Gender and The Media

English 101   Prof. Lehman    Essay III: The Research Essay  This semester’s third and final effort of 5-6 pages (exclusive of list of Works Cited) will be an argumentative, thesis-based essay supporting a claim involving gender in one of the following arenas; choose one: religion, sports, politics, or the media. Essay III will be drafted in three stages:   Essay IIIp: Compose a one-page, three-paragraph description of the essay, including  ⁋1) a description of a current event, ⁋2) the thesis statement (see Thesis Statements below), along with an explanation of the thesis, and ⁋3) a short discussion of the issue’s implications.  Consider Essay IIIp a one-page version of your essay. Avoid remarks such as, “In my essay, I intend to discuss…” Simply introduce points you wish to make. Make sure to clarify the nature of the ethical debate, that is, why this issue is being questioned. Choose a title. Essay IIId: Section 1: Start with a news item to introduce the essay’s area of concern. Section 2: Present the thesis in one sentence. Provide a brief example/explanation. Restate the thesis. Section 3: Provide any basic historical and/or sociological information necessary for the reader to understand your essay.  Section 4: Discuss the thesis. Support it with your own ideas. Section 5: Conclude your essay by leaving the reader with something to think about. Provide your own title. Essay IIIf: Section 1: Start with a news item to introduce the essay’s area of concern. Section 2: Present the thesis in one sentence. Provide a brief example/explanation. Restate the thesis. Section 3: Provide any basic historical and/or sociological information necessary for the reader to understand your essay.  Section 4: Discuss the thesis. Support it with your own ideas, as well as sources, supporting it with sources. Section 5: Conclude your essay by leaving the reader with something to think about. Provide your own title. Sources:  a BMCC Library non-fiction eBook a BMCC database article a class reading from Unit III or another database source Due dates Essay IIIp due 1 November Essay IIId due 15 November (three pages, plus a list of Works Cited) MLA list of Works Cited including a BMCC Library non-fiction eBook, a BMCC database article or articles, and/or an article read in class due 22 November Essay IIIf due 29 November  Thesis Statements   A thesis statement expresses a point of view that can be defended using material from books, articles, and other sources, as well as the author’s ideas. All essays begin with questions; a thesis statement is the answer to such a question. Below are the most common types of thesis statements, along with examples.  1) A thesis that states a position: Social class determines one’s health.    2) A thesis that states an opinion: Health care should be available to all, regardless of the ability to pay. 3) A thesis that uses cause and effect to analyze a circumstance: The lack safe of playgrounds accounts for the prevalence of childhood obesity. Housing project residents living near highways experience high rates of asthma. 4) A thesis that uses cause and effect to analyze a condition: Low income communities have historically suffered from higher rates of diseases than their middle-class counterparts. American capitalism hinders the implementation of a single-payer system. Types of Arguments 1) classical: the writer presents facts and uses logic to convince the reader. 2) Toulmin: the writer urges readers to take a stand.  3) Rogerian: the writer forges consensus among readers, encouraging agreement. Thesis Statement Guidelines   1) specificity: theses should be specific Not: All over the world people have struggled for the right to better themselves.  But this: Literacy is directly related to job opportunity in the U.S. workplace. 2) objectivity: theses should not be subjective or use value judgments, such as “better,” or “good” Not: The belief in God leads to better citizens. But this: Increased church attendance leads to a decrease in crime rates. 3) no comparisons: theses should not be in the form of comparisons Not: The benefits of organic farming versus traditional farming But this: Organic farming attempts to thwart the influence of agribusiness.  4) no questions: theses must answer a research question Not: What must we do to avoid suffering? But this: Proper nutrition increases academic performance among children.  5) complete sentences: theses must be in the form of declarative statements; see above Not: How people have struggled for dignity. But this: Ghandi’s use of native textiles fostered resistance to British rule. 6) researchable: theses can’t be too broad  Not: All around the world improvements in literacy enable people to live more democratically.  But this: Increases in literacy rates have led to increased voter turnout in Arkansas.  7) not obvious: if theses are too obvious, it won’t make sense to research them Not: Women have often suffered throughout history.  But this: Women’s entry into the job market has changed attitudes toward motherhood in the U.S. 8) ideas, not suggestions: the essay discusses but should not advise  Not: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be better adhered to. But this: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has promoted suffrage in Africa.  9) argumentative, not simply informative: the essay doesn’t simply compile                                  information but draws a conclusion from it Not: The Role of Fast Foods in the Diet of American Children But this: A diet of fast foods contributes to obesity in U.S. children Adapted from Approaching Great Ideas by Lee A. Jacobus, University of Connecticut