Purpose In this assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to compose a

Purpose
In this assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to compose a well-organized and effectively-developed essay in MLA format. This essay should include a clear thesis statement, topic sentences to support the thesis statement, major details to expand on the topic sentences, and additional evidence to reinforce the major details.
Rhetorical Strategy Options
Exemplification – Exemplification uses examples to illustrate or explain a general point or an abstract idea.
Writing Topics
Topic selections will be provided by your instructor. Select one of the exemplification topics on this assignment sheet.
Three of the greatest challenges the United States faces today
Three positive role models for children
Three qualities that make a good law enforcement officer
Three skills that are valuable to employers
Three benefits of having a pet
Three medical inventions that have improved life for humans
Three of the worst disasters affecting the world
Three organizations that rescue animals
Three negative effects of rumors
Three positive effects of getting enough sleep
Requirements
Your essay must adhere to the following requirements for ENGL 1101:
Your essay must have at least five well-developed paragraphs
Your essay must adhere to all rules of format writing:
No contractions
No slang
No first person (unless narrative essay) or second person unless in direct quotes (Only 2nd person allowed in instructional process essays)
No addressing the reader directly (Only allowed in process essays)
No personal references or examples (unless narrative)
No statistics without proper reference
Your essay must have 950-1000 words
The introduction must have an attention-getting hook and effectively introduce your thesis statement
The thesis must be the last sentence of the introduction.
Each body paragraph must have an easily identifiable topic sentence, major and minor details, and transition words and phrases that correspond to the rhetorical strategy that you are following
You must format your essay according to the current 8th edition of MLA
One-inch margins, 12 point font size, Times New Roman font style, inserted page number
Please see the documents on BBL, MLA websites, the writing tutor, or your instructor for assistance with MLA formatting if you don’t know how to do something
If you are required to cite a source, make sure to use quotation marks around the cited material and include an in-text citation after the cited material
The in-text citation should correspond to a full source citation on the works cited page.
Thesis Statement
The thesis statement must make a point that the rest of the essay will support with examples and must identify the topic and the main point to be made about it.
Example: Despite the advantages of working from home, the limitations include family interruptions, motivational challenges, and lack of separation between work and leisure.
Example: Even though horror movies seem modern, three of the most memorable ones are adaptations of nineteenth-century Gothic novels Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Plagiarism
If you submit someone else’s words or change only a few words or copy someone else’s ideas without providing a parenthetical citation and quotation marks where applicable and a corresponding Works Cited page, you will receive a zero for plagiarism, and may be subject to disciplinary action based on WGTC Academic Integrity standards.
Essay Writing Tips
Here are some tips for you to produce a quality essay. Be sure to schedule several days to complete your essay, and work through the writing process carefully.
Choose a topic that interests you.
Brainstorm and compile your ideas about the topic. (Note: This is your prewriting.)
Based on your prewriting, draft a working thesis. Refer to the thesis statement lecture notes in Blackboard and Chapter 1 of your textbook if you need help. (Note: Avoid copying statements you find online. Most are average, C-level thesis statements.)
Gather all notes and any written assignments done to prepare for this essay, including secondary research.
Outline your main points, compare them to your thesis statement, and modify either your thesis or outline so they match. Revisit the essay prompt to be sure you are still on track.
Fill in the outline with supporting details, and add any relevant information from your research (Remember to cite all sources!).
Finalize and submit your outline based on instructor’s directions.
Begin the rough draft of your essay.
Submit your rough draft to UpSwing for extra guidance. Feedback can take up to 48 hours. Use feedback from your instructor and UpSwing to revise.
Proofread the final draft for grammar and MLA errors before finishing.
Submit your essay as instructed.
No Weak Thesis Statements
A thesis is weak when:
it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay (My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.)
it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side. (Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books.)
it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with or provides a dead end. (Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.)
the statement is too broad. (The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.)