[Get Solution] Balanced Statement about the Article

Below are a few questions to guide your analysis. Depending on the reading you choose, some questions may be more relevant than others. Rather than answering each question, think about it and incorporate your thoughts organically into your essay. What is the main idea of the article? What are some of the arguments in support of the main idea? How are they organized and presented? Think about possible strengths and weaknesses in the argument. Find something you agree with. Find something you disagree with. Can you combine the two in one balanced statement about the article? Are there areas that the author has perhaps suggested but not fully explored? What questions would you like to ask the author? Do you see any related avenues of inquiry that you may wish to explore yourself? Are there any significant keywords or evocative images that carry extra weight? Why are these specific words important? Is there a pattern of similar words or images repeated throughout the article? What is their significance? A successful essay will do the following: Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the article’s main idea Avoid general or vague comments Show awareness of the complexity of the issue Take a balanced approach to the article, without oversimplifying the argument or making grand, sweeping claims Formulate a position that goes beyond the article itself, using the article as a starting point (your main idea cannot simply be some form of “I agree/disagree”) Show evidence of in-depth thinking about the topic Present a coherent, logical argument Have a clear and specific thesis that 1) makes a claim of some kind (not just saying “This paper will examine…”); 2) is not stating the obvious (it must be possible to disagree with the thesis); 3) is not a list (e.g., “There are three reasons for high tuition fees”); 4) is not too broad; 5) is not merely personal opinion or a statement of fact Incorporate relevant and carefully chosen examples from the article as evidence Treat quotations and paraphrases carefully, so as not to commit plagiarism unintentionally Be attentive to specific words in the quotations that may be significant Avoid repetition throughout the essay (especially in the conclusion) Use correct grammar and spelling, clear phrasing, varied sentence structure, rich vocabulary, and appropriate tone Through analysis of the article, you will develop your own understanding and position on the topic. Your essay must not simply describe what the article is about but advance your own ideas on the subject. Format Your essay should be 1,000 – 1,500 words. The essay must be double-spaced. Remove any extra space between paragraphs, and indent the first line of each paragraph. Use a 12-point font and a 1-inch margin on all sides. Pages must be numbered. The essay must have a title, but a title page is not required. Make sure your name appears on the first page. Please submit your essay as a Microsoft Word document or a PDF. Please include your name in the filename (for example: “[your name] short essay”). You may submit as many versions as you want before the deadline. Only the last version will be graded. Documentation Make sure all quotations and paraphrases from the article are properly documented. After each quotation or paraphrase, include the author’s name in parentheses (alternatively, include the author’s name as a lead-in to the quotation). Provide a page number if available. At the end of the paper, include a reference with the full name of the author, the title of the article, and the year of publication (if available). Since we have not yet talked about MLA documentation style, the citations will not be graded on that.