Instructions:
For our final essay you will construct a research paper that explores the concept of happiness and its relationship to life. To do this, choose one area of life (e.g., school, business, work, family, food, culture, etc.) that you think happiness makes you more successful. Use 4-5 sources to support your ideas. You must also include a positionality statement to help situate yourself and your worldview into your ideas about happiness and its relationship to success.
Remember, this is your opportunity to show me what you have learned about the idea of happiness in addition to how well you can construct an essay.
Sources:
Before Happiness by Shawn Achor
Believe It to Achieve It by Brian Tracy and Christina Stein
3 academic articles of your choice related to your idea.
Note: You can use 1 or both of our books, but you must use all 3 articles.
Organization:
Introduction:
Interesting hook. (1 sentence)
Connecting information about your concept of happiness and how it connects to life. (2-3 sentences)
Introduce 3 ideas that relate to happiness and life. (3-6 sentences)
Include your positionality statement. (1-3 sentences)
Thesis statement that makes a claim about how happiness can help improve your life. (1 sentence)
(Note: remember to focus on just one area of life, so pick something important to you)
Body Paragraph 1: Summary
Topic sentence about the concept of happiness
Transition + Summarize first source 1-2 sentences
Transition + Summarize second source 1-2 sentences
Transition + Summarize third source 1-2 sentences
Transition + Summarize fourth source 1-2 sentences
Transition + Summarize fifth source 1-2 sentences (optional)
Concluding sentence.
ProTip: Use transitions that put your sources into conversation. For example, if 2 sources have similar ideas use transitions like “additionally”, “moreover”, “similarly”. If a source has a different perspective use transitions that show contrast like “on the other hand”, “however”, “conversely”. Use your Transitions and Connectives
Actions document to help.
Body Paragraph 2: Idea 1
Topic sentence about your first idea.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Concluding sentence.
Body Paragraph 3: Idea 2
Topic sentence about your first idea.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Concluding sentence.
Body Paragraph 4: Idea 3
Topic sentence about your first idea.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Transition + idea sentence, quote in context, explanation.
Concluding sentence.
Conclusion:
Restate your thesis.
Summarize your subpoints in 1-3 sentences.
Use 1-2 ending strategies (e.g., observation, advice, moral, suggestion)
End on a strong note!
Works Cited:
List every source used in MLA format and attach as a separate page to the essay.
Sources should be in alphabetical order by author last name.
Refer to your MLA guide or Purdue OWL for help.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Each body paragraph must have 2-3 different sources!
You can use one source multiple times, but you must use at minimum 2 different sources per paragraph.
Every source needs to be listed on the Works Cited page. Every source listed on the Works Cited must also appear in the body of your essay (with proper citations). I will check this!
