ENC Classes--Reflective Research Essay--Three Favorite Texts. This post includes a sample opening paragraph. Assignment posted on March 27, 2023. Assignment due on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Printed out--turn in at the beginning of the class.

(Please note--The alignment of the text in the sample introductory paragraph is off--right margin; problems with the website.)                                                                                                                  

This essay may be written by just yourself, or you may write a collaborative essay with peers (up to four students). The minimum number of "favorite" texts (see opening paragraph) is three. If you have four students in your group, the minimum number of texts is four. I need to know those students who choose to write a collaborative essay and the facilitator, even if the essay will be written by just two students. Therefore, if you decide to write a collaborative essay, email me through the school email (not Canvas) the names of the people working on your Reflective Essay and the name of the facilitator. If you are writing the essay independently, you must also email me to let me know you are working alone. Tell me your ENC class (1101 or 1102) and your period. Thank you.                                                                                                                                                             

If You Choose to Write a Collaborative Essay:

1. 
   
2. You may decide with whom you would like to collaborate.
   
3. 
   
4. Meet with partner(s) in class and, if needed, in Google Chat, Google Meet, or Zoom. (Someone in your group would need to set up the meeting and convey the information to your peers.)
5. 
   
6. Decide on the best facilitator for your group (the organizer, who will check in on everyone to make sure the essay is completed on time). The facilitator should then email Mr. Mulhern (james.mulhern@browardschools.com) the names of people in your group and identify him- or herself as the facilitator.
7. 
   
8. Create a timeline of progress and decide how you will work together in writing this essay and who will create a Google Document and pass on the pertinent information, etc. The essay should have input from all of you.
9. 
   
10. Create a Google Document that you all can work on together. Make sure everyone in your group has access to the Google Document. The document you submit to me should be an MLA-formatted Word Document (You will submit a printed-out copy in class on the due date. Late papers will not be accepted. Each of you should also have an electronic version of this essay on your laptop computer.) Each of you individually must submit your own printed-out copy of the same document. If you do not submit your own individual copy, you will earn a grade of zero. In the heading, list all your names (names will span across the page, separated by commas, not separate lines). Example--Samantha Smith, Jimmy Jones, Tommy Thompson. An example of the header on each page (upper right corner--last names with page number): Smith/Jones/Thompson 1.

Below is an example of a heading and header for just one student writing the essay. Of course, if more than one student writes the same essay, you would list all the names in the heading and header (as you did in the last collaborative essay). You should also highlight your name in the heading, so I know you turned in a paper. In addition, the facilitator should write "facilitator" at the very top of his/her essay.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Smith 1

Suzie Smith                                                                                              

Mr. Mulhern                                                         

ENC1101, Period 2

2 December 2020

Reflective Research Paper

     In this course, we have encountered various texts, ranging from the

personal essay to the argumentative essay. The essays contained

many themes--the self, political arguments, oppression, discrimination,

etc. I enjoyed several of the texts and learned much about rhetorical 

strategies, organizational patterns, and how to improve my 

analysis and writing skills. The three texts that I most enjoyed

were "Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self" by Alice Walker, the

"Second Inaugural Address" by Abraham Lincoln, and "What to the 

Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass. These essays

differ in their themes and strategies. (Be more specific--how 

are they different?: "Some discussed . . .")  All were enlightening. My

writing and reading skills improved through studying and

discussing these texts.

****

(Please note: MLA-style guidelines require one-inch margins at the top, bottom, left, and right. This application does not enable me to create one-inch margins.)

--Your paper must focus on techniques, style, rhetorical devices, and content that make it a favorite text for you. Avoid summary.

--Paper must be at least two pages to the bottom (may be longer, but do not make longer than three pages), not including the Works Cited page--total of at least three pages. You should include both in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Make sure your Works Cited page format is correct. Review a sample MLA paper online. Do not use long quotes!--words and phrases, a sentence at the most--for each quote. Include approximately five or six in-text citations.

--Your Works Cited page is formatted in a different way than in-text citations are formatted. You should have at least three citations on your Works Cited page. Do not use outside resources. I will know.

--Correct MLA format is very important in this paper.

--For MLA format, see links in the Important information module on Canvas and on my website.

--Or, google "Sample MLA Research paper."

--For internal citations, you can also google "How do I create an in-text citation for an MLA paper website?"; "How do I create an in-text citation for an MLA paper handout?"; "How do I create an in-text citation for a PDF file MLA format?" You get the idea. The information is also available in my links. It is very important that you do not plagiarize or use another student's paper. The plagiarism program will let me know--even previous students! Proofread carefully. Mistakes in MLA format, grammar, and mechanics will greatly impact your grade.

PDF citations: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/cite-pdf-mla/