ENG120 Cuyamaca Censorship of Books Essay

Double-Source In-Class Essay: Argument
Purpose:
In completing this assignment, students practice writing a well-developed, collegiate-level argument essay with a counter-argument and refutation.Students will also continue to practice essential reading and writing strategies: annotating, summarizing, incorporating quoted passages to support an argument, documenting quotes in MLA format, choosing precise words, including vivid details, and creating smooth transitions.In addition to practicing such skills, students will closely examine and develop an opinion about a topic related to the arts and culture in San Diego: graffiti as street art or gentrification.
Description of the Assignment:
For this assignment, turn in a collegiate-level argument essay documented in MLA format.In the introduction, begin with a hook, provide background information about the topic, and lead into the thesis–your argument about your chosen topic.Be sure to include at least two well-developed paragraphs supporting your argument and another paragraph in which you provide a well-explained counter-argument and convincing evidence to refute it.In all body paragraphs, include an average of three quoted passages or documented summaries from the texts provided in class.In the conclusion, remind readers of your argument and leave them thinking about the subject.
Prompt:
Considering the topics covered in our readings related to graffiti as street art and gentrification or urban areas, choose one and form an opinion about it.Then, employing the writing strategies and skills discussed and practiced in class, write a collegiate-level argument essay about your chosen topic.
In your argument, be sure to:
Include a thesis statement identifying your position on the topic. To develop your thesis, provide clear topic sentences/sub-claims/reasons.
Support your argument with evidence of and analysis from the provided texts, using correct MLA format for citations.
Address and respond to a counter-argument in your essay.
Directions:
Read and annotate the articles assigned as readings for class. (Be prepared to turn in your annotations for five (5) Preliminary Work points.)
Create an outline with the thesis, topic sentences, general statements of support (SOSs), transitions, and quoted/summarized passages to support the SOSs.The Outline is worth 10 Preliminary Work points.
Students may bring a rudimentary outline with ONLY the information listed above.
Be sure to include at least two well-developed paragraphs supporting your argument and another paragraph in which you provide a well-explained counter-argument and convincing evidence to refute it.In all body paragraphs, include an average of three quoted passages or documented summaries from the texts provided in class.Use MLA format to document your sources.
When writing, do so in pencil, SKIP LINES, and leave ?” margins throughout.
Extra credit points will be assigned to highlighted and effectively used rhetorical devices:
___ One example of purposeful alliteration
___ A creative comparison: a simile or metaphor
___ At least five sensory details/descriptive words
___ At least five action verbs
___ Dialogue or monologue to illustrate a point (this is different from quoted material from an outside text)
___ Short powerful sentence
___ Rhetorical question
___ Proper nouns–names, places, products
___ Purposeful repetition
Conclude your paper by reminding readers of your argument and leaving them thinking about the subject. Consider ending with a call to action.
Before submitting your work, highlight and label the following:
___ thesis statement
___ topic sentences
___ statements of support
___ counter-argument
___ rhetorical devices (see list above)
Note that up to five (5) Preliminary Work points are assigned for careful editing (in pen) of your work in class before submitting your final draft for a grade.
Slip the Instructor Evaluation Form (the final page of this packet), annotated articles, and your outline into your Blue Book before submitting your in-class essay for a grade.
Required Work–When preparing for the assignment, include the following:
___ An engaging hook
___ An introduction to the topic of the essay
___ A clear thesis statement, stating your argument and preparing the reader for the content of the essay
___ In body paragraphs that support your argument . . .
___ Clear topic sentence (highlighted)
___ General statements of support (highlighted)
___ Context to help set the stage for the quoted passage or summary
___ Signal phrase(s) to introduce new source(s) to the reader
___ An average of three quoted passages or documented summaries to support the topic sentence of the paragraph
___ An explanation of every quoted passage, relating how it helps support your argument in the topic sentence of the paragraph and/or the thesis of the essay
___ In the body paragraph that addresses the counter-argument
___ Clear topic sentence