Assignment Question
Essay #3: Researching, Understanding, and Arguing Consumerism Background: Concepts centered around consumerism and its many effects on society and the economy–by exploring consumerism as related to social media, technology, climate change, the fashion industry, and more. In this research paper, you will be able to exert your influence on your classmates’ and instructor’s perceptions of the world by arguing how consumerism has impacted our daily lives. Your goal will be to bring greater understanding to this impact by offering a more focused lens on a subtopic of your choosing.
TASK: In this assignment you will write a 6-8 page thesis-based, argumentative research essay in which you: identify and offer a problem, as related to consumerism, to be solved; prove why it’s a problem; argue what is causing/has caused the problem and its lasting negative effects; evaluate existing solutions to the problem, and persuade your audience to take action to improve or change the situation. Strategies: To start, think about the different topics explored in The Day The World Stops Shopping. Then, come up with a research question about the topic you wish to research. You can use your question from our They Say, I Say Chapter 15 discussion post if you would like, or you can create a new question. This question should not be too broad (“What has been the impact of consumerism on society?”) or too narrow (“Do Apple factories in China contribute directly to a ‘fast tech’ culture as a result of consumerist practices?”). You can use the research templates in They Say, I Say to guide you, but if you have difficulty coming up with a research question, see me in office hours or make an appointment and I’ll be glad to help you formulate one. You should also review the database that we made in Zoom on December 2 (located in Module 3 in Canvas). Guidelines: A strong essay will . . . Open with a well-developed introduction that appeals to your audience, identifies the specific issue you want to address, and inspires your audience to read more. Provide a focused thesis statement that argues the question you are posing, the causes, and your proposal/solution to the problem. Use well-developed, coherent TEEA paragraphs. Be well-organized to lead your reader and build your argument, covering all the components of the task (A-E). Make clear points in each topic sentence to show the problem(s) (i.e. consumerist practices), causes, effects, and solutions. Provide researched evidence (Evidence in TEEA) in the form of facts, data, case studies and credible opinions. You must use at least 5 credible sources. (See the database in Module 3!) Carefully review and analyze proposed solutions to the problem as well as barriers to improving the situation before providing your own solution or advocating for an existing proposal. Explain all of your evidence thoroughly, persuading your reader to see the urgency of the problem and why you have the best solution. Conclude by offering ways for society to address the problem. Use MLA format, including in-text citation and a Works Cited page for all sources directly referenced. Be carefully proofread for minimal sentence-level errors, especially those mentioned in your previous work, and employ a variety of sentence combining and modifying strategies for greater complexity and logic. PS TEEA stands for: Topic, Evidence, Evidence and Analysis.
