describe a natural disaster that might happen in southern California for more details please see the attached document, Essay #1: Arguing a Position
Fast Facts:
Due: Monday, October 18th to Turnitin by 12pm
Length: 1,000-1,250 words
Format: Typed, double-spaced, 1? margins
Prewriting: Peer Review session
The Whole Story:
The goal of this essay is to identify the most significant natural disaster UCR is likely to face, support your claim with research (including relevant examples), and explain the possible effects this disaster would have on the campus and its community.
To get started, brainstorm: What have you experienced living in Southern California? What have you experienced living elsewhere that we haven?t in Riverside? Are there events we haven?t adequately prepared for? Are there ones we ignore or underestimate? What are people talking about? What worries people? What do you feel could be particularly far-reaching in its effects?
When you have a topic, consider your thoughts on it: What makes this disaster most significant? How can you support your position? What other, similar disasters in the area or instances affecting similar universities can you cite as examples? You must provide at least one example of another incidence of this disaster affecting either the Southern California region or another university.
Once you have these answers, start to organize your points: How can you best word your thesis statement? What approach will be best in convincing your audience? How should you best organize your paper? How can you best incorporate research?
Finally, consider a counter-argument?in this case, what would be another likely disaster? Why is it likely, and (most importantly) why is your choice still more significant of an event than your counter?
This paper must have thorough in-text citations and must include an MLA-formatted Works Cited page.
The Schedule:
Monday 9/27: Intro to the course and prompt, intro to course foundations
Wednesday 9/29: Grammar refresher, discussing disasters
For class: Start the SMG chapter on Arguing a Position
Start working through the links in the first module
Monday 10/4: More disasters, more grammar, and developing thesis statements
For class: Keep reading the SMG; finish the rest of the first module links
Wednesday 10/6: TAXES, outlining, and counter-arguments
For class: Have the TAXES sheets at the ready
Monday 10/11: Rough draft day
For class: Finish SMG chapter
Wednesday 10/13: Peer review day
For class: Have a draft ready for class
