RESEARCHED ILLUSTRATION

ESSAY(a.k.a. Example Essay)

2

2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

3

ASSIGNMENT• Write a journal on AYK regarding a

presidential candidate.

• Then, research that particular person.

• Research = – official Web sites– our college library’s databases – (NO Wikipedia)

4

ASSIGNMENT• Then, in a Classic Illustration/Example

Essay, you will argue for or against ONE of the remaining (as of 2/1/08) contestants.– For whom should you vote?– For whom should you not vote?

• Specifics on the format are below.

5

DATABASES• Britannica Online

• Biographies Plus (Wilson Web)

• CQ Researcher

• Opposing Viewpoints

• EBSCO

• History Reference

• Lexis-Nexis

• Ethnic Watch

• Gender Watch

depts.luzerne.edu/library

6

OFFICIAL Web sites• http://mccain.senate.gov

• http://www.ronpaul2008.com

• http://www.mikehuckabee.com

• http://obama.senate.gov

• http://clinton.senate.gov

• “Their Works, Their Wishes, Their Words” (decent & recent newspaper article: online)

7

CANDIDATESREPUBLICANS

Sen. John McCain Rep. Ron Paul Gov. Mike Huckabee

8

CANDIDATESDEMOCRATS

Sen. Barack Obama Sen. Hillary Clinton

9

ESSAY FORMATINTRODUCTION

• Introduce your subject.– Generalization *– Quotation– Question– Quip– Statistic

• Get us on the topic of the 2008 presidential elections.– Lately, no matter where we turn, we are

inundated with coverage of the 2008 presidential elections.

10

ESSAY FORMATINTRODUCTION

• Narrow towards your thesis:– “some” – “others”– Some Americans are ignoring the issues, the

candidates, and the election process as a whole.

– However, other citizens are quite involved with the election process, either actively campaigning for someone or passively following the coverage.

11

ESSAY FORMATINTRODUCTION

• End with a strong thesis statement:– topic + main idea + support (3 reasons)– clearly and succinctly state your claim or

argument (What is your position?)– clearly and succinctly announce your 3 reasons

• For whom to vote (+ because).

• For whom not to vote (+ because).

12

ESSAY FORMATBODY

• 3 Body paragraphs

• 1 reason per paragraph

• 1 (at least) example per reason

13

ESSAY FORMATBODY

1) NAME the reason: – Topic + Main Idea + Reason #?

2) EXPLAIN the reason:– “That is” or “In other words”

3) ILLUSTRATE the reason:– specific examples to illustrate this reason

4) JUSTIFY the reason: – “warrant statement” (“thus” or “therefore”)

14

ESSAY FORMATBODY

• Begin each Body paragraph with a Topic Sentence:– refer to the previous reason (s) as you segue to this

reason– repeat 2/3 of your thesis statement + this reason

• “name the reason”

– “Another reason the death penalty should be enforced is its cruelty.”

– * “In addition to its expediency and its cost-effectiveness, the most important reason the death penalty should be enforced is its cruelty.”

15

ESSAY FORMATBODY

• Then, briefly explain the reason:– re-word it, clarify it– “explain the reason”– “In other words” or “That is to say”– the naming and the explaining should consist of

no more than 3-4 sentences– so...be brief

16

ESSAY FORMATBODY

• Support that 1 reason with specific and relevant examples (It is the Example essay!):– be specific:

• somebody doing something• concrete details

– be relevant:• examples should be clear, • pertinent, germane, related to the reason/point

– “illustrate the reason”– TRANSITIONS: “For example” or “For instance”

17

ESSAY FORMATBODY

• End each Body paragraph with a Warrant Statement:– “Thus,” “Therefore”– relate the evidence back to your point, to your

topic sentence

– justify this example: • Why is it relevant to your point? • How does it help prove your reason? • SO WHAT?!

18

ESSAY FORMATCONCLUSION

• Refer to your opening.

• Repeat your thesis and main points.

• Discuss where this issue is to go from here.

• End with an appropriate Clincher Sentence.

19

ESSAY FORMATWORKS CITED

• proper header – last name-page number

• Works Cited:

–centered

–no <u>, no <i>, no <b>, no all caps

20

ESSAY FORMAT

WORKS CITED • Follow the proper MLA format as described

in your handbooks.

–Pay especial attention to the MLA format regarding databases and Web sites.

–Databases: original publishing information AND database information

21

ESSAY FORMATWORKS CITED

• Alphabetically arrange all sources.

• Reverse Indent all sources.

• For longer URLs to fit on the lines, hit “enter” after a slash.

• For database URLs, stop after the “.com.”

22

ESSAY FORMAT• Consult the “Outline Template”

• available on my Web site

• under the “Example Essay”

• <http://academic.luzerne.edu/shousenick>

23

REMINDERS• Argue one side of a particular issue. –Make a claim. • For whom to vote.• For whom not to vote.

– Support that claim with your 3 best (more persuasive, significant) reasons.

– Back up those reasons with specific examples.

24

REMINDERS• Example Essay = “reasons”:– No “history lessons” in the Body paragraphs.

This is the place for your reasons only.– This is not a “types” essay:• Classification: types of mental illnesses, of STDs, of

rape…

– Rather, it is a “reasons” essay.

25

REMINDERS• Do not end a paragraph with another’s

words or ideas. – This is your essay.– Thus, you are using researched evidence to

support your ideas.– You are not summarizing the issue or the

research.

– Always end with a “warrant statement.”

26

REMINDERS• Lead-in verbs should be in the present

tense:– claims, asserts, points out– NO “says” because of the print medium

• Put “quotation marks” around direct quotes.

• Use direct quotes or paraphrase—do not “ride the fence.”– Either quote the original in its entirety OR put it

completely in your own words.

27

REMINDERS• PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS :– * the purpose is to get the reader to your Works Cited

page• so do not interfere with the flow of the essay• so keep it short

– *the 1st item on the bibliographic line: author, article– *and the page number or “subheading”

– period comes after the parentheses– if the author’s name is not in the sentence, put it in the

(Smith 89)– if no author’s name is given, then attribute the article to

“the unnamed” or “the anonymous” author– as part of your lead-in, mention the credentials of your

source (Ethos)

28

REMINDERS• PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS:– if your source is an online article or Web site (note the

spelling!), put in the ( ) the “subheading” or “subtitle” under which your information appears.

– only a space between the author and the page number or “subheading” (no punctuation)

– truncate:• only the author’s last name• shorten long titles• no URLs

– (Smith 89) or (Smith “Smoking: Effects”) or (“Smoking: Effects”)

29

REMINDERSCITE

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

30

CANDIDATES• John McCain• Mike Huckabee• Ron Paul

• Obama• Hillary Clinton