This essay assignment requires you to demonstrate understanding of what you have read in the course. It requires you to take a position and support it using expert opinion (The Revel readings) by developing an analysis of the essay question.
Assignment:
Write an analytic essay by taking a position and support it using expert opinion (the Revel readings and the discussions, videos, presentations in class only). An analytic essay is a type of an expository essay , it begs you to formulate and defend a thesis, or argument (your argument).
Essay Question:
How would you explain the gap between rhetoric and reality in the idea of the American Dream? Do you believe in the American Dream? If yes, why? If not, why not?
INSTRUCTIONS:
This is an analytic essay-exam answer that is meant to be brief but well-reasoned and thorough examining a political behavior, phenomenon, policy, based on the Revel readings, not a research paper. It is not necessary
or even recommended, that you research beyond the course readings to complete it. But you should discuss the texts in some detail, and use short quotes when appropriate.
Length: 3 – 4 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman (12), 1 inch margins
STYLE: All references must be cited. Use in-text citation next to quotes or paragraphs with author’s last
Name and page number , e.g. (Nathan, p.25). In our case (Revel, ch.11, p 3).
Provide a list of readings cited in a ‘works cited’ page in the end, or your 4the page. Although you are using only Revel, the works cited page is a mandatory part of your essay.
Reminder: The University’s policy on Academic integrity
The faculty and administration of BMCC supports an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and City Procedure for implementing this policy can be found at the BMCC site.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU USE THE CLASS REVEL READINGS ONLY, STAYING AWAY FROM ABOVE DISCLAIMER.
Paper Grading rubric for an A paper
The Argument
● Introduction with a thesis statement about ‘what’ you are analyzing, ‘how’ and ‘why’. This thesis is
Repeated-paraphrased and expanded upon throughout the essay as a reminder to the reader.
Repeating the thesis using different words also helps integrate the evidence and analysis into the thesis.
● State the position clearly in the thesis statement.
● Summarize the answer to the question in one sentence.
● Be sure that the thesis sentence provides both an answer and a justification or reason.
● Avoid vague or ambiguous thesis sentences.
● Be bold, be obvious, be direct, but do not be rhetorical.
● Paper contains an argument.
● The argument is supported by evidence.
● The evidence is not just presented – avoid too much story-telling. When you make a claim you have to tell me why you are making this claim, lay out the logic behind the claim, tell me why that is so.
● Conclusion restates what the argument was and how you presented evidence to support it.
THE WRITING:
● Sentences are constructed with active verbs as often as possible. Sentences clearly indicate who is doing what to whom.
● Few sentences waste verbs (e.g. “There is a theory of”, “There is” wastes the subject and the main verb of this sentence. Instead use formulations as “Some writers argue that the theory of…”)
● Central concepts are defined according to the REVEL class readings or relevant scholarly literature. Students do not use dictionary or Wikipedia definitions of the words.
● Most paragraphs have transition sentences to guide the reader, to signify how the preceding paragraph connects to the next paragraph
● Society, or “the international community” is never used to refer to an agent/institution that makes things happen.
THE SOURCES AND CITATIONS
● Avoid quoting altogether, when inevitable, most quotations are apt, pithy, short, and smoothly integrated into the text.
● If there is a long quotation, it is essential to the development of the argument. Quotations do not replace the argument.
● Quotations and paraphrases are presented as evidence, and then analyzed by the writer, or are
Included to acknowledge the key secondary literature on the topic. Other sources of less importance are included only in parenthetical references or footnotes, depending on the citation system used.
● Paraphrased material also cited appropriately.
● Student consistently adheres to one of several systems he/she has chosen.
THE DETAILS THAT COUNT
● Paper has been proofread and there are no grammar errors or typos. A typed paper is no excuse for typos. Activate spell-check when you are writing.
● Use the assigned readings/presentations material as evidence in support of each reason stated in your position,
● Assert one idea or one justification of the position per paragraph.
● Use the assigned REVEL readings to support the assertion.
● Use the assigned readings to provide examples if necessary.
● Summarize the sources’ viewpoints in one or two sentences.
● Write a conclusion that reasserts the position.
● Briefly review the main reasons why the position (your position) is valid.