GTC Fall 2024 English 1101 Week 12

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the upcoming election, offers guidance on the grading timeline for essay assignments, and introduces Essay 3, which focuses on writing an argumentative essay based on a Memoir. Students are encouraged to select a Memoir, identify key themes, and relate them to broader societal issues. The speaker emphasizes the importance of supporting arguments with credible sources and integrating quotes effectively. They also clarify the steps for submitting essays, including the outline and primary source quotes, and provide advice on how to approach the assignment. The video is both informative and motivational, urging students to stay on track.

Takeaways

• 😀 Students are writing an argumentative essay about the memoir they read, focusing on a larger issue rather than summarizing the author's life.
• 😀 The essay will discuss how the central themes of the memoir impact people's lives in a broader context (e.g., addiction, trauma, abuse).
• 😀 The essay requires 1,400 words (four full pages) with MLA formatting, including quotes from the memoir (primary source) and three secondary sources.
• 😀 Students should integrate two quotes per paragraph: one from the memoir and one from a secondary source, ensuring quotes are concise.
• 😀 The focus for this week is on selecting key quotes from the memoir to support the thesis and outline of the essay.
• 😀 The thesis statement should be clear and concise, focusing on the broader issue in the memoir (e.g., addiction as a disease).
• 😀 The paper should not summarize the memoir but rather use it to argue a larger issue, such as how addiction or trauma affects individuals universally.
• 😀 Research sources should be credible, with specific guidelines for what types of sources are acceptable (e.g., avoiding Wikipedia, news sources without authors, or unverified online encyclopedias).
• 😀 The instructor suggests that students focus on finding quotes from the memoir this week, with secondary source research being handled in the following week.
• 😀 The course timeline includes deadlines for submitting an outline, annotated bibliography, draft, and final essay, with a significant break during Thanksgiving.
• 😀 Students should aim for a balanced essay, using a combination of personal insight, research, and analysis to support their arguments effectively.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Essay 3 as discussed in the video?

The main focus of Essay 3 is writing an argumentative essay based on the memoir the student has read. The essay should research and argue how a central topic from the memoir impacts people's lives, using the memoir as an example to discuss broader issues.

How is the memoir used in Essay 3?

The memoir is used as a primary source to draw upon one or more key qualities from the author's life. These qualities can be either positive (like motivation or ambition) or negative (like abuse or addiction), and the essay argues how these traits have shaped the author's life and may affect others.

What are the three strategies for writing Essay 3?

The three strategies mentioned are narrative (telling personal stories related to the memoir), definition (defining important concepts related to the memoir), and exemplification (providing examples from the memoir to support the argument). Other strategies include cause and effect, comparison and contrast, and classification.

How should students approach their thesis for Essay 3?

Students should develop a clear, concise thesis that directly addresses the topic they want to discuss in the memoir, whether it’s a specific trait or issue like addiction, trauma, or ambition. The thesis should set the stage for an argumentative analysis of how this issue impacts the speaker's life and, potentially, society at large.

What is the importance of secondary sources in Essay 3?

Secondary sources are essential for supporting the argument made in the essay. Students must use at least three credible secondary sources to validate their claims and provide evidence for their argument, including integrating six quotes total (two per body paragraph).

What is the recommended structure for the body paragraphs in Essay 3?

Each body paragraph should present one point related to the essay's argument. For every point, students need to integrate at least two quotes: one from the memoir and one from a secondary source. The quotes should support the student's claims and be properly cited in MLA format.

How should students handle research for Essay 3 in the early stages?

In the first week, students should focus on identifying key themes or qualities in the memoir and gathering primary source quotes to support these themes. Secondary source research will be introduced in the following weeks, allowing students to find external evidence to strengthen their argument.

Why is the thesis for the example essay described as 'clunky'?

The thesis is described as 'clunky' because it’s somewhat awkward and unfocused. The example thesis tries to address too many ideas at once, which makes it harder to convey a clear and concise argument. The suggestion is to revise the thesis for clarity and focus.

What is the purpose of the outline in the writing process for Essay 3?

The outline helps students organize their thoughts and structure their argument. It ensures each body paragraph has a clear claim and supporting quotes. It also acts as a roadmap for the essay, helping students plan their research and writing process.

What are some types of sources students should avoid when gathering research?

Students should avoid sources like Wikipedia, online encyclopedias, news outlets without authors (like Fox News or CNN), and unreliable or non-academic sites like WebMD. Instead, they should use credible publications such as The New York Times, Psychology Today, and The Guardian.