POPC 1650: Media& Culture Essay Assignment

For our purposes an argumentative essay is defined simply as "highly persuasive writing."  Such an essay assignment requires a student to investigate a topic, collect, generate, and evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.  Argumentative essays often call for extensive research that allows students to learn about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that they may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected.  Perhaps the most important element of any argumentative essay is a clear, concise, and defined thesis statement

The structure of an argumentative essay should follow this basic format:

• The writer will establish a topic. This may be an important issue or problem that demands attention or a subject that needs exploration.
• The second step is to support your thesis statement with strong research and analysis from primary and secondary sources. You should consider all points of view that both support or counter your position.
• The writer should deliver the best solution for the problem to be resolved or demonstrate why their arguments trump opposing attitudes.

POPC 1650 essays should contain the following elements:

• The paper will be typed double-spaced. It must include a unique title.
• Students must cite their research within the body of the essay (MLA style is preferred)
• A works cited page must be included on the final page.
• Students must refer to at least 4 primary sources within the body of the essay. Please note that Wikipedia is not yet recognized as an acceptable reference for college-level essays. Please make use of the Browne Popular Culture Library on the 4^th floor of the Jerome Library.
• Essays are to be approximately 7-8 full pages.

Students are free to choose their subject for the essay.  You are only limited in the sense that the subject must be related to the areas of mass media and American popular culture.  You must have the subject approved by the Instructor.  You may choose to write on any subject we shall be dealing with during this semester.  You may also choose to address related subjects, such as the publishing industry, that are found in the textbook but that we will not be discussing this summer.  Students are encouraged to turn completed rough drafts to the Instructor if they wish their work to be critiqued prior to the final due date.  I shall review these drafts and return them to students for any needed revisions.