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English 56 Argument Synthesis Essay #2: Learning and Motivation in College

What can students, teachers, and colleges do to facilitate learning and motivation, despite challenges and setbacks?

 

In this thesis-driven essay, you will use ideas from our class readings and your own experience and logic to argue solutions to the questions above. Your purpose is to persuade your audience that your thesis is true using specific evidence and reasoning. Do not just offer a string of summaries—make sure to synthesize your sources to provide evidence for your claims—your claims will offer solutions.

 

Audience: Students, teachers, and college administrators

Purpose: Persuade students and teachers to adopt specific ways of thinking and take specific actions

Genre: Academic argument essay that follows the conventions of the Modern Language Association (MLA)

 

Use at least 5 sources: 2 (or more) of the following readings, 2 (or more) of the following videos, and at least one personal interview to help you make your case, but make sure that your essay is dominated by your own opinion and voice (personality). Show your audience that you have read and understood your sources:

• “Brainology: Transforming Students’ Motivation to Learn” (in your class packet) by Carol Dweck
• “Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind” Edited by Costa and Kallick (in your class packet)
• “Who Gets to Graduate?” by Paul Tough
• “8 Secrets of Success” Ted Talk by Richard St. John
• “Your Brain is Plastic” Youtube video by Sci Show
• Dr Chew Videos 1-6 (see Announcements in Canvas for video links)
• Personal Interview with an expert of your choice

 

Your essay should have an introduction, body, conclusion, and Works Cited page. Please type up your interview questions and answers and include them after the Works Cited page. Use MLA format, including in-text citation. It will be a minimum of 4 typed pages and a maximum of 6, not including the Works Cited.

Your introduction should:

1. Grab the reader’s attention and introduce the topic—discuss the problem. Why does this matter?
2. Give a clear thesis statement: this gives your clear, strong opinion. This statement will control the body of your paper. It is good to draft a “working thesis statement” and then adjust it as necessary after you have written the body.

The body of your paper should:

• Consist of several paragraphs that clearly prove your thesis and lead with your voice
• Give several main claims/reasons (expressed in clear topic sentences dominated by your voice). These topic sentences clearly state the claim/reason and connect to (prove) the thesis
• Contain specific (not just general) examples, reasoning, and evidence that clearly support your main claims and thesis. This evidence can be drawn from our class readings, personal experience, the experience of others, other things you have read, things you have researched outside of our class readings (use credible sources), and/or things you have heard from reputable sources. When quoting or paraphrasing, be sure to use proper MLA in-text citation.

The conclusion of your paper should:

Sum up your argument and give your final thoughts. There are many interesting ways to conclude a paper. A few ideas are listed below.

• May include a call to action that asks your audience to do something differently
• May answer a question that you posed in your introduction
• May comment on a story that you used in your introduction
• May restate your thesis using different words (hint: unless done with pizzazz, this is often boring for readers)
• May end with a quote that illustrates your thesis

 

 

 

Grading Rubric for Argument Synthesis #2       

 

Name:____________________________Final score_____________________________

Assignment requirements for introduction, body and conclusion	Not Done	Needs Work	Fair	Well Done
Introduction grabs the reader’s attention, introduces the topic, and is dominated by the writer’s voice (personality)
Introduction contains a clear thesis statement that obviously answers the assignment and promises solutions. This statement controls the body of the essay
The body consists of several paragraphs that lead with the writer’s voice and clearly prove the thesis to offer solutions to the problem
The body is well-developed and gives several main claims/reasons that clearly connect to and prove the thesis—these claims offer solutions.
Body paragraphs contain a synthesis of specific (not just general) examples, reasoning, and evidence that clearly support main claims/reasons and thesis. This evidence can be drawn from our class readings, personal experience, personal interviews, things you have researched outside of our class readings (use credible sources), and/or things you have heard from reputable sources. When quoting or paraphrasing be sure to use proper MLA in-text citation.
The essay uses at least five sources as explained in the assignment. Use at least 2 (or more) of the class readings, 2 (or more) of the class videos and at least one personal interview
Ideas and information are explained fully enough for readers not in our class to follow
Present ideas in an order that makes sense to readers
Use strong signal (attribution) verbs for introducing summaries, paraphrases, and quotations (Hint: see They Say, I Say for a list)
Quotes are well chosen and clearly explained and connected to the thesis and main claims/reasons
Includes a memorable conclusion
Is a minimum of 4, maximum of 6 typed pages, not including the Works Cited page
Mechanics—As a writer, you should…
Proofread carefully so that sentences are clear, concise, and free of errors—pay special attention to your personal error patterns
Paraphrase skillfully so that the author’s meaning remains true but sentences and words are significantly different (not just a few words changed)
Use “quotation marks” when including an author’s exact words
Include MLA style in-text citation when you use ideas from others—this includes paraphrasing as well as quoting
Interview questions and answers are typed and included after Works Cited page
Follow MLA format: standard 12-point, Times New Roman font; proper heading; proper, unique title; page numbers; double spaced; 1-inch margins; and no extra spaces between paragraphs (after spacing of “0” under “paragraphs” in Word)

 

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