Assignment
For your final paper in this course:
Write a persuasive essay with an arguable claim on any topic of your
choice. There are no restrictions on audience, purpose, voice,
number of sources, and other essay criteria we generally consider,
nor is there a requirement on the number of pages for this essay.
Do consider all that you have learned this semester to create and
design an effective argument that is well-supported. Please obtain
direct approval for your topic and essay type from me.
You may choose any 1 of the 5 essay types from the Continuum of Essay
Types: Closed to Open Forms handout which you have not yet used for an
essay in this course. Never be afraid to try something new. 
Re: Thesis as implicit theme and Thesis as speculation, often highly
personalizedI strongly encourage you to try an open form since our focus has been strongly
directed toward the closed forms (top-down thesis based with counterarguments
and delayed thesis prose) and “middle” form (thesis-seeking prose) throughout
most of the course.
If you enjoy creative writing and story writing, then this could very well be an
effective form for you! While you very likely will have researched your topic, you
will not necessarily incorporate documentation in this type of essay. If you use
sources for research, please include a separate references page at the end.
Format of Essays: All essays for this course must have a heading, title, and
references page. They must also be typed, double-spaced, and in a 12-point font
that is easy to read. You will be expected to carefully proofread for errors prior to
printing and before turning in any assignment to me as all aspects of mechanics
and written expression are considered in the grading process. I will not accept
incomplete papers.
Margins may not exceed one inch all around. GWRIT 103, your name, the date,
and the version number (for example, Essay 1.1, Essay 1.2, etc.) must appear in
the upper-left corner of the first page, single-spaced like this:
GWRIT 103
Your Name
Due Date
Essay Version
Title of Essay
Your essay starts here……..
The title of your essay should be placed one line down from the heading and
centered. All essays must have a title. The body begins 2 lines down from the
title and must be double-spaced throughout. Please do NOT place extra lines
between paragraphs. Please DO indent all new paragraphs. Please DO number
all pages of your essays. Follow the documentation procedures for MLA and APA
as indicated in your writing handbook. Each is used in different situations and
must be strictly adhered to throughout all of your essays. You need to be aware of
both and know when to use them.