I am a snowy afternoon

• READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS once again to be sure you have written your essay as required BEFORE final submission.
• Please review the texts, including: Introductions for essays, the documentation texts, and especially for the rhetorical strategy (or strategies) you have chosen, AND consider using the Checklist for essays (link below) and read the instructions and guidelines here in the submission area.
• Your essay should be approximately 750-1250 words (approx 3-5 pages), with at least 3 credible sources, at least one of which must be from the library database. Generally, this means at least one credible source for each point. Of course, more sources are always better.
• Your first para (the introduction) should explain the issue and its significance, engage the reader (make the reader feel compelled to read your argument), and explain clearly in your thesis what particular approach (i.e., strategy or strategies) you are using and the reason for it, and (most importantly) exactly what you are discussing and arguing (i.e., why these particular things).
• Remember: your thesis statement should be specific; do not say something like “many things,” “there are ways,” etc. Specifically, say something like “many important aspects,” “the major points,” etc.
• Your essay should address at least 3 significant points (but no more than 5) with proper supporting evidence and documentation to prove those points. One of the best approaches is to make a point, present evidence to support it, and then analyze that evidence to demonstrate to the reader just why the source evidence makes your points.
• At least one source must be from the library database.
• Your essay should at least acknowledge the opposition. Of course, if you can rebut it, thats even better.
• You should have a concluding paragraph that clearly summarizes your essay and references the argument presented in your thesis, possibly even leaving the readers with something to think about, a call to action, etc.
• You need to use MLA documentation, not APA. Refer to the texts in the documentation item (e.g., MLA guidelines, citing sources, or the OER on MLA) for the proper formatting of each source. Of course, using your Annotated Bibliography sources makes it easy.
• NOTE: the Library database has a cite this source area for each source it includes, and some websites have a cite this source area at the end of the article. Just be sure to pick MLA formatting (since the default formatting that will appear is APA).

A few additional points:

• You can use individual or personal examples to relate to the reader (i.e., pathos), but you must back these up with credible information.
• For ex: you use an example of a poor single mom you know struggling to feed her children; then you note that, according to the Dept…, approx 5,000 women are in the same situation in Maryland, etc.
• Be careful if arguing an issue yet developing; keeping current w/credible sources can be challenging.
• While sports, fashion, and cars are often popular comparison and contrast topics in many venues, I would avoid comparing two sports teams, two fashion designs, or two vehicles and concentrate on more weighty issues. You could, however, develop an argument @topics as whether todays fashion is more practical or professional than fashion of years ago or simply more costly; whether hybrid cars or traditional cars are actually better (e.g., initial cost, maintenance, fuel efficiency, environmental impact, usefulness to the average middle class family); or whether or not recent health or societal issues have positively or negatively affected areas like education, sports, business, etc.

PLEASE REMEMBER: if you attach a document, make sure it has been saved in WORD *.doc or *.docx or PDF format; if you use any other format, use copy and paste. If I cannot read it, I cannot grade it.

*** Use this area for your FINAL REVISED ESSAY ONLY. ***

I will grade the last submission as your masterpiece.

Your essay should include the following at the very beginning before any text (does not have to be a separate page):

<Title of your paper>

<your name>

<course name: EGL-1010, RD02>

<instructor name: Anthony DeBartolomeo>

<date, either the day it is due or the day you submitted it>