Microsoft Word and Final Paper
Introduction to the Junior Theme
A major goal of AP English III is to teach students to think about contemporary issues, analyze other people’s opinions about those issues, and express their own ideas in ways that are clear and convincing. Last semester’s work on argumentation gave you some of the basic skills for this. Now you need to refine those skills and focus them on a single contemporary issue that interests you.
We’ll use a previous AP essay as a model for your junior theme. Essay 2 on the 2004 exam asked the following question:
Contemporary life is marked by controversy. Choose a controversial local, national, or global issue with which you are familiar. Then, using appropriate evidence, write an essay that carefully considers the opposing positions on this controversy and proposes a solution or compromise.
As the essay prompt says, the first step is to choose a controversial issue. Choose carefully! This means two things. On the one hand, pick something that you’re interested in so you’ll be motivated to give the paper the time and energy it needs. On the other hand, avoid topics that you can’t think about objectively. For example, if you are deeply upset by the fact that stylists charge more to cut women’s hair than they do to cut men’s hair, you may not be able to consider both sides objectively. So pick something else.
Attached you will find some options on controversial topics. You may choose out of those, or come up with something on your own. You need to list three choices in case your first choice is not approved. Your choice may not be approved because A) it is inappropriate for research or B) it is already taken. ONLY ONE STUDENT FROM EACH CLASS WILL BE PERMITTED TO WORK ON A TOPIC.
After exploring these topics, list 3 that you think you might want to use for your junior theme, then sign the statement & return to me:
1.
2.
3.
I understand that the Junior Theme will encompass several
A major goal of AP English III is to teach students to think about contemporary issues, analyze other people’s opinions about those issues, and express their own ideas in ways that are clear and convincing. Last semester’s work on argumentation gave you some of the basic skills for this. Now you need to refine those skills and focus them on a single contemporary issue that interests you.
We’ll use a previous AP essay as a model for your junior theme. Essay 2 on the 2004 exam asked the following question:
Contemporary life is marked by controversy. Choose a controversial local, national, or global issue with which you are familiar. Then, using appropriate evidence, write an essay that carefully considers the opposing positions on this controversy and proposes a solution or compromise.
As the essay prompt says, the first step is to choose a controversial issue. Choose carefully! This means two things. On the one hand, pick something that you’re interested in so you’ll be motivated to give the paper the time and energy it needs. On the other hand, avoid topics that you can’t think about objectively. For example, if you are deeply upset by the fact that stylists charge more to cut women’s hair than they do to cut men’s hair, you may not be able to consider both sides objectively. So pick something else.
Attached you will find some options on controversial topics. You may choose out of those, or come up with something on your own. You need to list three choices in case your first choice is not approved. Your choice may not be approved because A) it is inappropriate for research or B) it is already taken. ONLY ONE STUDENT FROM EACH CLASS WILL BE PERMITTED TO WORK ON A TOPIC.
After exploring these topics, list 3 that you think you might want to use for your junior theme, then sign the statement & return to me:
1.
2.
3.
I understand that the Junior Theme will encompass several