Category: English

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English composition I

Writing Assignment Rubic I Foundational Materials of an Informational Article

About this Assignment

In this first assignment, you will practice the core skills of academic research and expository writing by developing the foundational materials for a publishable informational article.

Course Learning Outcomes

The following course learning outcomes are assessed in this assignment:

• Perform the key steps in the writing process, including brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising.
• Produce the components of an effective essay, including thesis statements, supporting arguments, structured paragraphs, and citations.
• Use and cite credible sources relevant to a topic using proper formatting.

Related Lessons

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Prompt

For this assignment, select a local and/or contemporary issue affecting your community, region, or state that has public relevance and sufficient credible information available. Examples may include housing affordability, food insecurity, transportation challenges, environmental risks, or another researchable public concern.

Your ultimate goal will be to write a newspaper-style informational article that explains the issue, why it matters, and what solutions have been proposed. For this assignment, you will not draft the full article. Instead, you will complete a research and planning packet that prepares you to write an evidence-based article for a general audience.

Your task in this assignment is to gather information, evaluate sources, and plan an informative, evidence-based article that could be submitted to a local newspaper or nonprofit newsletter.

Required Components

1. Issue & Audience Snapshot (200-250 words)

Describe the issue you chose and explain:

• Why it matters to your local area or community
• What prompted you to explore it
• Who the audience for your article is
• What you want readers of your future article to take away and how you will tailor your article to them

2. Working Thesis

Provide the following:

• Your exact working thesis statement, presenting the central claim or explanation your article will develop.

3. Article Outline (250-350 words)

Provide the following:

• An outline showing the planned structure of your article and the evidence for your arguments.

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4. Source Evaluation (200-300 words)

Format this section similar to an . Include a list of each of your sources in MLA format, and for each of your three sources, discuss:

• Why you selected the source
• How you determined the source was credible
• How the source contributes to your understanding of the issue
• How you plan to use the information in your future article

At least one source should address solutions or policy recommendations related to your chosen issue.

This planning packet will serve as the foundation for Assignment 2: Informational Article Rough Draft

Formatting & Sources

Please write your paper in the MLA format. You may refer to the course material for supporting evidence, but you must also use at least three external sources and cite them using MLA format. Please include a mix of both primary and secondary sources, with at least one source from a scholarly publication. If you use any Study.com lessons as sources, please also cite them in MLA (including the lesson title and instructor’s name).

• Primary sources are first-hand accounts such as interviews, advertisements, speeches, company documents, statements, and press releases documented or published at the time of an event.
• Secondary sources come from peer-reviewed scholarly journals, such The Journal of Agricultural Science. You may use sources like JSTOR, Google Scholar, a Gale to find articles from these journals. Secondary sources may also come from reputable websites with .gov, .edu, or .org in the domain. (Wikipedia is not a reputable source, though the sources listed in Wikipedia articles may be acceptable.)

1 / 12

English composition I

Writing Assignment Rubic I Foundational Materials of an Informational Article

About this Assignment

In this first assignment, you will practice the core skills of academic research and expository writing by developing the foundational materials for a publishable informational article.

Course Learning Outcomes

The following course learning outcomes are assessed in this assignment:

• Perform the key steps in the writing process, including brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising.
• Produce the components of an effective essay, including thesis statements, supporting arguments, structured paragraphs, and citations.
• Use and cite credible sources relevant to a topic using proper formatting.

Related Lessons

2 / 12

Prompt

For this assignment, select a local and/or contemporary issue affecting your community, region, or state that has public relevance and sufficient credible information available. Examples may include housing affordability, food insecurity, transportation challenges, environmental risks, or another researchable public concern.

Your ultimate goal will be to write a newspaper-style informational article that explains the issue, why it matters, and what solutions have been proposed. For this assignment, you will not draft the full article. Instead, you will complete a research and planning packet that prepares you to write an evidence-based article for a general audience.

Your task in this assignment is to gather information, evaluate sources, and plan an informative, evidence-based article that could be submitted to a local newspaper or nonprofit newsletter.

Required Components

1. Issue & Audience Snapshot (200-250 words)

Describe the issue you chose and explain:

• Why it matters to your local area or community
• What prompted you to explore it
• Who the audience for your article is
• What you want readers of your future article to take away and how you will tailor your article to them

2. Working Thesis

Provide the following:

• Your exact working thesis statement, presenting the central claim or explanation your article will develop.

3. Article Outline (250-350 words)

Provide the following:

• An outline showing the planned structure of your article and the evidence for your arguments.

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4. Source Evaluation (200-300 words)

Format this section similar to an . Include a list of each of your sources in MLA format, and for each of your three sources, discuss:

• Why you selected the source
• How you determined the source was credible
• How the source contributes to your understanding of the issue
• How you plan to use the information in your future article

At least one source should address solutions or policy recommendations related to your chosen issue.

This planning packet will serve as the foundation for Assignment 2: Informational Article Rough Draft

Formatting & Sources

Please write your paper in the MLA format. You may refer to the course material for supporting evidence, but you must also use at least three external sources and cite them using MLA format. Please include a mix of both primary and secondary sources, with at least one source from a scholarly publication. If you use any Study.com lessons as sources, please also cite them in MLA (including the lesson title and instructor’s name).

• Primary sources are first-hand accounts such as interviews, advertisements, speeches, company documents, statements, and press releases documented or published at the time of an event.
• Secondary sources come from peer-reviewed scholarly journals, such The Journal of Agricultural Science. You may use sources like JSTOR, Google Scholar, a Gale to find articles from these journals. Secondary sources may also come from reputable websites with .gov, .edu, or .org in the domain. (Wikipedia is not a reputable source, though the sources listed in Wikipedia articles may be acceptable.)

Essay 1: The Constructed Self Identity in the Digital AgeThe Challenge

In the new millennium, identity is no longer just something we “have”it is something we build, market, and perform. Whether we are navigating racial and gendered expectations or the “mantra of the Instagram era,” we are constantly influenced by the ideology of the media we consume.

The Prompt

Analyze how modern identity is constructed through the lens of both social expectations and digital influence. You must argue your own perspective on whether our “authentic” selves can truly exist in a world of echo chambers, social media “mantras,” and gender/racial scripts.

To support your argument, you must:

1. Select THREE texts from the following list (representing at least two different sub-topics):

• Race/Gender: In Living Color, Which People?, Gender Role Behaviors, or The Gender Blur.
• Digital/Internet: Gladstone, Silverman, Tiffany, or Estrin.

1. Use at least TWO pieces of quoted material in each body paragraph to support your claims.
2. Address the “So What?”: Does the internet liberate our identities, or does it just create new “Influencing Machines” (as Gladstone suggests) that trap us in narrower versions of ourselves?

Brainstorming Your “Three-Prong” Thesis

Since you are using the Support/Refute/Complicate model, consider these three paths for your thesis:

• The “Complicate” Path (Recommended): “While authors like [Silverman] argue that social media forces an inauthentic ‘performance’ of the self, this digital pressure actually complicates the already existing social scripts regarding race and gender discussed by [Gladstone] and [Hanaike/Textbook Author].”
• The “Refute” Path: “Despite Judy Estrins concerns about what the internet is doing to young people, the digital world actually provides a space to transcend the rigid ‘Gender Blurs’ and racial stereotypes analyzed in Chapters 2 and 3.”

How the New Texts Change the Conversation:

• Jacob Silverman (“Pics or It Didn’t Happen”): This is perfect for those of you who like to discuss the “Performance of Identity.” If they don’t post it, does it exist?
• Brooke Gladstone (“Echo Chambers”): This helps you discuss Ideology. Our identities are often reinforced by the “Influencing Machines” that show us only what we want to see.
• Kaitlyn Tiffany & Judy Estrin: These provide a “Cautionary” voice. They allow you to argue that identity construction today is more dangerous or stressful than it was for previous generations.

Submission Checklist:

• Word Count: 750+ words.
• Source Count: 3 different texts from the provided list.
• Quote Density: At least 2 quotes per body paragraph (using the ICE method).
• Formatting: MLA style with a Works Cited page.

SIgns of life in the USA 11th edition

Essay 1: The Constructed Self Identity in the Digital AgeThe Challenge

In the new millennium, identity is no longer just something we “have”it is something we build, market, and perform. Whether we are navigating racial and gendered expectations or the “mantra of the Instagram era,” we are constantly influenced by the ideology of the media we consume.

The Prompt

Analyze how modern identity is constructed through the lens of both social expectations and digital influence. You must argue your own perspective on whether our “authentic” selves can truly exist in a world of echo chambers, social media “mantras,” and gender/racial scripts.

To support your argument, you must:

1. Select THREE texts from the following list (representing at least two different sub-topics):

• Race/Gender: In Living Color, Which People?, Gender Role Behaviors, or The Gender Blur.
• Digital/Internet: Gladstone, Silverman, Tiffany, or Estrin.

1. Use at least TWO pieces of quoted material in each body paragraph to support your claims.
2. Address the “So What?”: Does the internet liberate our identities, or does it just create new “Influencing Machines” (as Gladstone suggests) that trap us in narrower versions of ourselves?

Brainstorming Your “Three-Prong” Thesis

Since you are using the Support/Refute/Complicate model, consider these three paths for your thesis:

• The “Complicate” Path (Recommended): “While authors like [Silverman] argue that social media forces an inauthentic ‘performance’ of the self, this digital pressure actually complicates the already existing social scripts regarding race and gender discussed by [Gladstone] and [Hanaike/Textbook Author].”
• The “Refute” Path: “Despite Judy Estrins concerns about what the internet is doing to young people, the digital world actually provides a space to transcend the rigid ‘Gender Blurs’ and racial stereotypes analyzed in Chapters 2 and 3.”

How the New Texts Change the Conversation:

• Jacob Silverman (“Pics or It Didn’t Happen”): This is perfect for those of you who like to discuss the “Performance of Identity.” If they don’t post it, does it exist?
• Brooke Gladstone (“Echo Chambers”): This helps you discuss Ideology. Our identities are often reinforced by the “Influencing Machines” that show us only what we want to see.
• Kaitlyn Tiffany & Judy Estrin: These provide a “Cautionary” voice. They allow you to argue that identity construction today is more dangerous or stressful than it was for previous generations.

Submission Checklist:

• Word Count: 750+ words.
• Source Count: 3 different texts from the provided list.
• Quote Density: At least 2 quotes per body paragraph (using the ICE method).
• Formatting: MLA style with a Works Cited page.

SIgns of life in the USA 11th edition

assignment about mental health social media

Touchstone 4: Argumentative Essay

before you start

Consider revisiting the tutorial . Just like in previous Touchstones, your stance needs to be stated in a thesis statement and your evidence in body paragraphs should work to support your claim. For help citing evidence in body paragraphs, revisit the tutorial to learn how to quote and paraphrase sources using APA style.

ASSIGNMENT: Write a 4-6 page (approximately 1000-1500 words) argumentative essay arguing one side or stance of an academically appropriate debate using the classical model supported by evidence and research. If the writing exceeds the 1500 word maximum, it will be returned back for revision.

Helpful Links:

CopyLeaks Originality Checker: All writing will be checked for originality. Ensure that all references are credible and include page and paragraph numbers if the source is longer than four pages. If a source cannot be accessed by a grader, you might need to provide digital proof that you possess the source (for example, a photo of the print book). Text from any third party source is prohibited, including internet or chatbot searches, without proper APA-style citations. Focus on developing your own ideas and use evidence sparingly to support your own original claims, following the classical model of argumentation.

A. Directions

Step 1. Choose a Topic

Today, there are many different debates being had all around the world about topics that affect our personal, professional, civic, and/or academic lives. Some of these debates have been such hot topics for so long that it has become very difficult to add to the conversation with new and original ideas or stances to take. To move beyond this trend, we have created a list of topics that may not be written about for this Touchstone. This includes example topics that are used in Unit 4. Feel free to access a tutor if you would like support choosing a topic for this essay.

Please AVOID choosing any of the following topics:

• Abortion Rights
• Animal Testing (Unit 4 example)
• Artificial Intelligence
• Climate Change (Unit 4 example)
• Belief in God(s) or Afterlife(s)
• Death Penalty / Capital Punishment
• Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide
• Fad Diets (e.g., Keto, etc.)
• Funding/Defunding Law Enforcement
• Greatest of All Time Topics
• Immigration
• Legal Alcohol/Tobacco Age
• Legalization of Marijuana
• Legalization of Sex Work
• Paying Student Athletes
• Second Amendment Rights (i.e., Gun Control)
• Social Medias Impact on Mental Health
• Universal Healthcare
• Vaccines

Choosing to write about any of the above topics will result in returned Touchstone for a single chance to resubmit.

Step 2. Write an Argumentative Essay

Remember the word argument does not mean a fight in a writing context. An academic argument is more like a thoughtful conversation between two people with differing viewpoints on a debatable issue. However, you are required to take a position on one side of a debatable issue that is informed by academically appropriate evidence.

For the purposes of this assignment, expressing or relying on your personal opinion of a debate is discouraged. Rather, the essay must argue one side or stance of the debate using the rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) and be supported by academic or scholarly sources. These include physical sources in public libraries, digital sources in academic libraries, online sources (excludes unreliable sources like procon.org and wikipedia.org, which are discouraged), and published expert reports, preferably peer-reviewed by experts in the field to maintain utmost credibility. Consider revisiting the tutorial for more information on appropriate sources for argumentative writing.

Your submission must include an APA style in-text citations and a reference page following the essay. In your research, you will need at least 2 and no more than 4 credible primary or secondary sources to use as support in your essay.

• All sources cited in the writing submitted must be locatable by a grader; include hyperlinks to the sources in the reference page.
• The use of any source that requires payment for access is strictly prohibited for this assignment.
• Avoid using sources that exceed 20 pages in length, as they may be overly extensive for the purposes of this assignment.
• Including more than four sources may cause delays, and you might be asked to provide additional evidence of the credibility for each source.

Thias will be helpful to you as you work on this assignment.

Step 3. Think About Your Writing

On a separate page, below your reference page, include thoughtful answers to the Think About Your Writing questions. References and Think About Your Writing questions are NOT included in the word count for this essay.

Below your reference page, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.

1. What have you learned about how to present a strong argument? How could/will you apply this knowledge in your professional or everyday life (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Think about the specific skills and techniques that you used while developing and writing your essay. What tools will you take with you from this experience?
2. Consider the English Composition I course as a whole. What have you learned about yourself as a writer (5-6 sentences)? Sophia says: What did you learn that surprised you? Is there anything that you have struggled with in the past that you now feel more confident about?

Step 4. Review Rubric and Checklist

Your composition and reflection will be scored according to the Touchstone 4 Rubric, which evaluates the argumentative topic and thesis statement, argument development and support, organization, flow, research, style, use of conventions (grammar, punctuation, etc.), and your answers to the Think About your Writing questions above.

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

Argumentative Topic and Thesis Statement

Have you included a thesis that takes a clear, specific position on one side of an academically appropriate, debatable issue?

Argument Development

Are all of the details relevant to the purpose of your essay?

Is the argument supported using rhetorical appeals and credible, academic source material?

Is your essay 4-6 pages (approximately 1000-1500 words)? If not, which details do you need to add or delete?

Research

Have you cited outside sources effectively using quotation, summary, or paraphrase?

Are the sources incorporated smoothly, providing the reader with signal phrases and context for the source information?

Are the sources explained with regard to your topic and how they relate to the argument?

Have you referenced at least 2 and no more than 4 credible sources?

Have you included an APA style reference page below your essay?

Have you included a hyperlink to each source in the reference page?

Organization and Flow

Is there an introduction, conclusion, adequate body paragraphs, and a counterargument?

Do the topic and concluding sentences reiterate the argument to maintain a sharp focus on the purpose of the essay?

Is the argument presented in a logical order and easy for the reader to follow?

Are there transitions within and between paragraphs?

Style

Are the word choices accurate and effective?

Are the sentence structures varied?

Conventions and Formatting

Have you properly cited your sources according to APA style guidelines?

Have you double-checked for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, and capitalization?

Have you proofread for typos?

Before You Submit

Have you answered all of the Think About Your Writing questions on a separate page below your reference page? Are your answers thoughtful and included insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses?

Does your submission include your essay, followed by your reference page, followed by your Think About Your Writing questions?

By using my notes, discussion post and SWA 1 create an outline that secures as a starting point for my essay. use the notes to generate an outline. i used AI to come up with this rough draft outline needs to score 0% on AI