Author: wvenus
Last saved by: Venus, Wesley
Company: Gordon College

Essay Project 2 Requirements
Directions: For the second essay, you will choose from one of the topics listed below and write a 1,000-word essay that responds fully to the guidelines provided. Students with any further questions should please ask in class during designated times and direct any specific questions to the teacher via email at wvenus@gordonstate.edu.
This essay is due, printed out and stapled, at the beginning of class on Wednesday, September 28.
Standard Questions: These are the type questions you’ll usually see.
1.	Many students complain about the cost of textbooks, and many teachers complain that their students aren’t buying the textbooks that they assign. This leads to several issues. For this topic choose one of the following issues and write an essay on it. (1) How much of a consideration should teachers make of the cost of a textbook when it comes to assigning it? (2) How should teachers deal with students who don’t buy their textbooks? Remember, there are two sides to every story, so in your answer to this topic, take teachers’ points of view into account. 
2.	Some have made the argument that turf fields cause cancer in athletes, or causing health issues generally. The statistics point to a correlation. Taking the research into account, how should recreation directors change their policies and facilities in response (that is, if you think they should make any changes at all)? Be sure to explain why.
3.	Many groups and demographics have a strong case to make that, though they have gained a degree of independence and equal rights, these rights are still not equal to the rights of others. One notable group in this category is women. For this topic, write an essay naming one particular right women have, but in measure unequal to men, and explain why you think that is.
4.	A quote from one student: “There has been political debate concerning whether the federal government should increase national security efforts at the cost of its citizens' personal privacy, e.g., the NSA monitoring everyone’s texts without a warrant or permission. Write an essay using research to argue for or against the government increasing national security efforts at the cost of personal privacy.” For this topic, take these instructions, but also focus your essay on only one, specific measure the NSA has taken that intrudes upon personal privacy.
5.	On the subject of bullying, write an essay on a form of “borderline” bullying that explains how teachers and administrators should (1) identify it, and (2) prove it. (Do not write about how they should deal with it.) 
6.	A quote from one student: “There has been political debate concerning whether the federal government should increase national security efforts at the cost of its citizens' personal privacy, e.g., the NSA monitoring everyone’s texts without a warrant or permission. Write an essay using research to argue for or against the government increasing national security efforts at the cost of personal privacy.” For this topic, take these instructions, but also focus your essay on only one, specific measure the NSA has taken that intrudes upon personal privacy.
7.	One student wrote this: “Some black and white people feel personal about the Black Lives Matter movement. Some feel like today’s black youth need to be more educated on the tragedies black people suffered through as they take in the recent events. I have a professor who told me that he spoke to a woman recently who said she wishes schools were still segregated. Not to be racist but just so that people can decide what they think is best for their race to learn. That way black youth would not be so clueless and uneducated on the topic of black leaders, the civil rights movements, slavery, and other events black people went through. What is your standing with the Black Lives Matter movement?” Do you agree that it would be better if schools were still segregated for the purpose of educating students on what is important for members of their race to learn? Why or why not? If not, what would be a better alternative to re-segregation? 
8.	How the use of cell phones have an effect on young teens. In what way do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages (or vice versa)? Now that many have smartphone apps, what are some of the dangers they expose children to?
9.	Write an essay answering one of the following questions on the presidential election: (1) how will what has been settled already affect the outcome? (2) How are the candidates basically the same?
10.	Do you think that, when all is said and done, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s defiance (in remaining seated during the national anthem) will prove to be positive or effective? Is he just being obstinate, or is he being brave?
What’s up with that?: This is an experimental section. All I am asking you to do with these questions is write an essay with the standard requirements (explained above and below) and answer the question, “what’s up with that?,” however you prefer to answer it.
11.	The blood of the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) contains hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin, which means it is copper-based and blue in color. What’s up with that?
12.	The tomato was not a part of Italian cuisine until the plant was introduced to the “Old World” only after the period of Spanish colonization. What’s up with that?
13.	The armadillo is a known carrier of leprosy because its average body temperature (93˚ F) is so close to that of humans. What’s up with that?
14.	The banjo and okra were introduced to American culture and cuisine by way of African slaves. Focus on either the banjo or okra and answer the question, what’s up with that?
15.	Some consider Base-12 as a superior number system to Base-10 because twelve is more divisible than ten. What’s up with that?
16.	Choose a specific element of sacred geometry, and answer the question, “what’s up with that?”
These questions all involve many of the principles of argumentation and documentation we have been talking about so far this semester, so you want to answer them in your essay by approaching your chosen topic in the ways that we’ve been discussing.
The grade you receive will be based on how carefully and thoughtfully you answer these essay topics. Part of that will be determined by how well you document and cite your supporting information. You’ll be graded most strictly by how well you apply the documentation and citation material we will cover in class during Weeks 6-7.
Minimum Assignment Requirements: Your essay should answer the topic question carefully; be careful not to exclude any part of it or answer it differently than it is asking you to answer it. Your essay should also have a specific thesis statement near the end of the introductory paragraph, and it should have a works cited page. The essay should be formatted using MLA style, and format and citations should be adequately close to what was discussed in class by the due date. You cannot expect a grade better than a D if you do not meet these minimum requirements. 
Also, because research is an important part of this essay, you should use details from primary and secondary source material available to you through a library as an additional minimum assignment requirement. These details should come in the form of quotes and summary. You should include at least one, and no more than two, secondary sources to support your argument. These must be gotten through library resources. There are no restrictions on your use of primary source material. Use of any source not gotten through the library will result in a grade no higher than a D for this assignment.
Special Assignment Requirements: Below there are listed each of this assignment’s special requirements, along with their numbers and the points deducted for each requirement not met. Be sure to take advantage of the “Pre-formatted MLA Template” from your teacher’s web site for the MLA requirements.
1)	Every line is double-spaced (-1 point)
2)	It begins with a properly formatted MLA heading (-2 points)
3)	There are properly formatted MLA headers on each page (-2 points)
4)	It has a properly formatted title (-1 point)
5)	It is stapled (-1 point)