ENG 102: Composition II
Prof. Bailey-Kirby

Analysis Paper

You will be writing an analysis paper on a debatable, social issue by taking a stance on this topic, providing reasons that support your position, and persuading your readers to your side. Your analysis will be a minimum of 750 words (about three typed pages and double spaced with one inch margins) when you count the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, while the heading, title, and “Works Cited” are separate and not counted toward the 750 words minimum for the content of your essay.

You will also need to use the MLA format and provide parenthetical citations and a “Works Cited” page whenever you quote, paraphrase, and/or summarize from a source. In other words, you are required to quote at least once from three sources after you narrow it down from the six sources that you are required to find from our library’s database when you include evidence in each of your body paragraphs for a minimum of three quotes in the paper. In other words, each paragraph must provide evidence/support with at least one quoted, summarized, and/or paraphrased passage, but most of you will exceed (go over) the minimum of three quotes in your paper in order to make a more persuasive case for your stance with enough reliable evidence.

However, as stated above, you will be required to find at least SIX SOURCES (primary, secondary, scholarly, and reference) while you are only required to use a minim of those THREE SOURCES for this first paper from our library’s database, specifically from the link highlighted in yellow below. You will notice that the sources/articles in the database include both the pros/cons of a debatable social issue, but you are only looking to include sources on your stance at this time while the opposing side’s sources will be applied for the second paper. Hence, it will help you determine which side you really support, and when you have selected the specific sources in support of your stance, you can use the “citation” feature on the toolbar under each database in our CSN Library to apply the MLA format for your “Works Cited” page for each source.

Yes, you must use the following link: http://libguides.csn.edu/c.php?g=402158&p=2736184 from our Library’s Information on the Pros/Cons of a debatable social issue and locate your sources under “Opposing Viewpoints in Context” AND/OR “Issues and Controversies on File” to locate your sources. You are also encouraged to e-mail our CSN Librarian Caprice Roberson who created a specific page for our ENG 102 course: http://libguides.csn.edu/researchpaper-bk. She is available to help you begin your research if you need some guidance, and you can also find her contact information when you go directly to that link above.

In addition to the requirements listed above, you will need to take your rough draft to the Writing Center (free, walk-in service), have them stamp/date your essay, and provide feedback on your work. Then, you will revise your essay with their feedback as well as feedback from your peer review that your instructor will assign you for each essay. Afterwards, you will submit the stamped/dated rough draft in Canvas along with your final revised draft on the due date.

Nonetheless, if you cannot get to the Writing Center on any of the three main campuses, you have the other option of using Smarthinking.com, which is a free, online service if you go through the link in Canvas for our course. They do not offer immediate feedback like the Writing Center, and it may take longer than twenty-four hours to hear back from them, so plan your schedule accordingly, in order to give yourself enough time to receive feedback and be able to revise in time. Either way, you still need to submit Smarthinking.com’s feedback of your entire rough draft when you attach your final revised draft of the analysis paper in Canvas by the due date. (Note: You will be penalized one letter grade if you do not go to the Writing Center or Smarthinking.com with your rough draft.)
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Note, an analysis is an argument in which you study the parts of an issue, event, and/or process to understand how it works, what it means, or why it might be significant/beneficial, etc. In other words, an analysis is an argument with two components. The first component states and establishes the writer’s agreement with a certain principle or definition, such as the following: CLAIM 1 – Principe X (or definition X) is valuable.

In the second component of your argument, you will apply specific parts of your principle or definition to the topic. Regardless of how it is phrased or what stance you take, this second argument in an analysis can be reworded as the following: CLAIM 2 – By applying (banning, legalizing, etc.) Principle (or definition) X, one can understand (topic) as (conclusion based on analysis). This will formulate the thesis of your analytical essay. See the examples below before you follow the template and formulate a thesis for your instructor’s approval.

  • EXAMPLE THESIS: By sentencing violent criminals to the death penalty, the government would create a crime deterrent, reduce overpopulation in the prisons, and give families closure.
  • EXAMPLE THESIS: By legalizing prostitution, Americans would reduce cases of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, prevent psychological harm to sex workers, and even decrease violent crimes and physical abuse against them.
  • EXAMPLE THESIS: By banning corporal (physical) punishment of children as a form of discipline, parents would prevent physical abuse, psychological harm, and poor social/behavioral development in their children.

TEMPLATE TO FORMULATE YOUR THESIS FOR THE INSTRUCTOR’S APPROVAL (Fill in the blanks below):

By______, (Identify “who/what?” /i.e. one, the
government, doctors, parents, the law, etc. here):______would
______, ______,
and ______.

Checklist for your Analysis Paper:

_____1. Did you meet the requirements of the 750 words minimum for your analysis essay?

_____2. Did you stay away from switching between first person “We/I” or second person “You” but remained consistent in the formal third person point of view and avoided contractions (can’t) and wrote it out (cannot) instead?

_____3. Did you apply the MLA format for parenthetical citations whenever you quoted, paraphrased, and/or summarized passages as well as included the “Works Cited” page for all of your sources (Listed them alphabetically.)?

_____4. Did you use at least three quotes in your essay; in other words, at least one quote in each body paragraph as evidence and applied all three of your sources from the CSN library database?

_____5. Did you go to the Writing Center (or use Smarthinking.com) and have them stamp/date your essay, give you feedback on it, and included it with your final revised draft?

ANALYSIS PAPER OUTLINE:
(Type your outline in complete sentence on a separate sheet of paper when you submit the final copy.):

  1. Introduction (Use one of the “Leads” from our Smarter Writing and aim for a minimum of 5 sentences.):______

______

State your thesis here:______

______

  1. First reason/point from thesis with your stance should be stated in the topic sentence:______

______

  1. Identify Evidence 1:______

______

  1. Quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source to support your stance:______

______

  1. Explain the meaning of the evidence and how/why it supports your thesis:______

______

______

  1. Identify Evidence 2:______

______

  1. Quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source to support your stance:______

______

  1. Explain the meaning of the evidence and how/why it supports your thesis:______
  1. Second reason/point from thesis with your stance should be stated in the topic sentence:______

______

  1. Identify Evidence 1:______

______

  1. Quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source to support your stance:______

______

  1. Explain the meaning of the evidence and how/why it supports your thesis:______

______

  1. Identify Evidence 2:______

______

  1. Quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source to support your stance:______

______

  1. Explain the meaning of the evidence and how/why it supports your thesis:______
  1. Third reason/point from thesis with your stance should be stated in the topic sentence:______

______

  1. Identify Evidence 1:______

______

  1. Quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source to support your stance:______

______

  1. Explain the meaning of the evidence and how/why it supports your thesis:______

______

  1. Identify Evidence 2:______

______

  1. Quote, paraphrase, or summarize from a source to support your stance:______

______

  1. Explain the meaning of the evidence and how/why it supports your thesis:______
  1. Conclusion (Reiterate the main points of your essay and emphasize your stance: Aim for at least 3-5 sentences.):______