Essay Prompt Proposal Guidelines

Essay 4 PPT
Research Paper Directions
English 1B
NOTE: Refer to the Essay 4 Directions on Canvas under Pages to ensure that you understand the assignment and to ensure you meet all of the requirements.

Essay 4 Directions – Structure
This essay should have generally 6 paragraphs, but of course you can have more if you need to split paragraphs.

Introduction
Supporting Point 1 (F451)

Supporting Point 1 (American culture)

Supporting Point 2 (F451)

Supporting Point 2 (American culture)

Conclusion

Essay 4 Directions – Structure
This essay should have generally 6 paragraphs.

Introduction
Supporting Point 1 (F451)

Supporting Point 1
(American culture)
This paragraph should be longer

Conclusion
Hook & Context
Thesis: F451 and AC are similar in _____ and ____.
Main point: One way F451 and AC are similar is due to X . In the society of F451, X happens in ….
1-2 Specific examples w/ detail: One character in the story who demonstrates this is
Analysis: This demonstrates how this society…
Main point: Similarly, in American culture, X happens in ….
Specific example w/ detail: This is specifically demonstrated through… (provide similar examples to F451. For instance, mention seashells as technology that is a problem, don’t choose a disconnected example like gambling for American culture. Instead, choose something like cell phones)
Analysis: This demonstrates how this society…

Main point: Likewise, in American culture, Y happens in ….
Specific example w/ detail: This is specifically demonstrated through… (provide similar examples to F451. For instance, mention seashells as technology that is a problem, don’t choose a disconnected example like gambling for American culture. Instead, choose something like cell phones)
Analysis: This demonstrates how this society…

Supporting Point 2 (F451)
Main point: Additionally, F451 and AC are similar is due to Y . In the society of F451, Y happens in ….
1-2 Specific exampled w/ detail: One aspect of the book that demonstrates this is …
Analysis: This demonstrates how this society…
Supporting Point 2
(American culture)
This paragraph should be longer
Re-state thesis and discuss overall significance.

Generate Your Thesis
You must brainstorm and create a thesis before starting your essay. STOP and visit the “Generating a Thesis” powerpoint to brainstorm and determine your main points so they are arranged in a clear thesis statement before you write your paper.

Essay 4 Directions – What should be in the thesis?
Suggested Thesis Structure:

OPTION 1: In [text] by [author], similarities to American culture are demonstrated, such as ___ and ___.

OPTION 2: Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and American culture are similar in terms of ___ and ____.

OPTION 3: ____ and ____ are similarities demonstrated in both Fahrenheit 451 and American culture to show that….

Citations & Mentions…
Fahrenheit 451 is a book, so italicize it. Also, if you want, mention it once in the essay and put “F451” in the parenthesis next to the FULL TITLE, then you can simply refer to it after that as “(F451)”. See below.

Example:

“In Fahrenheit 451 (F451) the author discusses….Also, F451 looks at…”

Essay 4 Directions – What should be in the introduction?
Hook: Start Broad about the general topic
Context: Connect the topic to Bradbury’s text, then American Culture
Thesis: Connect how something from F451 is similar to American culture in 2 specific ways (list them here) and the consequences.

Essay 4 Directions – What should be in the supporting points?
Point 1:
(Body paragraph F451)
Transition w/ clear topic sentence: One way that F451 is similar to American culture is…
Explain the issue and how it manifests in F451 with specific textual support: This is first demonstrated in F451 by…
*****
(Body paragraph American culture)
Transition to how the issue manifests similarly in American culture with 1-2 specific detailed examples: Similarly, in American culture…
Discuss overall Implications/Significance:

Point 2:
(Body paragraph F451)
Transition w/ clear topic sentence: One way that F451 is similar to American culture is…
Explain the issue and how it manifests in F451 with specific textual support: This is first demonstrated in F451 by…
*****
(Body paragraph American culture)
Transition to how the issue manifests similarly in American culture with 1-2 specific detailed examples : Similarly, in American culture…
Discuss overall Implications/Significance:

Essay 4 Directions – What should be in the supporting points?
Point 1:
(Body paragraph F451)
Transition w/ clear topic sentence: One way that F451 is similar to American culture is…
Explain the issue and how it manifests in F451: This is first demonstrated in F451 by…
*****
(Body paragraph American culture)
Transition to how the issue manifests similarly in American culture: Similarly, in American culture…
Discuss overall Implications/Significance:

Point 2:
(Body paragraph F451)
Transition w/ clear topic sentence: One way that F451 is similar to American culture is…
Explain the issue and how it manifests in F451: This is first demonstrated in F451 by…
*****
(Body paragraph American culture)
Transition to how the issue manifests similarly in American culture: Similarly, in American culture…
Discuss overall Implications/Significance:
KEEP IN MIND:

Provide 1-2 examples for F451 and 1-2 current, specific examples for American culture. There should be no examples from WWII, for instance.

Examples from F451 and AC should match. If my point is about an obsession with technology, I shouldn’t say that F451 used seashell earphones and AC has Google; these are two different things. However, I can say Americans have an obsession/reliance on smartphones. The goal is to make a clear connection about how similar reliance on similar technologies have the same effect on the both societies.

The American culture paragraphs should be larger because these are most relevant to the reader.

Essay 4 Directions – What should be in the conclusion?
Restate thesis
Comment on the importance of understanding this comparison. Why should the reader understand your comparison of American culture with a dystopian society such as F451?

Also…Copy/Paste the entire Essay 3 Grading Rubric to the last page of your essay

Where is the Essay 4 Grading Rubric?

–Linked at the top of the Essay 4 Directions page.

**Helpful Hint: Your syllabus correctly cites most sources we have read. For sources not in the syllabus, use the MLA Citation PowerPoint to help correctly cite sources.
Essay MLA Format
12-point font
Times New Roman
1-inch margins
Eliminate large gaps/spaces
For this class, single space
Essay should be at least 2.5 full pages, just as you see above for a total of 1500 words
Works Cited MLA Format
The Works Cited page should have only 2 scholarly sources, the novel, and AND 1 from class OR .edu, .gov, .org cited (no more, no less).
Use a hanging indent: Indent all lines after the first line of the source.
eliminate large gaps/spaces
12-point font
Times New Roman
1-inch margins

Click here for a sample (on page 9 of the document)

When submitting the final draft, highlight ALL sources the FIRST time you mention them, so I can see you have the required 3 in the essay.

Helpful Resources to Consider

FOLLOW THE STRUCTURE. I will provide clear guidance on how the essay should be organized from the thesis to the conclusion. Academic writing is not freewriting, and in a positive way, you can rely on a specific structure to know what to write about and where. This is one of the most important factors of a successful essay.

It is vital that you review powerpoints on MLA Citations, Integrating Sources & Quotations, Basic Essay Structure, Basic Paragraph Structure, Generating a Thesis, Improving Your Thesis Statement, and Introductions & Conclusions. Find these under Files on Canvas.

Visit the Library Resources page or other Important Canvas Pages listed below.

Visit Office Hours or the Virtual Writing Center for help.
Important Canvas Pages:
Library Resources
Essay Resources
Scholarly Sources

Potential Penalties for Not Following Directions
There are no opportunities to revise this paper. Make sure you have followed all requirements. Point penalties are listed below:

PENALTIES
Not meeting word count: F or lower
Not following directions of examining contrasting F451 society with contemporary American culture: D- or lower.
Not following academic structure/organization indicated in E4 PowerPoint: D or lower
Not including specific, detailed examples from the novel and contemporary American culture to demonstrate main points: D or lower
Not following the specific source requirement: D or lower
Not following MLA Format: -10% or more
Not following citation/MLA citation guidelines: -10% or more
Plagiarizing anything: Zero without opportunity to revise.