Example at the bottom.
Forum Objective: Write an outline for your Week 7 Analysis Paper and peer review each others outline. Discuss why having a counterargument and rebuttal paragraph adds ethos to the paper.
This week, we will be completing a peer review of your final essay for the course. In the final essay, you will take a stand just like you did for the Week 5 essay. However, in the final essay, you will be writing about both sides of an issue,not just one side of an issue in the Week 5 essay. Read the Week 7 Overview t o learn more about how to write an Analysis Paper.
*** Since you are all majoring in different fields of study, some of you may be using APA, some of you may be using Chicago Turabian or some of you may be using MLA for your citations, please tell me in your post which notation style you are using.***
If you want to know which citation style to use with your major, consult The APUS Library Style Guide for Majors.
Sample Initial post:
Sample Week 7 essay structure:
Make sure each paragraph has 5 to 7 sentences. Your introduction paragraph should include a hook (first sentence to grab the readers attention); then 5 to 7 supporting sentences to tell why the thesis is important. Then your thesis is the last sentence of the first paragraph. Watch this Introduction and Conclusion paragraph video to learn how to write your Introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
Thesis: McDonalds serves nutritious foods because Reason1, Reason 2 and Reason 3.
Paragraph 2: Reason 1
Paragraph 3: Reason 2
Paragraph 4: Reason 3
Paragraph 5: Counterargument paragraph (Write about the other side of the issue
Paragraph 6: Rebuttal paragraph (Go back to your argument)
Paragraph 7: Conclusion
Be sure to post your draft early enough in order to give your peers time to provide thoughtful and helpful feedback. Post your completed outline or rough draft in the forum by Wednesday 11:55 pm EST. Remember that the earlier you post your essay in the forum, the more time your peers have to provide you with effective and helpful feedback. Posting earlier than the deadline is recommended to ensure that your peers have time to provide feedback AND so that YOU have time to consider that feedback and act upon it. Posting earlier in the week is advantageous for many reasons.
Sample Student replies as you peer review other student papers:
For this PEER REVIEW, Answer the following questions:
1. Does the essay have a good thesis statement?
2. Do the supporting paragraphs talk about/illustrate/justify the main idea?
3. Is there a counterargument and rebuttal paragraph that talks about the other side and a rebuttal paragraph that rebuts the other side?
4. Are there any grammar errors?
5, Does the essay have a good introduction paragraph and a good conclusion paragraph?
Other suggestions for Student replies
Week 7 Reading Questions
How is academic writing different from the writing you do at work? What are the differences between military writing and the writing you do here at APUS?
Why do research papers exist? What is the importance of doing research papers in your opinion?
After you write your draft, what are some good revision checklist tips?
Forum Guidelines
Make your initial posts to the Forum by 11:55pm ET, Thursday.
During the week, read the messages posted by your instructor and classmates and join the discussion. Your instructor may ask questions, provide explanations, and include links to other resources.
Please respond to at least 2 classmates, and in your response posts, try to bring together pieces of the discussion and take those ideas further. You are also expected to reply to anyone who responds to your initial post
EXAMPLE:
Good Afternoon Dr. Golden and Classmates,
I hope everyone has enjoyed their Presidents weekend! I appreciate all feedback on my outline below. Thank you in advance!
Paragraph 1 Thesis:
The United States southern border with Mexico is 1,933 miles long, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the the tip of South Texas (Almond). This is an area covering four states border; California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. There has been a long debate on how our borders can be protected from undocumented immigrants, not only from Mexico but other countries. This posses a problem fro the United States where we have not only a large amount of undocumented individuals throughout the country but also that they can come into the country will ill intentions. A border wall would be the most beneficial solution to this problem in the long run, as it saves lives, allows better documentation and accountability of individuals entering the country, and it would provide a safer work environment for border patrol agents to complete their jobs.
Paragraph Two Reason One
First off a border wall would help save the lives of the immigrants trying to access the United States. The wall would make illegal crossings almost impossible, saving lives (Hanson). If a border wall across the entire border were constructed many immigrants would be deterred from trying to pay a coyote or other party of that nature who only care about if they get paid and not if you survive the trip. The border wall would also cut off access from the Rio Grande River which would result in less fatalities from drowning while attempting to cross the border. This would lead immigrants to have to try and access the United States the legal way and by becoming a documented citizen.
Paragraph Three Reason Two
The second reason a border wall would be beneficial is that it would decrease the amount of illegal immigrants that are living in the United States. These individuals are undocumented and could be a threat to the American people. In the Presidents recent State of the Union Address he said The Lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security, and financial well being of all Americans (Sugarman). Illegal immigrants cause a series of events to take place throughout the United States whether they realize it or not. These events effect the documented American citizens, which is why their is a process to gain citizenship into countries.
Paragraph Four Reason Three
The third reason that a border wall is beneficial is that it would make a safer work environment for the border patrol agents. The agents stationed on the southern borders main job is to patrol and protect that wall. Unfortunately there are areas of of the border that have walls they can not see through or do not have a wall at all. This is a safety concerns for agents as immigrants have been known to run at them as the crowd the border and throw large rocks at them which can cause unneeded physical harm to all involved. The fact that Border Patrol agents are willing to keep the government shut down for as long as it takes to get the money Trump wants for his border wall even if they continue working without pay (Lind) speaks volumes on how these agents are effected.
Paragraph Five: Counterargument
Though there are many benefits to establishing and finishing a uniformed wall that stretches across the United States border there are many who have concerns. Many Americans have sympathy towards the immigrants trying to access American believing with it comes a better life. This causes Americans to feel compassion towards them and a want to help even if they are accusing the country by illegal means. The wall will also be costly project for the government to fund and many Americans believe that alternative methods such as beefing up border security and better documentation would suffice. There is also a large amount or American border residents who do not want the wall to come through there towns and destroy historical landmarks, and overall town appeal. Most of the border towns have good relations with their neighboring towns even if they are located across the border.
Paragraph Six Rebuttal
Though there are many good points as to why a border wall should not be built, it is important to note that reasons why Americans dont want it mainly effect the Americans themselves. The way that they feel towards the immigrants or towards their town being in the path of the wall. The wall definitely outweighs any sort of doubt towards it because overall all it will save the lives of the many individuals trying to make the journey illegally into the United States. With the wall as a deterrent towards the immigrants they have a better chance of being helped by the United States the legal and proper way. When immigrants enter another country legally there are no repercussions, such as being exported one day.
Paragraph Seven Conclusion:
There will always be a pros and ons list when it comes to topics that effect a large amount of individuals, especially concerning two or more nations. Though the border wall is not an ideal solution for many, it is the best solution for the overall, long term interest, and security of the American people. A border wall overall protects people, (the immigrants as well as the American citizens), border patrol agents who guard it, and allows the United States government to better function in documenting and accounting for the new citizens once processed.
References:
Almond, Kyle. This Is What the US-Mexico Border Looks Like. www.cnn.com, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc, 2019, https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2018/12/politics/border-wall-cnnphotos:
Hanson, Victor davis. It Was Always about the Wall. www.nationalreview.com, Tribune Content Agency, LLC, 20 Dec. 2018, https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/12/us-Mexico-border-high-wall-would-save-immigrant-lives/.
Lind, Dara. How the Border Patrol Union Became Trumps Closest Allies. www.vox.com, Vox Media, Inc, 3 Jan 2019, https://www.vox.com/2019/1/3/18167401/shutdown-border-wall-trump-patrol-agents.
Like I said ANY feedback is highly appreciated. I do plan on reading up some more on the subject and will probably be adding more references. Thank in advance!
Michelle
