On-campus English 101

Essay Assignment #1: Persuasion—Illegal Immigrants

• Value: up to 100 points

• Due: Beginning of class, Friday, April 28

• Peer Editing Workshop—Tuesday, April 25--attendance and participation with a completed rough draft yields 25 points.

• Format: MLA format (Please see the Sample Student Essay, pp. 289-291 in STWW for an example of formatting.

• Length: 400-500 words with the following content:

1. An introductory paragraph presenting the problem with a strong thesis sentence at its end.

2. Three to four effective reasons in support of your solution, each reason fully developed in its own paragraph.

3. A concluding paragraph recommending appropriate action.

· Sample Outline

Paragraph 1—Description of issue and thesis sentence

Paragraph 2—A first point for your position

Paragraph 3—A second point for your position

Paragraph 4—A third point for your position

Paragraph 5—A fourth point for your position (optional)

Paragraph 6—An elegant conclusion

Steps to follow:

___1. Review the results of your inquiry into the issue of What Should We Do About Illegal Immigrants?

___2. Choose what you think would be the most workable solution to this problem. The solution you choose can be your own or one you have encountered through your inquiry.

___3. Develop sound reasons in support of your position. You will need three to four reasons to create the body of your essay.

___4. Write your thesis sentence—in this case it will be that the solution you propose is the most workable.

___5. Begin drafting your essay, developing each reason fully in its own paragraph.

Note: Do not quote or copy from any source. Let the development of your reasons be from your own sense of reasonableness and logic. We’ll cover the art of blending other people’s words and ideas into our writing in the next essay.

___6. Create your introduction by clearly explaining the issue at hand.

___7. Draft a conclusion appropriate to your essay.

___8. Set your draft aside occasionally to develop some distance. Then return to your draft to revise it.

___9. Put your draft through at least three full revisions before our Peer Editing Workshop.

___10. Bring two copies of your revised draft to our Peer Editing Workshop and be ready to give and receive constructive, helpful reactions.

___11. Incorporate into another revision as many of your peer group’s comments as you think appropriate and revise again.

___12. Fine-tooth-comb your way through this revision to edit it.

___13. Review again MLA paper format—you can use the example on pp. 289-291 of STWW—to be sure that your final draft is in proper format.

___14. Submit your final draft by the due date.