Write a persuasive and well-supported essay that develops the following argument into an adequately complex thesis: George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” is / is not relevant today and should / should not change how you teach your English course. (Be sure to refer to specific uses of English from contemporary life to back up your claims along with textual support from Orwell’s essay. Also, don’t forget to offer specific suggestions as to how/why your former teacher might more fully integrate/avoid Orwell in his/her/their class.) On its own, this argument is NOT adequately complex. You will need to develop its argumentative claims into a nuanced and cogent thesis that you then develop across a number of supporting paragraphs by quoting and citing specific passages that are relevant to the argument you are trying to make. In short, evidence is key—you will not be making your points convincingly if you rely on unsubstantiated assertions. Direct quotes and/or specific descriptions are necessary in each body paragraph. Be sure to clearly integrate the evidence you cite, letting readers know why you are introducing a particular quote in the specific place you have chosen. Don’t forget to close read/analyze your quotes. Feel free to draw on the Discussion and Informal Writing Assignments you have completed over the past two weeks to help you to do this! Assume that your former English instructor/teacher has never read Orwell’s essay. Do your best to provide him/her with all the information they will need to be in a position to be convinced by your claims even though s/he is unfamiliar with this work. Also, remember to be specific in your suggestions regarding how s/he should / should not change his/her course. All prose should be your original work, except for quotation and reference to the passages being analyzed. Also, please format your essay in keeping with MLA Style. The minimum word count for the Workshop One draft of this assignment is 1,000 words. When you submit the final draft, it will also need to be at least 1,200 words long.
