Write an essay that explores a question or an issue surrounding a
topic related to any that have been examined in class under the topic of belonging and diversity. Develop a theme in your own work that is credible for your own paper.
You should use at least three primary sources of your choice and at least two secondary sources
from those we have studied in class.
In your paper you should anticipate using the texts, both primary and secondary, in dialectic. In
other words, the texts should speak to one another, or reinform one another. Your paper will
show evidence of our work all semester. We have been looking at ways to think about texts
while analyzing ideas informed by those texts. We have been “in conversation with” academics
and academic writing while also questioning our habits of mind. Perhaps most importantly, we
have been learning how to develop ideas ourselves in the process of engaging with texts through
dialogue and writing. Here is your chance to show what idea(s) of your own you can come up
with in relation to the texts we’ve been reading and make an argument of your own about them.
• Your essay must present a clear and specific thesis that reflects an issue or a theme
under the topic of belonging and diversity. Your essay will develop a theme as you
explore a question or an issue. Your introduction should draw in readers’ attention and
make evident the topic of exploration.
• Your essay should engage in dialectic and your argument must rely on strong
textual evidence and analysis. In your essay, you should anticipate using persuasive
techniques. You should anticipate using texts to speak to one another or reinform one
another. The texts you choose and the evidence from those texts should help to support
your argument.
• Use Modern Language Association (MLA) format for this essay. You are expected to
site from multiple primary and secondary texts using MLA format to paraphrase content
or cite using in-text citations. Include page numbers, heading, and title. The entire
document is double-spaced. Include a Works Cited page as a separate, last page at the
end of you essay.
Annotated Bibliography:
For each article, you
need to provide the citation using MLA format. Following the citation, you will need to provide
three paragraphs: summary, evaluation, reflection.
Summary: Provide a brief synopsis of the content of the source. Describe the topic, research
methodology, data, and findings.
Evaluation: Evaluate the source. Who is the author(s)? What is their background and experience?
Who is the audience? Who are the participants? What is the significance of this study? What is
significant about the findings? Is this a credible source for your research?
Reflection: How might you use findings from this source within your essay? What will it help to
prove in your essay? How will the content help to develop your argument or counterargument?
How will the source inform or challenge your perspective?
Each entry must be at least 200 words.
These entries will be useful for the Essay.
