english 1 essay

For this week’s homework, you will write a rough draft of your essay 2. Your rough draft is due posted here by Sunday (NO LATE ESSAYS OR YOU WILL MISS OUT ON PEER REVIEWS). Please post it as a DOC or PDF file. Make sure it is in MLA format, so you the info provided under this week to set up the format correctly.  
For essay #2, you will be writing a “Working Thesis Essay,” as described in chapter 5 of TPRW. After reviewing your research essay prompt (essay 3) and the readings for this week, respond to the essay 2 prompt below.
WRITING PROMPT
Write a brief narrative essay where you discuss the topic you have decided to research and write about.  Tell your audience, your fellow classmates and your instructor how you arrived at this topic, some of the other ideas you considered in your brainstorming activities, and the working thesis you have settled on for the start of your project. Also, be sure to let us know about some of the initial library [or other online/credible] research you have found so far.
This is a short essay (approx. 750 words) that should be detailed, show evidence of significant thought and consideration, as also illustrate some research. However, this is not a research paper so quotes and a Works Cited page is not needed. This is more like your plan for your upcoming research essay (essay 3).
*Remember to read the whole essay 2 assignment prompt again so you are clear about the essay requirements.
 Working Thesis Draft _ PR (20) 
 
Correct SubmissionEssay draft is at least two pages, double-spaced, and uploaded on time as a DOC or PDF file.

*Comment on areas that are correct AND those that need to be fixed for the final draft.

MLA FormatEssay follows basic MLA formatting with: 1″ margins, centered title, name/instructor/course/date on top left side of page one only, headers. indented paragraphs, all font the same size/type, and double-spaced with NO extra spacing between any lines of the essay.

*Give feedback on strengths AND areas to improve.

CONTENT – ProblemEssay states the topic, why it was chosen, and how it was narrowed down to a specific problem.

*Give feedback on strengths AND areas to improve.

CONTENT – Working thesisSomewhere in the essay should be a clearly stated working thesis of what the student is planning to use in their research essay.

*Give feedback on where you found thesis (if you did), and its strengths or ways to improve.

CONTENT – SourcesSomewhere in the body of the essay the student should mention multiple (3 or more) credible sources they have found so far, and that they might plan to use in their research. Titles should be given, with authors and brief descriptions optional. Sources can include online articles, websites, books, people to interview, videos, and movies. [There should be NO quoting, other than for titles, – this is not the research essay!]

*Give feedback on strengths AND areas to improve.

OrganizationEven though this is a narrative, the essay should have a clear essay structure with: intro paragraph, body paragraphs that contain the required CONTENT items, and a conclusion.

*Give feedback on organization that it strong OR should be moved/rearranged.

Editing & StyleThis is a rough draft and does not need to be perfectly polished yet. However, areas to review are: wording should be clear and not too casual (no slang or abbreviations), sentences with capitalization and correct punctuation marks, correct spelling, and avoid wordiness and grammar mistakes.

*Give feedback on strengths AND areas to improve.
 
Essay 2 Assignment Instructions (Working Thesis Essay)
Final Draft Due: week 4 (see Canvas for due dates) Worth: 20% of your total grade
Rough Draft Due: week 3 (see Canvas for due dates)  
PURPOSE

To demonstrate critical reading and thinking skills
To illustrate the ability to formulate a strong and compelling thesis statement
To understand how to utilize pre-writing and revising techniques
To prepare an MLA-formatted essay to serve as a plan for a research essay
To illustrate how to take feedback on previous essay to improve in a subsequent essay

For essay #3, you will be writing a “Working Thesis Essay,” as described in chapter 5 of TPRW . After reviewing this prompt, the research essay prompt, and the sample essay(s), write your own MLA-formatted working thesis essay, following the instructions below:
WRITING PROMPT (read this) read this read this!
Write a brief narrative essay where you discuss the topic you have decided to research and write about.  Tell your audience, your fellow classmates and your instructor how you arrived at this topic, some of the other ideas you considered in your brainstorming activities, and the working thesis you have settled on for the start of your project. Also, be sure to let us know about some of the initial library [or other online/credible] research you have found so far.
Even though this is a short essay (approx. 750 words), it should be very detailed, show evidence of significant thought and consideration, as also illustrate that you have started your research by including several credible sources you have found. In addition, attention to the feedback you received on essay 2 peer reviews should be obvious with evidence of revision and editing on this essay.
*This essay is required to move onto essay 3 (the research essay). Students who change their topics for the research essay after writing this essay must first complete a new working thesis essay based on the new topic.