IMPORTANT ISSUES ESSAY (AOL)

You will write an essay on an important issue, as selected by you. You will use this essay to learn and demonstrate important writing skills including researching, organizing, writing, and revising, as well as the various parts of an essay. Your essay will be no less than 2 pages and no more than 4 pages (not including the works cited).

You may choose to write either an argumentative essay or an expository essay

STEP ONE: TOPIC

Choose a topic. Come up with something that is interesting to you or that you know something about, if possible. You should be keeping a Canadian perspective in your essay, meaning that you need to connect the topic to its effect on Canada and Canadian people.

Education                                                                        Social Issues

Free post-secondary education                                                 Homelessness (in Canada)

Year-round schooling                                                              Access to medical care

Homeschooling                                                                      Welfare-to-work programs

Alternative ways of funding public schools                                  Violence in our society

AI usage and academic integrity                                               Increasing disparity between rich and poor

Political Issues                                  Prison reform

Effectiveness of the United Nations                                           Refugees in Canada (quality of life and thrive potential) The effectiveness of Canadian aid and support nonprofits Geoengineering

The role of Canada in international affairs                                   International adoption

World hunger                                                                                         Religious cults

Child labour ramifications                                                        Police brutality

Indigenous rights in Canada                                                    Equal opportunity for women in business, politics, sports, etc. Fake news and the growing distrust in media sources   Truth and reconciliation

Environmental and climate change impacts (Canadian population, specifically Indigenous peoples, or the effects of Carbon tax, etc.)

The impact of social media and mental health and well-being of young Canadians

Business Topics                                 

The state of affordable housing in Canada

White collar crime

Industry’s effect on Third World nations Buying “fair trade” and/or “community trade”

The role of small business in the Canadian economy

You may NOT choose broad, overdone topics like:

• abortion
• capital punishment
• euthanasia
• gun control
• Saving the rainforest
• Animal testing
• Legalization of Marijuana

 

STEP TWO: MAIN IDEA AND THESIS

Once you have a topic, you need to start thinking about your main idea and thesis. Your thesis might change as you work through the planning stage, and that’s okay. What argument are you making about your topic? Will it be an expository essay or an argumentative one? Use the resources in this unit to inform your planning.

STEP THREE: RESEARCH THE TOPIC & OUTLINE YOUR ESSAY

Complete research on your topic. Ensure you know what you are talking about. Use the Essay Template to plan your essay and submit that on the course for feedback. Remember to record all resources you use to avoid plagiarism. You are required to find information from a minimum of three sources. These sources must be:

• at least one academic journal (peer reviewed)
• The others can be from websites, but they must be reputable sources from reputable authors (experts in their field, PHD candidates on the subject, etc.)
• Websites from blogs, study guides, travel or wellness magazines, will not be accepted.

STEP FOUR: DRAFTING

Begin writing your rough copy. As you write, remember that this is an argumentative essay or an expository essay that is backed by the research of others. It needs all of the elements of an essay, including a dynamite thesis, great support, and all the other required elements.

• Use the course resources to inform your writing and

STEP FIVE: SUBMISSION

When you submit, you will be required to do the following in order for the essay to count as submitted:

• Correct MLA formatting of first page, in-text citations (quoted and paraphrased), and works cited
• Essay double spaced with all paragraphs indented
• Include the rubric with your essay

SUCCESS CRITERIA:

[ ] I will write an argumentative or expository essay on an important issue

[ ] I will follow the steps outlined on the assignment to demonstrate an understanding of planning [ ] I will create a clear argument following the rules for an effective thesis

[ ] I will research information to create effective support that supports my argument

[ ] I will ensure the essay connects to a “so what” explanation of why/how the information is important [ ] I will use formal style

[ ] I will use MLA style, including a works cited page

 

           /100

Grade 12 UNIVERSITY Essay Rubric

5=exemplary, 4=accomplished, 3=considerable, 2=capable, 1=limited

	5	4	3	2	1
KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING
Introduction: effective hook is used to engage audience. It does not stand alone.
Introduction: clear thesis statement with topic and assertion (argumentative or expository essay clear.)
Introduction: Thesis supporting points are clearly presented.
Conclusion: thesis statement is reworded.
Conclusion: reviewing, coherent, no new information or research quotations.
Conclusion: purposeful, smooth closing thought.
THINKING and INQUIRY
Effective body: presence of precise topic sentence; meaningful points, supportive proofs
Effective body: logical, informative, or persuasive explanations
Effective body: incorporation of a minimum of 3 sources: varied and purposeful, establishing credibility
Effective body: correct citations and required quotations. Variety in quotation types
Effective body: Research is polished, effective, and explanations support the evidence to the point and the topic sentence of the paragraph.
COMMUNICATION
Proper Writing Skills: spelling and punctuation
Proper Writing Skills: grammar and sentence structure, appropriate and consistent point of view
Proper Writing Skills:Writing process followed effectively.
Proper Writing Skills: appropriate and consistent tone
Effective Vocabulary: absence of conjunctions, jargon, redundant language
APPLICATION
Format: complete and correct submission format: neat, numbered, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 pt font, follows MLA documentation style
Format: proper paraphrasing and variety
Format: proper use of punctuation in citation
Format: proper works cited page
TOTAL

 

TEACHER FEEDBACK

Strengths
Needs Improvement
Next Steps

 

 

ESSAY TEMPLATE (AFL)

Directions: Plan your important issues essay using the following essay outline. Write in point form or sentence format, but make sure your teacher can understand each section clearly.  Use this template for all other essays in this course.

Introduction Paragraph

Argumentative or Expository? Please indicate your essay’s structure here.
Hook Draw your reader in with: -an interesting quotation – an analogy – a surprising fact – an interesting idea
Broad General Statement Discuss your hook and bring it into the overall, general topic that the essay discusses.
Specific Connecting Ideas Link these ideas to what your essay will discuss specifically. (It should be a small component of the larger topic)
Thesis Statement Clearly state what your essay will discuss and provide the individual points your body paragraphs will elaborate on. –       It must be arguable. –       Keep it 1-2 sentences

 

 

 

Body Paragraph One

Topic Sentence State the main idea of the paragraph. This is the first listed item from the thesis statement. -Show your method of development (persuasive, cause and effect, comparison, etc.)
Point 1 Clearly introduce your point that supports the topic sentence and the thesis.
Proof 1 +     Transition word Clearly state your proof, directly quoted or paraphrased using proper MLA in-text citation. Click HERE for a quick-look reference guide.
Explanation 1 Discuss the importance of the proof to the point you are making and to the overall argument of the thesis. Show depth of understanding and critical thinking. -Language reflects method of development (persuasive, expository, etc.)
Point 2 +     Transition word Clearly introduce your point that supports the topic sentence and the thesis.
Proof 2 Clearly state your proof, directly quoted or paraphrased using proper MLA in-text citation. Click HERE for a quick-look reference guide.
Explanation 2 Discuss the importance of the proof to the point you are making and to the overall argument of the thesis. Show depth of understanding and critical thinking. -Language reflects method of development (persuasive, expository, etc.)
Summary Sentence Conclude your paragraph by reaffirming the topic sentence ideas, this time with the final thought you want your reader left with.

 

Body Paragraph Two

Topic Sentence State the main idea of the paragraph. This is the next listed item from the thesis statement. -Show your method of development (persuasive, cause and effect, comparison, etc.)
Point 1 Clearly introduce your point that supports the topic sentence and the thesis.
Proof 1 Clearly state your proof, directly quoted or paraphrased using proper MLA in-text citation. Click HERE for a quick-look reference guide.
Explanation 1 Discuss the importance of the proof to the point you are making and to the overall argument of the thesis. Show depth of understanding and critical thinking. -Language reflects method of development (persuasive, expository, etc.)
Point 2 Clearly introduce your point that supports the topic sentence and the thesis.
Proof 2 Clearly state your proof, directly quoted or paraphrased using proper MLA in-text citation. Click HERE for a quick-look reference guide.
Explanation 2 Discuss the importance of the proof to the point you are making and to the overall argument of the thesis. Show depth of understanding and critical thinking. -Language reflects method of development (persuasive, expository, etc.)
Summary Sentence Conclude your paragraph by reaffirming the topic sentence ideas, this time with the final thought you want your reader left with.

 

 

Body Paragraph Three

Topic Sentence State the main idea of the paragraph. This is the last listed item from the thesis statement. -Show your method of development (persuasive, cause and effect, comparison, etc.)
Point 1 Clearly introduce your point that supports the topic sentence and the thesis.
Proof 1 Clearly state your proof, directly quoted or paraphrased using proper MLA in-text citation. Click HERE for a quick-look reference guide.
Explanation 1 Discuss the importance of the proof to the point you are making and to the overall argument of the thesis. Show depth of understanding and critical thinking. -Language reflects method of development (persuasive, expository, etc.)
Point 2 Clearly introduce your point that supports the topic sentence and the thesis.
Proof 2 Clearly state your proof, directly quoted or paraphrased using proper MLA in-text citation. Click HERE for a quick-look reference guide.
Explanation 2 Discuss the importance of the proof to the point you are making and to the overall argument of the thesis. Show depth of understanding and critical thinking. -Language reflects method of development (persuasive, expository, etc.)
Summary Sentence Conclude your paragraph by reaffirming the topic sentence ideas, this time with the final thought you want your reader left with.

 

Conclusion Paragraph

Transition word + Thesis Restatement Restate your thesis in different words.
Detailed Review of Body Paragraph Topics One sentence per body paragraph. Discuss only the most important idea from each paragraph.
Closing Thoughts Revisit the hook and make concluding, synthesized assertions.

 

Review the assignment rubric to ensure you have all required elements of the task. Then submit on the course.

 

Word Count: 1400-1500

No. of Pages: 7