argumentative synthesis essay on the topic of hate crimes or
hate crime laws in the United States that incorporates a
minimum of four sources from the
approved list of Unit 2 readings. You are absolutely
required to incorporate a minimum of four
of the sources from our Unit 2 reading list. After learning about the topic, you must narrow your focus
to something manageable by
focusing on a particular aspect of the debate about hate
crime laws. Next, your essay should
bring the sources you choose into conversation with each
other in order to present and
showcase multiple perspectives on the topic. Your synthesis
essay must also present and
develop your perspective of the issue (your thesis) within
the context of this larger ongoing
discussion. Finally, your paper must be presented in proper
MLA format, including proper in-
text citations and a properly-formatted Works Cited page
(the works cited page is not included
in the total minimum word count). Lastly, this paper must
not use first-person (“I,” “me,” “my”)
or second-person (“you,” “your,” “yours”) pronouns.
Synthesis Essay: Approved Articles:
These are the approved readings for the Unit 2 essay
• “Hate Crimes: Are Hate
Crime Laws Necessary?” Located in the Issues & Controversies
database. Enter the title or “Hate Crime Laws” into the database’s
search bar. Note:
There is an extensive list of sources listed at the bottom
of this article that will be
helpful if you choose to conduct additional research on
your topic.
• “Hate Crime/Thought Crime.” By Jesse Larner. Published in
the magazine Dissent (2010).
Located in the Academic Search Complete database.
• “Hate Crime Laws: Punishment to Fit the Crime.” By
Michael Lieberman. Published in
the magazine Dissent (2010). Located in the Academic Search
Complete database.
• “Jesse Larner Replies.” By Jesse Larner. Published in the
magazine Dissent (2010).
Located in the Academic Search Complete database.
• Any of the articles from The New York Times “Room for
Debate” series and document on
hate crime laws that’s posted to Canvas in the Unit 2 learning
module.
• “Hope-Fulfilling or Effectively Chilling? Reconciling the
Hate Crimes Prevention Act with
the First Amendment.” By Carter Coker. Published in the
Vanderbilt Law Review (2011).
Located in the Academic Search Complete database.
Peer-Reviewed Source.
• “Understanding Hate Crime Statutes and Building toward a
Better System in Texas.” By
Ben Gillis. Published in the American Journal of Criminal
Law and available through the