Essay Prompt:

This assignment should enhance the understanding of database usage and of writing within the MLA code begun with the Expository Essay. Students will have the opportunity to discover their own sources through periodicals (newspapers/magazines) database research to develop a stance that will act as a thesis (an argumentative claim) as they argue for a new way of viewing or a solution to and/or a course of action that should be adopted by institutions or by authorities or by society in general to address either the issue of Confederate/Controversial Statue/Public Art Removal or Increase of Positive Minority Representations in Film/TV in a 4-5 pp. paper.

Depending on your focus within the issue and your stance, set out to use research to first identify and narrate the problem/issue, then develop an argumentative claim (the argument you wish to prove), and provide reasons and evidence to support your claim/stance. Any possible counterclaims must also be both acknowledged and refuted to satisfy the demands of formal/academic argument.

You are arguing for a new way to look at the issue of Confederate/controversial public artworks, for a change in how we approach that issue, or for action to remedy (at least in part) that issue, so the recommendation for action you wish to suggest, which acts as your thesis and conclusion, should be in a [who?] should [do what?] because… formula, i.e.:

      The city of Washington, D.C. should remove all statues which glorify the Confederacy and the institution of slavery because those works intimidate and attempt to control our nation’s minority populations.

The above claim demonstrates a who variable [“Washington, D.C.”], a should do what variable [“remove all statues which…”] and a because variable [“because those works intimidate…”]. NOTE: It is not recommended that you argue for a lack of, a refrainment from, or for a negative action to occur, so that your thesis (argumentative claim) should NOT be in a [who] should not do/refrain from doing [what?] because formula, i.e., Washington, D.C. should not remove… Instead, if you do not support removal of these statues and/or public artwork, your thesis would read something like:

      Washington, D.C. should keep all its historical statues in place because there are more important issues to face, like poverty and healthcare, which directly impact all people’s lives.

Reflection Prompt:

Since your topic—your own Argument Essay—is already chosen for you, what you need to do is examine your process and report back on: 

• What your thought process was like going into this assignment: How did you prioritize the different aspects of this assignment? What was your logic behind that prioritization? Given that you are able to use the same (or a related) topic and some of the same sources, how is this Argument assignment different from your Expository Essay? Did you assume this assignment was going to be easy? Was it? Why or why not? 
• What your process was: Did you rely on past approaches, or try new approaches? If so, how successful were you in employing those approaches? How did you change/adapt your thesis? How did you test your thesis’ strength? Can you describe your current understanding of and/or your process for developing skills for writing within the MLA “code”? (Use the “MLA Requirements” handout as a guideline.) Similarly, can you describe your current understanding of and/or your process for developing skills with quote integration? Full source identification? In-text citation? Synthesis? Evidence recap? Address the following questions specifically: What is your general understanding of academic argument (not just Classical/Rogerian/ Invitational or Toulmin) and how did it affect your process/writing?
• What your review process was like: For what specific aspects of academic writing did you proofread and why? How did you respond to my or your peer’s suggestions on your first draft? Did you seek outside help from a tutor or the Writing Center? How did they help you? What suggestions did you try to adopt? Can you detail your proofreading process? Do you proofread for different elements all at once, or try to proofread different elements at different times (i.e., thesis strength and sentence clarity vs. spelling and punctuation)?