Week+Five+Feb+4th

Essay # 4 Instructions:

Read all 9 of the NY Times Room for Debate opinion pieces on the topic, "When to Punish, and When to Rehabilitate" [|Room for Debate/Juvenile Offenders] The various articles are listed along the left side of the website, or you can toggle through them using the arrows on the bottom of the page. Each is approximately one page long.

Using these sources, write a 3-4 page essay in which you answer the question:
 * How should minors who commit violent crimes be punished?**

You need to refer to at least five of these short articles in your essay (you can refer to more if you want to). Be sure to include a separate works cited page with your essay (see the MLA handouts I've distributed in class). Your works cited page needs to be listed alphabetically with sources listed in MLA format. Also, be sure to include in-text citations in your essay, but you will not have page numbers are your sources are all web-based. Nonetheless, you need to tag your authors and/or the title of the articles. Refer to the handout, 'Integrating Sources" as well as the MLA handouts to get help with this.

In this essay, you are arguing your point of view, but remember to keep the "I" out of your essay. It is understood that you are stating your opinions or beliefs. Don't begin sentences with phrases like, "I think,' "In my opinion," "I believe," etc. Just directly state your argument and support it with the texts.


 * Writing Tips:**

Start with a solid opener. Remember that at the onset of your intro, you're approaching the topic from that 10,000 foot view.
 * Introductions:**

Example opener from Essay #2: "Imagine living in a small town where one's personal business is known to many, if not all, the inhabitants. On one hand, the tranquility and solitude of a small town can inspire one to write, or even talk about something. On the other hand, that same tranquility and solitude can backfire and be heard all throughout the town where many people will look at you funny, especially if you're not from there. In both Norris'..."

Your thesis statement can be seen as a one-sentence summary of your essay. In other words, it should provide the reader with your main idea. In essay #2, you were connecting one writer's concepts about small town life (Norris) with Jentz's experiences in her book. This should be evident in the thesis statement. Be sure to read your thesis carefully against the writing prompt you've been provided. Of course, the thesis must also be connected to your intro opener.
 * Thesis Statements:**

Example thesis statement from Essay #2:

"Norris' overarching concept of the "local history" mentality, that world view that everything from the outside is suspect, echoes all throughout Jentz' narrative."

Example of a complete intro with thesis statement from Essay #2:

"When thinking of small towns, the fictitious Mayberry, North Carolina, in television's Andy Griffith Show, comes to mind. It is a happy, established community with righteous people all caring for each other. This is the closest many of us city dwellers get to understanding small town life. Living in a small town is a culture in itself. In her essay, "Can You Tell the Truth in a Small Town?" Kathleen Norris writes about how difficult it can be to tell the truth in a small town, and this essay will examine how Terri Jentz, in her book //Strange Piece of Paradise//, draws some similar conclusions."

In your essays for this class, you've been required to summarize something you've read. Your research project will be no exception. Summarizing is a crucial academic skill and it must follow careful, focused reading. You want to get to the heart of the writer's point and include those "stand out" details as well.
 * Summarizing:**

Example of a summary from Essay #2:

"Why is there always little history about small communities and why are histories of small communities written in the way people want it to be rather than what it really was? Norris has a few answers to this question. First, due to all the overwhelming different social roles that require people to play, there is hardly anyone left to focus on writing. Second, it is only possible to write about the history of a small town if you are not closely connected to the daily activities of the community. Last, Norris interviewed an old timer and was told that those who write local history tend to write about history in the way they want it to be instead of the way it was in the name of progress and self-censorship."