RESEARCHED ILLUSTRATION ESSAY a k a Example Essay

RESEARCHED ILLUSTRATION ESSAY (a. k. a. Example Essay)

2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2

3 ASSIGNMENT • Write a journal on AYK regarding your presidential candidate. • Then, research that particular person. • Research = – official Web sites – our college library’s databases – (NO Wikipedia, about. com, blogs)

4 ASSIGNMENT • Then, in a Classic Illustration/Example Essay, you will argue for your assigned candidate. – For whom should you vote? – Why should Americans vote for ___? • Specifics on the format are below.

5 CANDIDATES President Barack Obama Governor Mitt Romney

6 OFFICIAL Web sites • http: //barakobama. com • http: //www. mittromney. com/ • http: //elections. nytimes. com/2012/candidates/

7 DATABASES • • • Britannica Online Biographies Plus (Wilson Web) CQ Researcher Opposing Viewpoints EBSCO depts. luzerne. edu/library History Reference Lexis-Nexis Ethnic Watch Gender Watch

8 OUTLINE • INTRODUCTION – ends w/Thesis • REASON #1 – Name, Explain, Illustrate, Reiterate • REASON #2 • REASON #3 ** – most important reason • CONCLUSION – repeat + Clincher • WORKS CONSULTED

9 ESSAY FORMAT INTRODUCTION • Introduce your subject. – Generalization * – Quotation – Question – Quip – Statistic • Get us on the topic of the 2012 presidential elections. – Lately, no matter where we turn, we are inundated with coverage of the 2012 presidential elections.

10 ESSAY FORMAT INTRODUCTION • 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 FORMAT INTRODUCTION • 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 and why.

12 ESSAY FORMAT BODY • • 3 Body paragraphs 1 reason per paragraph 1 (at least) example per reason Emphatic Order

13 ESSAY FORMAT BODY 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 FORMAT BODY • 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 to vote for Candidate X is…” – * “In addition to her experience and effectiveness, the most important reason Candidate X should be President of the United States concerns …. ”

15 ESSAY FORMAT BODY • 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 2 -4 sentences – so. . . be brief

16 ESSAY FORMAT BODY • 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 FORMAT BODY • 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 FORMAT CONCLUSION • • 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 FORMAT WORKS CONSULTED • proper header – last name-page number • Works Consulted: – centered – NOT underlined, italicized, bold-faced – not ALLCAPS

20 ESSAY FORMAT WORKS CONSULTED • 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 FORMAT WORKS CONSULTED • 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 “Researched Illustration” page <http: //academic. luzerne. edu/shousenick>

23 REMINDERS • Argue only ONE side of a particular issue. – Make a claim. • For whom to vote. • Support that claim with your 3 best (more persuasive, significant) reasons. – Back up those reasons with specific examples. • Quotes, statistics, incidents, examples, plans

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 1 st 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”)

30 CANDIDATES DEMOCRAT President Barack Obama

31 CANDIDATES REPUBLICAN Governor Mitt Romney