Essay 2: The EXPERTS ESSAY: (3.5 -5 pages—100 points): Also known as the Analysis Essay. GIVE VOICE TO THE EXPERTS. This paper provides a more specific analysis of your topic by presenting the deeper issues and the vigorous debate surrounding the issue. You have read vastly about what these experts think about the topic, now gather their arguments together and assess the merits of each. Don’t forget to meet the page requirements. All essays with less than three pages of academic writing receive an F.
But don’t get caught up in YOUR point of view yet. Don’t reveal what you think SHOULD be the case; keep your analysis focused on what IS the case. Discuss what the experts say, not what you say. This paper is not only going to require sources but also some of your own perceptions about the quality of the arguments and opinions of the experts who have authored your source material. Let experts on both sides of an issue each have their say.
You will need to use at least 4 new sources in this paper, but no restrictions are placed on where you find those sources: find the best sources from whatever medium. You can use the sources from the Overview Essay, but there must also be four new ones.
The trick of this type of paper—and its trap—is to not get caught up in what you thought before, or what you think SHOULD be the case but to keep your analysis focused on what IS the case, and what the experts have to say. For example, you might think that pit bulls are dangerous monsters, but the reality you encounter when you research the experts is that they are not. Or maybe some experts report that they are killers and some report the opposite. Give voice to both.
Analyze the opinions of these experts. You are still “on the fence.”
Be sure to quote from individuals and organizations with differing opinions. The authors from the sources must not all agree. Again: you will need to use at least 4 new sources in this paper, but no restrictions are placed on where you find those sources: find the best sources from whatever medium. You can re-use the sources from the Overview Essay, but there must also be four new ones.
You DO need a Works Cited page for the Experts Essay
You DO need to upload a planning outline or diagram that you made before composing your essay, and that you used as you completed the essay.
You DO need to upload links and/or PDFs of each and all of the texts that you used. Whenever possible, it would be great if you could highlight or underline the passages you quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
See the following page for:
Checklist for EXPERTS Essay. Using the 5-part sandwich structure is not REQUIRED, but many of you are using it. The bold checklist items are related to that format.
________1MLA heading with correct formatting in every way
________2There is an original title, expertly written and in the right place
________3Intro paragraph opens with a strong “hook” that serves as an attention-getter
________4Student explains the background of the ethics debate that this topic has caused. The student transitions smoothly from there into the thesis statement. No sources in the intro. Use common knowledge. The thesis statement should state the purpose of the essay: to frame the debate.
________5The Thesis Statement is present at the END of the Intro, and it is not a question.
________6 This paper gives voice to strongly opinionated experts, but the paper itself and the student writer do not display extremely strong opinions. From the beginning and throughout, the essay’s writing and content has a logical, sequential flow.
________7 Essay is over three double-spaced pages
________8Each body paragraph follows the Sandwich Structure format in a plain and visible way. Anyone reading the essay could follow the 1-2-3-4-5 steps quite easily
________9 The first sentence of each body paragraph is a true topic sentence. Each topic sentence is brief, they announce the content of the paragraph, they make a simple argument, and they don’t contain details or titles of specifics texts.
________10 The second part of each body paragraph consists of introductory context. The student introduces the chosen text, including genre, author, title, and an overall summary, unless the text has been introduced already in a previous paragraph.
________11The third part of each body paragraph focuses on a specific passage of a text, and this passage is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased. The passage is introduced smoothly and responsibly. In the body paragraphs the student switches among direct-quote, summary, and paraphrase.
________12 In-text verbal citations featuring author names and relevant VERBS appear in each body paragraph. All work is cited and attributed. There is never any question about where a piece of information comes from. The student uses ALL THREE: 1) in-text citations 2) parenthetical citations 3) Works cited page citations
________13 Parenthetical citations featuring author names and page numbers appear in each body paragraph after the QSP’d text.
________14 The fourth part of each body paragraph contains 2-4 sentences of thoughtful discussion and explanation from the student. The student discusses the specific chosen QSP’d passage in order to prove the point that was made in the topic sentence.
________15 The final sentence of each body paragraph has the rhythm and feel of a concluding sentence. Each one of these final sentences connects back to the overall argument of the essay.
________16 Throughout the essay, the student writes for an audience who has not read the original texts. The student understands that they are not to “weigh in” yet; it’s not time to pick a side.
________17 The conclusion is a fully-developed paragraph. Student re-words the thesis, provides more discussion, and provides a “kicker” that seeks to make the essay more convincing and memorable.
________18 The essay is successfully submitted to Canvas, on time. PDFs/links of all source articles and texts used are uploaded. QSP’d passages are highlighted. ESSAY MAP of some kind is uploaded. The Works Cited page is correctly formatted and accurate in every way.
________19 There is no pattern of consistent errors to the writing. The student understands that writing is a process, and has made a serious, pro-active effort to work through any writing errors and issues such as grammar and usage.
________20 Punctuation and other typographical details have been thoroughly attended to.