from lessons 9-12
Written in an objective 3rd person point-ofview
 Failure to submit your paper to turnitin.com will result in a 10% loss of credit for each
calendar day not submitted. Your paper will not be graded until you submit your paper to
turnitin.com.
Long-term Assignment
This is a long-term assignment!
Per the syllabus, all long-term assignments are due on the designated day regardless of the student’s absence or
presence at school that day.
Name:
Period:
Social Issue Essay Rubric: ELA 3-4 Honors
/10
/30
MLA Formatting: header, heading, spacing, etc.
Paranthetical Documentation
3 quotes (5 pts each)
3 paraphrases (5 pts each)
Correctly cited and include appropriate creative lead-in’s or exit
out’s (quotes)
Works Cited Page
/25
Follows MLA formatting
Includes all Cited Sources
Organization:
4
3
2
1
0
Development of Ideas:
4
3
2
1
0
Clarity of Language
4
3
2
1
0
Language and Conventions
4
3
2
1
0
Reading Comprehension of Key Ideas and Details
(Infusing Textual Evidence)
4
3
2
1
0
Total
/20
(x 5)
/100
***Please reference the Analytic and Narrative Writing Rubric (you were given this in class) to determine what each score
point category means.