Essay Assignment: Documented Argument in MLA
Your argumentative essay will be on a topic from the list of options below. Consider your audience for this paper to be your peers. The essay should be between 3 ½ and 4 pages (850 to 1,000 words) in length, not including the Works Cited page. It should be double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and must meet the following criteria:
- An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion
- A clearly articulated thesis in the introduction of the paper; the thesis must state the claim, position, or stance that your essay will prove
- 4 cited sources
- At least 4 quotes from your sources
- Topic sentences that focus the discussion in each body paragraph
- Examples, details, statistics, explanations, and other researched evidence in the body paragraphs that clearly support the claim of your thesis
- Counterarguments (at least one but preferably more than one) and refutations that show you understand the complexity of your argument and can accurately acknowledge the views of the opposition and refute them
- Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs (transition words and phrases)
- Proper MLA style format in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page (Review the template and instructional video for creating the MLA format)
- Works Cited page listing a minimum of 4 sources
- Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics
Important Information:
- You will submit your final draft through the Turn-it-in drop box designated for this purpose in the course. Please be aware that although Turn-it-in does allow for similarities for quotations up to 24% of your paper, any similarity above 24% is considered too high for an original paper and will be flagged as plagiarism.
- You can get help with your paper at any of the campus writing centers (see the link in the course with this information), and you can also receive online help via SmartThinking, the online tutoring service provided by the College. This service is available by clicking on SmartThinking in the left-hand menu bar of the course under Tools & Resources.
Choose any one of the following 16 topics (Note reference resources at the end of the topic list):
Environmental Topics
1. Research the status of sea level rise in South Florida today and the ways in which it is being addressed through State processes. Make an argument that the solutions today are or are not sufficient.
2. Research the effects of the environment on human health. Does the health of the environment affect the health of the human beings within it? Make an argument that supports your answer.
3. How is biodiversity important to a thriving planet? What are the dangers of the high rate of species extinction that the planet is facing? What are the proposed solutions to this problem and how effective will they be?
4. Are electric vehicles better for the environment?
5. Is vegetarianism better for the environment?
Social Media Topics:
1. Does use of social media contribute to mental health issues among children and teens?
2. Does social media empower grassroots movements and marginalized voices or does it simply create "slacktivism" with little real-world impact?
3. Should social media platforms be more strictly regulated to protect user privacy, or do users bear the responsibility for their own online safety?
4. Has social media improved our ability to stay connected or has it weakened meaningful face-to-face interactions?
5. Does social media negatively impact self-esteem and body image, particularly among teenagers and young adults, or can it foster positive self-expression and community?
Artificial Intelligence Topics:
Can artificial intelligence truly creates original works of art, music, and literature, or are these outputs merely imitations of human creativity?
1. Will AI enhance the educational experience and provide personalized learning, or will it replace the critical role of human teachers?
2. Can AI truly create original works of art, music, and literature, or are these outputs merely imitations of human creativity?
3. Should AI be used in military operations considering the ethical implications?
4. Can AI truly enhance healthcare outcomes, or does it risk dehumanizing patient care?
5. Does the rise of AI pose a threat to job security, or will it create new opportunities in the workforce?