Final Persuasive Essay Guidelines on Working Class Heroes

Transcript Summary of Final Essay Guidelines

This document contains detailed guidelines regarding the final persuasive essay for the course, focusing on the theme of "working class heroes."

Introduction to the Assignment

  • Final Essay Topic: Working class hero
  • Context: Discussion on what constitutes a working class hero, including various categories of individuals who fit this theme.
  • Purpose: To encourage students to think deeply about real-life heroes within their community and promote persuasive writing skills.

Definitions and Clarifications

  • Working Class Hero: Individuals who have performed notable actions for the community at various levels.
    • Examples discussed include:
    • Teachers
    • Cashiers
    • Bank managers
    • Firefighters
    • Police officers
    • Community leaders (excluding mayors for specific reasons mentioned)
  • Criteria for Heroism:
    • Heroism must involve actions taken beyond personal or immediate family interests, especially aiding the less fortunate, including:
    • The poor
    • Single mothers
    • The elderly in care homes
    • Animals in shelters
    • Immigrant women seeking support

Essay Structure and Content

  • Essay Format:
    • A five-paragraph persuasive essay.
    • Each paragraph may be dedicated to discussing either:
    • One hero with three body paragraphs or
    • Three heroes within the same thematic framework.
  • Themes Available:
    • Students can select from themes related to poverty, community service, or any relevant category that includes working class heroes.
  • Common Traits of Working Class Heroes:
    • Hardworking, self-sacrificing, and possessing qualities such as compassion, fairness, and a history of adversity or injustice.
    • Their actions are often motivated by a desire to help others, not for recognition as heroes.

Persuasion and Evidence

  • Objective: Students must persuade their audience of the heroism of their chosen subjects.
  • Research Component:
    • Utilize credible sources to gather evidence supporting the hero's actions and impact.

Formatting Requirements

  • MLA Style Guidelines:
    • Strict adherence to formatting rules, with significant penalty for non-compliance (50 points deducted for MLA format errors).
    • Key components of MLA format include:
    • Font: Times New Roman, size 12
    • Double-spaced throughout
    • One-inch margins on all sides
    • Header with last name and page number in the top right corner
    • Properly formatted Works Cited page with hanging indentations
    • Titles centered and pages numbered

Submission Instructions

  • Dropbox Submission:
    • Students are encouraged to save their documents in compatible formats (PDF or Word) to prevent formatting issues upon submission.

Timeline and Availability

  • Assignment Due Date: November 20
  • Optional Office Meetings:
    • One-on-one questions are encouraged during the next live meeting (November 13).
    • Instructor will not be available during the following week to meet.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  • Student Engagement:
    • Students are urged to participate during Q&A sessions, bringing any questions or concerns regarding the assignment structure or content.
  • Preparation Before Writing:
    • Take time to understand the assignment and format before starting the writing process; premature submissions without correct formatting will incur significant grade penalties.