RESEARCHED
ILLUSTRATION
ESSAY
(a.k.a. Example Essay)
ASSIGNMENT
3
ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC:
• Select a topic.
– as a class
– democracy rules
•
•
•
•
•
Death penalty
Drinking age
Health care reform
Abortion
Immigration …
4
ASSIGNMENT
AYK:
• Write a journal discussing “all you know”
regarding this topic.
– What you know before research.
• No more than 1 ½ pages.
• If you know much, be concise.
• If you know little, at least ½ page
5
ASSIGNMENT
RESEARCH:
• Then, research that particular side to which
you have been assigned.
• Research =
– official Web sites
– reliable, credible sources
– our college library’s databases
NO Wikipedia, about.com, blogs
6
ASSIGNMENT
ILLUSTRATION ESSAY:
• Then, in a Classic Illustration/Example
Essay, you will argue your side of the issue.
– Should it be lowered?
– Shouldn’t it be lowered?
• Specifics on the format are below.
7
DATABASES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Britannica Online
CQ Researcher
Opposing Viewpoints
EBSCO
History Reference
Lexis-Nexis
Ethnic Watch
http://www.kings.edu/Academics/library.htm
Gender Watch
ESSAY FORMAT
9
ESSAY FORMAT
INTRODUCTION
• Introduce your subject.
–
–
–
–
–
Generalization **
Quotation *
Question
Quip
Statistic *
• Get us on the topic of this debate.
– Lately, several college presidents have urged lawmakers
to reduce the legal drinking age in their respective
states.
10
ESSAY FORMAT
INTRODUCTION
• Narrow towards your thesis:
– “some”
– “others”
– Some Americans have ignored this issue, while
others have raised their voices on the matter.
– Some Americans are passively watching the
news coverage. However, other citizens are
quite involved with the process, actively
campaigning for their side of the debate.
11
ESSAY FORMAT
INTRODUCTION
• End with a strong thesis statement:
– topic + main idea + support (3 reasons)
– clearly and succinctly state your claim or
argument (What is your position?)
– clearly and succinctly announce your 3 reasons
• Topic + Main Idea + Support.
• LDA + Should be lowered + because.
• LDA + Shouldn’t be lowered + because.
12
ESSAY FORMAT
BODY
• 3 Body paragraphs
• 1 reason per paragraph
• 1 (at least) example per reason
13
ESSAY FORMAT
BODY
1) NAME the reason:
– Topic + Main Idea + Reason #?
2) EXPLAIN the reason:
– “That is” or “In other words”
3) ILLUSTRATE the reason:
– specific examples to illustrate this reason
4) JUSTIFY the reason:
– “warrant statement” (“thus” or “therefore”)
14
ESSAY FORMAT
BODY
• Begin each Body paragraph with a Topic
Sentence:
– refer to the previous reason (s) as you segue to this
reason
– repeat 2/3 of your thesis statement + this reason
• “name the reason”
– “Another reason the death penalty should be enforced
is its cruelty.”
– * “In addition to its expediency and its costeffectiveness, the most important reason the death
penalty should be enforced is its cruelty.”
15
ESSAY FORMAT
BODY
• Then, briefly explain the reason:
– re-word it, clarify it
– “explain the reason”
– “In other words” or “That is to say”
– the naming and the explaining should consist of
no more than 3-4 sentences
– so...be brief
16
ESSAY FORMAT
BODY
• Support that 1 reason with specific and
relevant examples (It is the Example essay!):
– be specific:
• somebody doing something
• concrete details
– be relevant:
• examples should be clear,
• pertinent, germane, related to the reason/point
– “illustrate the reason”
– TRANSITIONS: “For example” or “For instance”
17
ESSAY FORMAT
BODY
• End each Body paragraph with a Warrant
Statement:
– “Thus,” “Therefore”
– relate the evidence back to your point, to your
topic sentence
– justify this example:
• Why is it relevant to your point?
• How does it help prove your reason?
• SO WHAT?!
18
ESSAY FORMAT
CONCLUSION
•
•
•
•
•
Refer to your opening.
Repeat your thesis and main points.
One last chance to persuade.
Discuss where this issue is to go from here.
End with an appropriate Clincher Sentence.
19
ESSAY FORMAT
WORKS CITED
• proper header
– last name-page number
• Works Cited:
– centered
– no <u>, no <i>, no <b>, no all caps
20
ESSAY FORMAT
WORKS CITED
• Follow the proper MLA format as described
in your handbooks.
– Pay especial attention to the MLA format
regarding databases and Web sites.
– Databases: original publishing
information AND database information
21
ESSAY FORMAT
WORKS CITED
• Alphabetically arrange all sources.
• Reverse Indent all sources.
• For longer URLs to fit on the lines, hit
“enter” after a slash.
• For database URLs, stop after the “.com.”
22
ESSAY FORMAT
• Consult the “Outline Template”
• available on our WebCT site
• under the “Example Essay”
REMINDERS
24
REMINDERS
• Argue one side of a particular issue.
– Make a claim.
• Should be lowered.
• Should not be lowered.
– Support that claim with your 3 best (more
persuasive, significant) reasons.
– Back up those reasons with specific examples.
25
REMINDERS
• Example Essay = “reasons”:
– No “history lessons” in the Body paragraphs.
This is the place for your reasons only.
– This is not a “types” essay:
• Classification: types of mental illnesses, of STDs, of
rape…
– Rather, it is a “reasons” essay.
26
REMINDERS
• Do not end a paragraph with another’s
words or ideas.
– This is your essay.
– Thus, you are using researched evidence to
support your ideas.
– You are not summarizing the issue or the
research.
– Always end with a “warrant statement.”
27
REMINDERS
• Lead-in verbs should be in the present
tense:
– claims, asserts, points out
– NO “says” because of the print medium
• Put “quotation marks” around direct quotes.
• Use direct quotes or paraphrase—do not
“ride the fence.”
– Either quote the original in its entirety OR put it
completely in your own words.
28
REMINDERS
• PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS :
– * the purpose is to get the reader to your Works Cited
page
• so do not interfere with the flow of the essay
• so keep it short
– *the 1st item on the bibliographic line: author, article
– *and the page number or “subheading”
– period comes after the parentheses
– if the author’s name is not in the sentence, put it in the
(Smith 89)
– if no author’s name is given, then attribute the article to
“the unnamed” or “the anonymous” author
– as part of your lead-in, mention the credentials of your
source (Ethos)
29
REMINDERS
• PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS:
– if your source is an online article or Web site (note the
spelling!), put in the ( ) the “subheading” or “subtitle”
under which your information appears.
– only a space between the author and the page number
or “subheading” (no punctuation)
– truncate:
• only the author’s last name
• shorten long titles
• no URLs
– (Smith 89) or (Smith “Smoking: Effects”) or (“Smoking:
Effects”)
30
REMINDERS
CITE
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
31
Legal Drinking Age
MUST BE
MUST BE
21
18
YEARS OLD
TO DRINK
YEARS OLD
TO DRINK
32
Legal Drinking Age
• 21 vs. 18
18
21
VS.