ESSAY

In your discussions, you have chosen a topic, composed a thesis statement, written an introduction, and added research. Now it is time to take your essay to the next level and complete a draft. For this assignment, draft at least 50% of your essay (600 words). Consider the feedback you have received from your peers and your instructor so far. Be sure your introductory paragraph includes your thesis. The draft should include at least two of the four or more sources you are using. The Final Essay instructions are available to download above.

Requirements for Draft of Critical Essay

• Minimum 600+ words (Abstract is not required for draft. Title page and reference page are not included in required word count)
• APA manuscript format with proper documentation
• Resources: must show at least two of the four required sources integrated into the text
• .doc, .docx, or .rtf files only

Critical Analysis Paper

For this assignment, you will write a 1200-word critical analysis based on one of the following topics inspired by readings in our textbook, The McGraw-Hill Reader. The paper will include quoting the text, as well as additional research from the library database or another approved and reliable source documented correctly in proper APA format. This paper requires writing in Third Person Point of View in a persuasive mode.

The abstract should be 100 words and the body (excluding the cover page and reference page) of the paper should be 1000 words. Be sure to use the template for a research paper that you created in Week One, and provide direct support from your sources. It would be best to use the readings from your textbook, but other reliable sources should also be used. At least three sources are required. Choose ONE of the following topics.

TOPIC SELECTIONS

Education Is education a right or a privilege?
History, Culture and Civilization What can history teach us?
Government, Politics and Social Justice Is America on the right road?
Business and Economics Is the American Dream still alive?
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion Are there still rules?

These are general topics meant to inspire further exploration and discovery of a narrower subject for your paper. Your essay should be persuasive and explore a debatable idea. See Idea Generators below and how the general topic of education as a right or privilege is narrowed to an examination of integration. Should integration necessarily translate into concrete gains like greater achievement for all students? If so, is mixing students by race the most effective mechanism for attaining it?

First steps for success:

1. Choose a topic
2. Read the essay with pen in hand
3. Underline or note an engaging quote or comment.

Now you are ready to begin!

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Education: Is education a right or a privilege? Overview: pages 180 - 181
Essays: The Next Kind of Integration, Emily Bazelton, pages 201-211
Two Cheers for Brown v. Board of Education; Clayborne Carson, pages 219- 225

History, Culture and Civilization What can history teach us? Overview: page 279
Essays: America's "Oh Sh*t" Moment, Niall Fergeson pages 291- 295
1776 and All That: America after September 11, Edward Hoagland pages 297- 299

Government, Politics and Social Justice Is America on the right road?
Overview and Declaration on Independence. pages 322- 329
Essays: ‘The Right Road to America?" Amy Chua pages 335 - 339
"American Dreamer" BharatiMukherjeee pages355- 360

Business and Economics Is the American Dream still alive? Overview: Page 372
Essays: "The Death of Horatio Alger" Paul Krugman pages 387 - 390
"Globalization: The Super-Story" Thomas L. Friedman, pages 391- 394

Philosophy, Ethics and Religion Are there still rules? Overview: Page 544
Essays: "What's Gof Got to Do with It" Karen Armstrong Pages 565- 568
"I Listen to My Parents and Wonder What They Believe" Robert Coles pages 560 -564
These essays are recommended but you may choose from others relevant to your topic, in the same chapter.

Sample Idea Generators

Education

In "The Next Kind of Integration" Emily Bazelon asks, "Is the purpose of integration simply to mix students of different colors for the sake of equity or to foster greater familiarity and comfort among the races? Should integration necessarily translate into concrete gains like greater achievement for all students? If so, is mixing students by race the most effective mechanism for attaining it?

After reading Emily Bazleon's essay and Clayborne Carson's "Two Cheers for Brown v. Board of Education" write a persuasive essay based on your position on the need for equality in race and socioeconomic factors in education.

History, Culture and Civilization

In "A World Not Neatly Divided" Amartya Sin states that "the befuddling influence of a singular classification also traps those who dispute the thesis of clash: To talk about the "Islamic world" or "the Western world" is already to adopt an impoverished vision of humanity as unalterable divided." Both Fatema Mernissi's "Digital Scheherezades in the Arab World" In a persuasive essay address the future of a diversified America. Can a nation maintain a strong sense of self and still remain open to outside influences? Is national identity crucial to a nation's survival? How would you describe America's national identity?

Requirements

• Persuasive Essay 1200 word minimum
• APA manuscript format
• Abstract and Title Page
• Resources (minimum four): At least one direct quote from chosen essay, two sources from the library database. Other sources may be from textbook, books or internet source.
• Microsoft Word Document
• College level academic writing in third person point of view.