Most Influential Americans Essay Assignment
Due Date: Thursday, May 9th
The requirements:
- 5-7 Pages
- APA Format (Title Page, Abstract, Body, References)
- Minimum 5 sources (2 Scholarly)
- Utilize the research databases provided on the school website.
Link to the OWL: Purdue Online Writing Lap Tutorial on APA formatting
and style
Instructions:
Read the Introduction provided by Atlantic Monthly: This task
will provide us with some important groundwork: A. what is influence? B. Why
gauge influence? C. Who are the top 10 most Influential Americans according to
the magazine’s panel? D. How do some of America’s greatest writers express
influence?
Our task, collectively, will be to discern our person’s
influence while also accounting for the areas of influence that may be
considered under-rated. The topic will be the thesis of your research paper.
Here is an example of a two sentence, divisive and arguable
thesis….
Despite the social madness that was “Beatlemania,” the
influence of these four young musicians from Liverpool goes beyond its social
significance. The Beatles lasting contributions to rock ‘n’ roll are more clearly
seen in their song-writing and album production.
This thesis evinces the extra step I am hoping for you to
take by NOT ONLY discussing the author’s two most significant influential
offerings, but also by explaining and debunking their social significance.
The project will allow you a minute glimpse in to the
awesome power of some of America’s greatest personalities. From politics to
entertainment, literature to science, sports to activism…Nobel Peace Prize
winners will square off against Academy Award winners. Cy Young Award winners
will take on Pulitzer Prize winners in a Battle Royale of American influence
waged right in our classroom.
This odyssey will allow you to unlock some of America’s most
exciting minds. Analyze some of our country’s defining moments and key players.
You will have a unique opportunity to critique valor on the battlefield, in the
boardroom or on the stage.
BUT BE SURE TO CRITIQUE…this is not a REPORT! You must
include your own arguments about the person’s influence.
Research Essay: Craft a well-developed argument; shape that
argument into a good thesis. Remember you are trying to prove influence,
not fame or importance. Back your argument with a combination of fact and
opinion. Devise claims for your argument based on the different types of
appeals. Make sure your sources are credible. Be sure the paper adheres to Purdue Online Writing Lab’s guidelines for research (APA style).
To get started, develop your research questions.
Start to narrow your focus on specific aspects of your person you will
choose to focus on. The more you fail to focus on aspects and fall to the
entire individual, the more you will run the risk of writing a REPORT, not
a PAPER. Find your angle.
Do lots of PRELIMINARY research (here's where your wikipedias
and Googles and all of the crummy sites you WILL NOT include in your
"works cited" come into play.
Once you have gained good insight, THEN turn to the OHS
databases and Google scholars to find CREDIBILTY of third party sources.
Based on this research, refine your thesis into a
clear, arguable thesis (or answer to your research question).
Into: Introduce your argument and your formal thesis.
Body: Background (the who, what, when and where of
your topic)
Then add specific paragraphs of support for your
thesis. Present information and a few quotations from your sources to
support your thesis.
• All information taken from sources needs to be
cited (not just quotations)
• Use APA system of in-text citations (see Purdue Online Writing Lab)
• Use quotations sparingly. Better to summarize information
in your own sentences and phrasing. Introduce all quotations with signal
phrases.
• Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and show unity.
• Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and show unity.
• Each body paragraph will contain at least a citation identifying where you got your information.
Include a formal reference page, following the models
I show in class and the APA style sample shown on the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
Be diligent and discerning,
please. Do not hesitate to ask questions. DO NOT CHEAT! DO NOT PLAGARIZE! DO
NOT PROCRASTINATE!
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