Essays I Wish to Share
Good Habits for Writers
1. Did I begin this essay on the day it was assigned?
2. Did I ask questions about part of the assignment I did not understand?
3. Did I work at least twelve hours on this paper?
4. Did I bring drafts of this essay to class when requested?
5. Did I have another person read my draft?
6. Did I proofread my draft in stages rather than all at once?
Essay Submission Checklist
□ Follows correct MLA format (see the end of the MLA section of A Writer’s Reference for what your final draft should look like): make sure to include a cover page, but you do not need an abstract
□ Has made use of the required reading and additional research
□ Shows evidence that evidence from the reading has been carefully selected
□ Contains citations and a correctly formatted works cited or references page
□ Has a title of my own creation (the essay should not be called “Argumentative Essay”)
□ Is at least four to five pages long (not counting the references page)
□ Has been proofread for at least two hours before submission
Argumentative Essay
Why Write this Assignment?
The ability to persuade others through the use of logic, and appeals to emotions and character, along with evidence from sources, is a skill you will use in an academic setting, but also in work and political settings. However, this is not a natural skill—it needs to be practiced through participating in debates and writing papers like this one.
Format and length requirements:
For this assignment, you should write at least five pages. In all other respects, follow MLA format on your paper’s final draft—this includes using in text citations and a works cited page. Also, your essay needs to be double spaced, use 12 point Times New Roman font, and it should look like the example paper at the end of the of the MLA section of A Writer’s Reference.
Required Readings:
Read “Can We Be Happy?”
1. Did I begin this essay on the day it was assigned?
2. Did I ask questions about part of the assignment I did not understand?
3. Did I work at least twelve hours on this paper?
4. Did I bring drafts of this essay to class when requested?
5. Did I have another person read my draft?
6. Did I proofread my draft in stages rather than all at once?
Essay Submission Checklist
□ Follows correct MLA format (see the end of the MLA section of A Writer’s Reference for what your final draft should look like): make sure to include a cover page, but you do not need an abstract
□ Has made use of the required reading and additional research
□ Shows evidence that evidence from the reading has been carefully selected
□ Contains citations and a correctly formatted works cited or references page
□ Has a title of my own creation (the essay should not be called “Argumentative Essay”)
□ Is at least four to five pages long (not counting the references page)
□ Has been proofread for at least two hours before submission
Argumentative Essay
Why Write this Assignment?
The ability to persuade others through the use of logic, and appeals to emotions and character, along with evidence from sources, is a skill you will use in an academic setting, but also in work and political settings. However, this is not a natural skill—it needs to be practiced through participating in debates and writing papers like this one.
Format and length requirements:
For this assignment, you should write at least five pages. In all other respects, follow MLA format on your paper’s final draft—this includes using in text citations and a works cited page. Also, your essay needs to be double spaced, use 12 point Times New Roman font, and it should look like the example paper at the end of the of the MLA section of A Writer’s Reference.
Required Readings:
Read “Can We Be Happy?”