English 1A: December 2013

Just like every other essay in this class, you are developing an argument in this one. In this essay, you will express your opinion on one of the following topics:

§ Poverty Stereotypes and how they keep us down

§ Student Loans and how they keep us down

§ Loss of Jobs and the current Living Wage and how those factors keeps us down

See a pattern? These are three reasons we are no longer able to achieve financial success in America. I want you to focus on one of these issues and suggest a solution to the problem. This essay isn't a test of how many ideas you can come up with because you have already proven that. This essay will focus on how clear you can express the few arguments you have, if you can apply PIE structure correctly and if you can make it all flow.

You will need to have a complete introduction with an attention grabber, statement of support and thesis. You will have three body paragraphs. Each paragraph will start with a “right-sized” topic sentence and they will all be perfect examples of PIE structure. Your essay is expected to have smooth transitions between paragraphs. You will end your essay with a conclusion and your conclusion will have a cliffhanger (a statement that makes your reader think) at the end.

Your essay will also include 2 quotes from the book The Rich and the Rest of Us. You may also quote any of the other sources used in class, article, videos, etc.

Don’t forget what you have learned about the power of description, metaphor and simile. These different elements can make your essay more dynamic. Be sure to proofread your essay.

Your essay will be 3 pages, typed, in MLA format and posted to your blog by December 22^nd, 11:59 pm. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Final Essay Outline Template

Introduction:

Attention grabber___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research you want to use______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Working thesis statement_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentences_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Illustration ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph 2:

Body Paragraph 3 (Solution):

Conclusion:

Cliffhanger_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please watch the video below by our next class meeting. (Please see finals schedule post for time and day)
Write a one page reflection by answering this: What information presented in this video most worries you about your college career (being a college student is a full-time job) and what do you think is most unfair?
Bring your writing to class so we can discuss it.

This video is bleak, dramatic and extremely bias but shares really great information. As critical thinkers and active citizens you want to analyze and test all information given to you. The video does stress two of the main points I want you to recognize; college debt is very bad; and if we continue to allow college costs to increase, we can no longer claim going to college will promise a better financial future. We will talk on the final class day about what I really want you to focus on and how you can make the best of your college experience and how to make better plans for after college.

Thank you, Lucas for sharing this video with me and now us!