Paper One: Anything Essay
Too much freedom can cause panic. Nonetheless, for your first paper, I am asking you to take a chance, choose your topic, and do your best to write an academic essay. Keep an open mind as you review the assigned readings and the comments on the message board. Make note of ideas that cause you pause and passages that you find particularly compelling. Look around you:
observe the world and choose something that you would like to explain, consider, or explore. The best way to begin is with a question or area of interest. As you write, share your exploration of the issue, allowing the reader to understand your process and respect your point-of-view.
Are you concerned about the schools in your neighborhood?
What do you think of the outlook for college students?
Is your neighborhood a place you enjoy living?
How do you compare aspects in your own life with those in our readings and/or around the world?
Is there an issue that affects you and those in your community? What should be done?
Has an artist or author shaped you as a student and writer?
Anything-as I said, this is an essay meant to serve a healthy inquiry into something that interests you.
Remember that this is college writing, however, and you must show an awareness of your audience. Once you have thought about the topic in terms of how it interests you, consider how you might make it compelling to others. In writing, please consider the "so what" question: how might this impact your audience. When showing each reader the whys and wherefores of an issue in their own lives, you will engage their interest and keep them reading.
This being said, this is an anything essay in terms of topic, but it is a specific essay in terms of process and academic guidelines.
Do not panic! By engaging in this process and communicating with me, you have a fine chance of writing an excellent paper. One word of caution: Although narrative writing may be used as a part of your essay (a hook, an example), this is an academic essay so be careful to avoid crossing into the creative writing genre.
Due date is posted on the syllabus.
Academic Requirements:
Show awareness of audience (engage your reader)
A thesis-driven essay supported through example and analysis (do not rush to a thesis, but as you write explore the issue and allow your understanding to emerge in connection with the information gathered through experience, observation, and outside sources) Share reflection on the points expressed and put them into conversation with each other as well as your own ideas Create an essay that can be followed by your audience so that your point will not be missed
MLA format and citation (as needed)
An essay of at least 3 pages in length
Objectives:
- Exploration of a topic with which you are comfortable
- Practice of academic form and tone
- Analysis of your experience in a way that supports your thesis
- Application of essay writing tools discussed in Chapters 1-5