Censorship: Should Language be Censored?
Students will —
o Read the Language Awareness overview section p.500, “Should Language be Censored?”
o Read “We are Free to be You, Me, Stupid and Dead” p.501 (required as a source in your paper)
o Read “Pornography, Obscenity, and the Case for Censorship” p.505 (required as a source in your paper)
o Read “Stutterer Speaks Up in Class; His Professor Says Keep Quiet (required as a source in your paper)
o Read also the Special Note on This Selection, p.521)
o Read two additional articles located through Proquest to use one or both to supplement the LA articles
o Apply a writing process as you collect information, organize, develop an informative thesis, outline, and begin to draft the paper.
o Use your sources as support in your paper as you write
o Document the sources within the paper using introductory tag/ signal phrases and parenthetical documentation – see APA in Writing Matters and writing centers linked on Bb, including Purdue OWL
o Draft, and then revise and finalize, an introduction, body, and conclusion, and opinion paragraph.
o Write an Abstract for your paper – see APA information and examples in Writing Matters and in the writing centers linked on Bb, including Purdue OWL
o List the sources used in the paper on a References page, which will be the last page of your paper — see APA information and examples in Writing Matters and in the writing centers linked on Bb, including Purdue OWL, and see Bb Course Documents for sample entries.
o Read your paper holistically for unity, coherence, and flow.
–Check for effective sentence structures, phrasing, word choice, and transitions
–Proofread and edit your paper.
Length/ Development/ Format:
• Format your paper per APA, including a title page, running head, and page numbers — see APA information and examples in Writing Matters and writing centers linked on Bb, including Purdue OWL
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Body of the paper, including documentation
Conclusion
Opinion paragraph (This is the only part of your paper which should be written in 1st person (“I”) – the body of the paper should be an objective discussion of the various sides of the censorship issue as evidenced in your sources)
References page
• Your paper should be 3 (full) – 5 pgs, excluding the title page, abstract, and References page.
• Double-space, using 12pt times new roman (or similar) font.
Content notes:
Abstract
• A developed paragraph (about ½ – ¾ page) which summarizes your paper’s content
• Use 3rd person, and summarize the content rather than “announce” what the paper does
Introduction
o identifies “censorship” as the informative topic of the paper
o gives a general overview of the “so what?” factor for the topic: why the
topic is worthwhile, important, and worthy of discussing various perspectives
o introduces the paper’s content as an overview of points of view
Body paragraphs
• Use an outline or other “plan” to organize your information
o Can you categorize your information as “pro” censorship, or “con” censorship?
o Does some of the information lead to a melded, or moderate point of view?
o Consider the order of information presented as you organize your paper
o Document using tag/ signal phrases and parenthetical documentation
o Use clear transitions
Conclusion paragraph
• The conclusion paragraph should include
o a brief, objective overview of the information and points discussed
o a recognition of the “so what?” factor – why does it matter that we look at censorship from various viewpoints?
o a sense of finality/ closure to the informative paper
Opinion paragraph
• In light of your reading, voice your own opinion on censorship, using 1st person
References page
• Format an APA References page, including an entry for each source (you will have a total of 4 or 5 entries on your References page – one for each of the required LA sources, and one for each of the supplemental sources
