Simple Stuff Exercise

The point of this exercise is twofold: 1) to ensure that everyone understands the conventions for formatting writing assignments in proper "English-class fashion," and 2) to give me a brief sample of your writing in a "friendly" context where the writing itself isn't actually graded.

Refer carefully to all "SS" items on the Simple Stuff page as you complete the assignment below.  Your grade will be determined not on the quality of your writing, but on your adherence to the simple guidelines for formatting and presentation outlined on the Simple Stuff page.

Part I.  Type a fully developed paragraph of 150-200 words that could serve as the introduction in an essay in persuasive format addressing one of the topics below.  You should observe all the "golden rules."

Recall that introductions in the persuasive format should culminate in a literal question at the end of the paragraph—not a thesis statement.  Recall also that the introduction should be neutral, so that after reading it your reader should have no idea which side of the issue you would support in the body of the argument.  Review the comments on introductions in the persuasive format handout and see the introduction in the sample essay.

Topic 1:
The issue of whether the legal drinking age should be 18 or 21 throughout the U.S.

Topic 2:
An argument over whether college students learn more in online classes or in traditional on-ground courses.

Topic 3:
An argument debating whether cell phones improve quality of life.
 

Part II.  Though I'm not asking for quotations in your introduction, make a separate "works cited page" with the purely imaginary article below listed as a "work cited."  The works cited page should have the title, Works Cited, centered at the top of the page, and the bibliographic entry should appear as follows (double-spaced, of course):

Burdowski, T. R.  "The Atlanta Braves: Heroes or Merely Ballplayers?"  The Greatest Game's Greatest Team.  Tenth edition.  Ed. by Frances C. Rogers and Francisco Cabrera.  New York: Not-Too-Likely Books, 2007.  799-838.

Microsoft Word Tip: to make a page break after the paragraph (to start a new page for the works cited page), press the control and enter keys simultaneously at the end of the paragraph.

You may cut and paste the works cited entry from this page into your document, but do make sure the formatting (the font, especially) is consistent with the text of your paragraph: see SSF.

Be sure to follow all Simple Stuff guidelines regarding margins, fonts and font sizes, margin justification, titles, headers and page numbers, listing of your name, date, course and section, etc.

Staple the two pages together and turn them in Tuesday.