The Academic Essay Assignment In This Unit Will Be A 882915
The academic essay Assignment in this unit will be a written, cohesive argument for the change in your community or workplace that you have been writing about throughout the course.
The assignment requires writing a persuasive academic essay advocating for a specific change within your community or workplace. The essay must incorporate reliable evidence from at least four sources to support your argument, with at least one source being a book, ebook, or periodical article, preferably accessed through the library. You will also need to address a counter-argument or misconception about your topic, demonstrating your ability to consider and refute opposing views.
Your essay should follow APA 6th Edition formatting, including a properly formatted title page and references page. It must include a clear thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph. Each paragraph needs to be well-developed, including evidence from sources that support your reasoning. The essay should be written in standard American English, maintaining a formal tone and using only the third person point of view.
The length of the essay should be approximately 4 pages or 1,000 words, excluding the title and references pages. Your paper should present a strong, well-supported argument advocating for the specified change in your community or workplace.
Students are encouraged to seek feedback on their drafts through the University Writing Center, which offers services like Paper Review and Q&A. Additional resources are available on the WC website, including guidance on APA format, citing sources, and revising your work. Submitting your essay through the designated Dropbox allows for Turnitin plagiarism analysis, and students can view the Originality Report to ensure originality prior to grading.
All submissions must be in Word format to facilitate proper review. After submission and grading, students can access their graded work through the Dropbox or Gradebook.
Paper For Above instruction
The purpose of this assignment is to develop and present a persuasive academic essay advocating for a specific change in your community or workplace. This task involves critical research, structured argumentation, and effective communication, all of which are essential skills in academic and professional settings.
To begin, selecting a relevant and impactful issue within your community or workplace is vital. This issue should be significant enough to warrant change and compelling enough to persuade your audience of its importance. For example, if working in a corporate environment, an issue might be the implementation of more flexible work arrangements to improve employee satisfaction and productivity. If focused on a community, it could involve advocating for increased recycling efforts or improved public transportation options.
Once a topic has been chosen, thorough research is essential. Gathering at least four credible sources, including at least one scholarly article or book from a library database, enhances the authority of your argument. These sources should provide evidence supporting your proposed change, as well as insights into potential counter-arguments or misconceptions. Analyzing multiple perspectives ensures the essay remains balanced and demonstrates your ability to critically evaluate differing viewpoints.
The thesis statement, positioned at the end of the introduction, clearly articulates your main argument for change. This statement guides the direction of the essay and clarifies your position. For example, "Implementing a flexible work schedule in our organization will increase employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, and enhance overall productivity." From there, each paragraph should develop a specific point supporting this thesis, backed by evidence from your sources.
In constructing your paragraphs, it's important to support claims with quotations, data, or paraphrased ideas from credible sources. This not only bolsters your argument but also demonstrates academic integrity through proper citation. Using APA format for in-text citations and referencing is crucial. Remember, at least one source must be a scholarly publication accessed via the library, emphasizing the importance of academic research.
Addressing a counter-argument or misconception is a critical component. For instance, opponents might argue that flexible work schedules lead to decreased productivity or accountability. Acknowledge this viewpoint and refute it with evidence showing increased satisfaction and productivity in organizations that have adopted such policies.
Concluding the essay, reiterate the main points and emphasize the benefits of the proposed change. Your conclusion should persuade the reader that adopting your advocated change will result in tangible improvements within your community or workplace.
Throughout the writing process, adhering to APA formatting, maintaining a formal tone, and emphasizing clarity are essential. Revising and seeking feedback from the Writing Center can enhance the quality of your final essay. Once complete, submit your paper in Word format via the designated Dropbox. Prior to grading, review the Turnitin Originality Report to ensure your work is original and properly cited.
References
- American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
- Belcher, W. L. (2019). Writing your journal article in twelve weeks: A guide to academic publishing success. SAGE Publications.
- Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. SAGE Publications.
- Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2017). They say / I say: The moves that matter in academic writing. W. W. Norton & Company.
- Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. (2019). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches. SAGE Publications.
- Lunsford, A. A., & Ruszkiewicz, J. J. (2016). Everything's an argument. Bedford/St. Martin's.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2023). APA Formatting and Style Guide. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide.html
- Robinson, K. (2014). Creative schools: The grassroots revolution that’s resetting education. Viking.
- Silva, T. (2018). From evidence to action: The importance of research translation. Journal of Educational Change, 19(3), 251-268.
- Warring, S. (2020). The importance of evidence-based practice in education. Educational Leadership, 78(4), 20-25.