Prompt: Expository Essay

Introduction

This page is informational in nature. The tutor review will be included in week #3’s graded assessments, while the expository essay will be included in week #4’s graded assessments.

Expository Essay (100 points)

Choose only one of the following prompts:

1. Based on any two readings by Stephanie Coontz, what specific decade is the golden age of the American family? Discuss two or three reasons (economic, social, political, and so on) why this time period represents an idyllic age for American family life.
   
   
2. Discuss two or three problems (poverty, unemployment, discrimination, incarceration, and so on) that are negatively affecting the black family. In your essay, reference Ta-Nehisi Coates’s articles, “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” and “Confessions of a Black Mr. Mom.” If applicable, does Coates propose any solutions to these problems?
   
   
3. How are fathers portrayed in animated films and/or animated television series? Discuss two or three examples of how animated fathers are portrayed. In your essay, reference at least two readings: either Sarah Boxer’s “Why Are All the Cartoon Mothers Dead?” or Keith Booker’s book chapters, “Animation’s New Age: Meet The Simpsons” or “Family Guys from King of the Hill to American Dad.”
   
   
4. Discuss two or three reasons (economic insecurity, divorce, job layoff, home foreclosure, global competition, and so on) why people live in extended family households (also known as multigenerational households or “accordion families”). In your essay, reference both Naomi Gerstel and Natalia Sarkisian’s “The Color of Family Ties: Race, Class, Gender, and Extended Family Involvement” and Katherine Newman’s “The Accordion Family.”
   
   

Directions

• In MLA format, write two to three full pages.
• In addition, incorporate into each body paragraph at least two direct quotes from any two readings. In all, your essay should have a total of four direct quotes (or more) from at least two readings.
  
  

Tutor Review #1 (10 points total)

• Upload a Word document containing a two full-page rough draft. 
• Be sure to include a PDF file containing either the certificate of attendance sent by a Learning Center tutor or feedback from NetTutor.
  • due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6^th

Due date

• The final draft of this essay is due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13^th.
  
  

Rubric

• Thesis and Content (30 points)
  • The essay has a thesis—a single, central idea that is interesting, original, striking, and substantial. The central idea must be developed in the essay through well-chosen, appropriate, concrete details that show originality and freshness. The author shows—with rich sensory details—rather than merely tells, if applicable. Additionally, all supporting ideas connect to and help advance the essay’s thesis.
• Organization (30 points)
  • The essay is organized and well structured: there is an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The essay exhibits a clear strategy for persuasion and pattern of development (chronological order, spatial order, topical order, or order of importance). The essay’s supporting ideas are “previewed” in the introduction and “summarized” in the conclusion. The organization works with the thesis so that the thesis and the organization contribute to serving the purpose of the essay. Essay does not digress from central idea. Transitions help the paper flow smoothly.
• Paragraphs (20 points)
  • Paragraphs are organized, unified, and coherent. The introductory paragraph contains a hook and context, a “preview” of the supporting ideas, and a forceful thesis statement—i.e., a main claim of fact, policy, or value.  Each body paragraph has a controlling idea (expressed in a topic sentence).  In body paragraphs, the topic sentence helps support the thesis. The conclusion contains a rephrasing of the thesis, a “summary” of the supporting ideas, and substantial final observations.
• Style (20 points)
  • Sentences are mature and parallel; they show variety of pattern and are rhetorically effective. The essay is written in a style and tone appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose. Diction is appropriate, formal, and well chosen. Writer avoids wordiness, clichés, and passive voice sentence construction; writer also avoids using first-person and second-person pronouns. Writer seems to be speaking in an authentic voice. The essay is written in MLA format and free of grammatical errors.
• Works Cited page
  • A properly formatted works cited page will be included on a separate page at the end of your essay. You need a minimum of two (2) sourcesin MLA format, 9^th edition.

  • What to submit

    Each student will submit a Word document that follows the guidelines as written below.

    Prompt

    Choose only one of the following prompts:

    1. Based on any two readings by Stephanie Coontz, what specific decade is the golden age of the American family? Discuss two or three reasons (economic, social, political, and so on) why this time period represents an idyllic age for American family life.
       
       
    2. Discuss two or three problems (poverty, unemployment, discrimination, incarceration, and so on) that are negatively affecting the black family. In your essay, reference Ta-Nehisi Coates’s articles, “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration” and “Confessions of a Black Mr. Mom.” If applicable, does Coates propose any solutions to these problems?
       
       
    3. How are fathers portrayed in animated films and/or animated television series? Discuss two or three examples of how animated fathers are portrayed. In your essay, reference at least two readings: either Sarah Boxer’s “Why Are All the Cartoon Mothers Dead?” or Keith M. Booker’s book chapters, “Animation’s New Age: Meet The Simpsons” or “Family Guys from King of the Hill to American Dad.”
       
       
    4. Discuss two or three reasons (economic insecurity, divorce, job layoff, home foreclosure, global competition, and so on) why people live in extended family households (also known as multigenerational households or “accordion families”). In your essay, reference both Naomi Gerstel and Natalia Sarkisian’s “The Color of Family Ties: Race, Class, Gender, and Extended Family Involvement” and Katherine Newman’s “The Accordion Family.”

    Directions

    • In MLA format, write two to three full pages.
    • In addition, incorporate into each body paragraph at least two direct quotes from any two readings. In all, your essay should have a total of four to six direct quotes from at least two readings.

    Works cited page

    • A properly formatted works cited page will be included on a separate page at the end of your essay. You need a minimum of two (2) sources in MLA format, 9^th edition.

    ---

    Grading rubric

    A rubric is a grading guide that contains specific criteria that is used to evaluate student work.  The levels of achievement will explain what you will need to do to successfully complete the assignment.  You should strive to achieve the highest level.

    Your essay will be graded using the rubric associated with this assignment. To view the rubric for this essay, continue to scroll down.

    Feedback plan

    I will grade this essay within 14 days of the assignment’s late-work deadline using the rubric and “SpeedGrader” feature. Feedback can be viewed on your Grades page.

    
    

    How to upload

    If you encounter difficulties when uploading your Word document, please refer to the Canvas guide for help.

    Expository Essay

    Expository Essay
    Criteria	Ratings	Pts
    Thesis and Content	30 to >0 pts Points possible The essay has a thesis—a single, central idea that is interesting, original, striking, and substantial. The central idea must be developed in the essay through well-chosen, appropriate, concrete details that show originality and freshness. (The author shows—with rich sensory details—rather than merely tells, if applicable.) Additionally, all supporting ideas connect to and help advance the essay’s thesis. 0 pts Missing For students who do not submit a final draft of the expository essay.	/ 30 pts
    Organization	30 to >0 pts Points possible The essay is organized and well structured: there is an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The essay exhibits a clear strategy for persuasion and pattern of development (chronological order, spatial order, topical order, or order of importance). The essay’s supporting ideas are “previewed” in the introduction and “summarized” in the conclusion. The organization works with the thesis so that the thesis and the organization contribute to serving the purpose of the essay. Essay does not digress from central idea. Transitions help the paper flow smoothly. 0 pts Missing For students who do not submit a final draft of the expository essay.	/ 30 pts
    Paragraphs	20 to >0 pts Points possible Paragraphs are organized, unified, and coherent. The introductory paragraph contains a hook and context, a “preview” of the supporting ideas, and a forceful thesis statement—i.e. a main claim of fact, policy, or value. Each body paragraph has a controlling idea (expressed in a topic sentence). In body paragraphs, the topic sentence helps support the thesis. The conclusion contains a rephrasing of the thesis, a “summary” of the supporting ideas, and substantial final observations. 0 pts Missing For students who do not submit a final draft of the expository essay.	/ 20 pts
    Style	20 to >0 pts Points possible Sentences are mature and parallel; they show variety of pattern and are rhetorically effective. The essay is written in a style and tone appropriate to the audience, topic, and purpose. Diction is appropriate, formal, and well chosen. Writer avoids wordiness, clichés, and passive voice sentence construction; writer also avoids using first-person and second-person pronouns. Writer seems to be speaking in an authentic voice. The essay is written in MLA format and free of grammatical errors. 0 pts Missing For students who do not submit a final draft of the expository essay.	/ 20 pts
    Works Cited Page	0 pts Missing For students who do not submit a works cited page (or a works cited page with fewer than two sources and/or formatting errors). 0 pts Perfect! A works cited page that conforms to the rules of MLA format, 9th edition, and contains a minimum of two sources.	/ 0 pts
    Total Points: 0