Only two sources are allowed for this essay
1. The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/ca
2. Textbook
Requirement:
• Length: 1,200-1,500 words, not counting cover page or References
• Include a cover page with your name, essay title, and word count
• Include in-text citations and reference list
• Write thesis statement (1-2 sentences) in bold. Make thesis statement
answer the research question directly.
• Dedicate essay to providing evidence to support the thesis statement.
• Minimal quotation and paraphrasing are allowed, but you should
mostly write in your own words.
Essay Structure
1. Cover page: state the essay title (make it interesting and on-point), your name, and the
word count. Cover page text does not count towards the essay word count.
2. Introduction paragraph (approximately 150-250 words)
Set up the reader’s interest in the topic of the paper
Introduce the question that will be answered
Provide the thesis statement (1-2 sentences) in bold
Give a short preview of the evidence that will support the thesis
3. Essay body
Each paragraph should contain one main piece of evidence in support of the
thesis.
The paragraphs should flow together in a logical way.
Depending on the length of paragraphs and the total word count, the body will run
around 4-7 paragraphs in length.
Paragraphs should not run on too long. Around 300 words should be a maximum,
with most paragraphs coming in shorter than that.
4. Concluding paragraph (approximately 100-200 words)
Demonstrate that the question has been answered by restating the argument and
recapping the evidence
Try to end on a note that wraps things up in way that brings closure to the paper,
and is even interesting
You want the reader to feel like the question was answered, the essay and its
argument were clear, and we reached a wrap-up point in the exercise
5. Reference list
This does not count towards the essay word count.
Provide a full reference entry for each of your sources, formatted in APA (as per
the Referencing Exercise).
Only list the textbook once – reference the full book, not any individual chapter
you used. Look to the Referencing Exercise feedback for proper formatting.
