In the essay, you will want to focus on some compelling reasons to support your viewpoint, which may relate to any of the following: changing students’ self-concepts, changing students’ understanding of other ethnic populations, promoting multiculturalism, influencing student achievement, ensuring inclusion and fair representation of ethnic groups in the model curriculum, providing sufficient teacher training, mandating student participation, etc..
1. Closely read and analyze the article, “Ethnic Studies in California” by Miriam Pawel. (Make notes on the article about the author’s key points, key evidence, credibility of sources, any counterarguments and rebuttals, etc..).
2. Research several additional research sources to expand your understanding and develop your argument on this topic. In your essay, you must use at least 5 sources: including 2 scholarly/peer-reviewed articles (from RHC Library online databases), Miriam Pawel’s article, “Ethnic Studies in California,” and 2 or more other sources. Other sources may include websites (or web articles), other Library online database articles (e.g., EBSCO Host, Proquest, Opposing Viewpoints, SIRS Issues Research), books.
3. Write your essay for a general audience that has limited knowledge or awareness of the topic. With that in mind, begin your introduction with an engaging opening hook, introduce the topic and its relevance, include brief summary/background details about the topic, and state your thesis (your viewpoint) on whether the ethnic studies high school graduation requirement for California is justified.
4. In the body of your essay, fully develop four (4) body paragraphs, including:
- two (2) supporting argument paragraphs–your explanation of two significant reasons in support of your viewpoint
- one (1) opposing argument paragraph–your restatement/explanation of one major reason why opponents would disagree
- one (1) rebuttal argument paragraph–your refutation of the opponents’ reason (e.g., analysis of the flaws or weaknesses with the opposing reason itself, its stated key evidence, and its source’s credibility) and reaffirmation of your own
Begin each body paragraph with a focused topic sentence (that clearly states your paragraph’s reason or main point). The rest of each body paragraph should support your topic sentence by including the following: a detailed explanation of the reason, at least 2 compelling pieces of quoted supporting evidence, source citations, and your in-depth analysis/reasoning of the evidence. Again, be sure to include relevant direct quotes from your sources in your body paragraphs as supporting details and explain what they are meant to illustrate or prove.
5. Conclude with a rephrasing of your thesis and a strong commentary (e.g., the wider implications of the issue, speculation about future impact, call to action). You may also end with a relevant quotation, a response to an earlier question, etc..
6. Ensure that all borrowed quotes/ideas in the essay are cited and complete source information is provided on a Works Cited page. Complete essay and Works Cited page should be at least 5-6 pages total. Lastly, add an original essay title.
7. Re-read, revise, and edit your essay for best results.