Assigned: Monday, February 22
Due Date: Thursday, March 10
Social Responsibility: Outside of Class Synthesis Essay
The Prompt:
America has, since our nation’s beginning, found strength in its unique ability to support both the individual’s rights and those of
society. This has historically fostered a discussion of when, how, and to what degree its individual members are responsible for
upholding the community. Where does our responsibility begin and end, for ourselves, for our neighbors, our fellow Americans,
our fellow man? What should be considered in making these decisions?
Consider the relationship that individuals have to the community. Then synthesize information from at least three of the
sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that examines the factors that should be considered in
determining community responsibility, and giving precedence to either the individual or the community.
Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the
sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may
cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.
Source A (Steinbeck)—for the purposes of this class, you must use Steinbeck as a major source
Source B (Hardin)
Source C (Etzioni)
Source E (Sanders)
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The Essay:
 Construct a thesis that is structured in a compound or complex sentence, using a subordinating conjunction or a
conjunctive adverb. The thesis should present your assertion of the factors you are arguing are most relevant and
important in considering community responsibility and the emphasis on the individual or the community (with depth and
complexity.)

Construct topic sentences for your argument-ideas. Throughout the essay, use the transitions appropriate for an
argumentative essay: Certainly, However, Furthermore, Therefore, and others from your lists. These are not
paragraphs, just parts. Do not introduce a paragraph with a source. Let your argument frame the use of the source.

Use evidence from the sources to create your argument. Synthesize both ideas and examples from the sources. Argue
with them, agree with them, extend them with outside examples, make them argue and agree with EACH OTHER.
Discuss them, and create your argument. DO NOT summarize them….if you don’t argue here, you don’t answer the
prompt. You fail the task.DO NOT STRUCTURE EACH PARAGRAPH AROUND THE SUMMARY OF A SINGLE
SOURCE.

Turn back and interact with sources. Do not mention them and move on. The sources only need to speak as a means to
developing YOUR argument, which is central. Therefore, you need to have the “last word” throughout the conversation.

Document your evidence by using the author’s last name or Source ___ to introduce, or use parenthetical citations such as
(Steinbeck) or (Source A) at the end of the sentence that contains, a quote or paraphrase. Remember, the period goes
AFTER the parenthesis.

Conclude your essay with YOUR truly CONCLUDING thoughts, the big, tough ideas that result from the big, tough,
sophisticatedly thought-out argument you constructed. This is a complex topic, and has many controversial points. Get to
a social commentary that asserts YOUR position.
**The Format:
 4-6 full pages
 Double spaced (entire paper)
 1 inch margins
 12 point Times New Roman (ONLY…no
exceptions)
 Original essay title
 Name, date, and period/Tharp as a HEADING
 Begin essay one double space after heading
 Works Cited at the end of the paper
Late papers will suffer a 10 point deduction per day up
to 3 days, at which point I will no longer grade the essay.
Failure to satisfy the 4 page length requirement will
result in a beginning grade of 69.