The Story of Success

Essay #3 – Expository: The Story of Success

Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to help you begin the research process and learn to synthesize ideas and information from three sources: one article from Unit 2, Outliers, and one outside source found at the Library. Essay #3 is an expository essay in which you will dive further into the topic of Success by investigating overlapping ideas and themes discussed so far this semester. These directions will be up in every module from Weeks 8-11.

*For information on expository essays please see the following information on the OWL

Topic/Prompt:
Choose one of the articles from Unit 2 and discuss how the author’s concepts and ideas about success help to explain or support the concepts about success in Outliers
For this essay, you will be building your research skills by applying one outside source from the library
*Note: For a complete Unit 2 source list, please look through Weeks 4-7 modules, the ESL 110 Calendar, or Annotated Bibliography #1 assignment

Assignment Requirements
This assignment, like all effective writing, should follow the writing process. We will be working on the writing process on a weekly basis in order for you to complete a final draft by Week 11. Make sure to save yourself enough time to read, plan, pre-write, outline, write, revise, and edit.

Keep in mind the following components of all academic essay writing assignments in this class:

Content:

This essay will require a more in-depth engagement with one of the sources given to you as well as the book Outliers
Details and examples will come from your analysis of ideas in the Unit 2 article you chose and how they support ideas presented in Outliers
Information from the reading(s) and the book is very important to include as it shows me your ability to integrate author’s ideas to help support your writing.
Make sure that ideas are relevant to the discussion and not “off-topic”
You will also need to include ideas from an outside source found at the library
Organization:

The essay will follow a 5-6 paragraph essay format. With an introductory paragraph, 3-4 body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph
Make sure you have a strong thesis. Your thesis is your “claim” that you are making in your paper and is your central argument that you are trying to support. It should be one sentence at the end of the introduction.
Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that gives the main idea of the paragraph as it relates to your thesis.
Make sure to use cohesive devices like transitions so that ideas in your essay are easy to follow.
Grammar and Language Use:

Vocabulary – remember to use academic vocabulary throughout the essay. Take time to revise and edit your final draft for appropriate vocabulary
I will be looking at your use of paraphrases in your writing that you use for support
Grammar focus – For this essay, the focus is expanding and condensing information. Grammar points to keep in mind:
Information from Unit 2: Reporting Verbs, That clauses, Noun Clauses, & Combining clauses – reducing redundancy
Grammar from Unit 3, including:
Adding information to subjects, nouns, and verbs
Condensing information by reducing clauses to phrases
Referring back to previously stated ideas

Format and Mechanics:

Please paraphrase all information from sources used in this paper. Refer to correct use of MLA in-text citation for citing sources
Most of the information should be paraphrased from the readings, please make sure to include the page number after the information cited.
Please include an MLA “Works Cited” page at the end of your Essay 3
Make sure to edit for correct use of Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling
Length: Between 1200-1400 Words

In a word program (such as Microsoft Word), you will see a word count at the bottom right of the window.
Please ADD/type the total word count of your document at the end of the essay.
Submission
For Essay 3, you will be submitting through through Canvas which will link your paper to turnitin.com.

Type your essay in a word processing application (like Word or Google), and then upload the file to the final assignment
Grading
It is worth 100 points and represents approximately of 10% of your grade.

40% – Language & Grammar – Including use of academic vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and implementing new grammar learned in the textbook. Grammar does not have to be “perfect,” but it should not interfere with meaning. Writing should not be translated from a source like “google translate,” but written in the writers own words. This will also include the student’s ability to paraphrase and summarize.

40% – Content – Including the use of the articles and sources, logical connections between ideas, logical reasoning supported with evidence, details, description, and examples. Examples used should be on-topic and clearly relate to the writer’s thesis statement. The content of the essay shows the writers engagement and development of ideas in the readings and articles. This is where the writer can “show what you know” or what you have learned from the readings and articles.

10% – Organization – Including basic essay structure with an introduction, a thesis statement that makes a claim about the topic, body paragraphs with clear topic sentences that express the main idea of that paragraph, and a conclusion that summarizes the important ideas in the essay and makes future implications.

10% – Formatting and Mechanics – including the use of standard MLA formatting throughout the essay for citing sources, correct punctuation, spelling, and capitalization throughout.