Poor, Poor Synthesis Essay

Due Monday, February 5th

Question: What, if anything, is society’s obligation to the poor? Using several of the pieces we have read in this unit, as well as your own personal experiences, reading, and research, explain how and why society at large ought (or ought not) to help those who can’t help themselves. Support your thesis with direct quotations from multiple texts (a minimum of three sources from class, plus two additional college-level sources), properly formatted in MLA style.

This paper will require you to define some key terms: society, obligation, and poor. We’ve read a variety of models of authors using a variety of techniques to define complex terms. Quoting the dictionary is rarely necessary or effective. If you do quote the dictionary, you don’t need to cite it.

Typed. Double Spaced. Twelve point. No blank lines between paragraphs, except to indicate a major shift in tone or setting. Four – seven pages. Don’t forget a title. Include your word count on the first page of your essay.

Required:

·      Three rhetorical strategies from The Virtual Salt, underlined and labeled (handwritten labels are acceptable, as are footnotes).

·      A minimum of three sources from class.

·      A minimum of two additional college-level sources.

·      Properly formatted Works Cited Page.

Suggested: Consider the tone you want to set from the outset. Narrative openings emphasize pathos. Openings filled with stats and facts emphasize logos. What is the most effective tone for you to employ?

Audience: 1) “Society.”  2) Yourself.

Purpose: 1) To suggest a plan of action for the future. 2) To convince “society” to embrace your plan.

How to approach this paper:

·      Define your key terms.

·      Develop an opinion on this subject.

·      Gather evidence (from our texts and from research) to support your opinion. This is an argument; therefore, personal experience is valid evidence and first person is an acceptable POV. Do not, however, rely on the phrases “I believe”, “I think”, or “I feel.”

·      Consider counter arguments.

·      Craft an outline.

·      Create clear, defensible topic sentences.

·      Draft paragraphs with two quotations to support your topic sentences.

·      Draft paragraphs with an eye towards ethos, pathos, and logos.

·      Proofread to ensure your quotations are properly formatted and cited. For this essay, “you will need to include the author’s name in your parenthetical citation” (Kline 1).

·      Create your Works Cited page.