ASSIGNMENT: ESSAY #1
Based on your readings from The Little Brown Reader pp 2-104, in 4-5 page double space long essay describe what is an Academic Essay by addressing the following questions:
 What are the characteristics of an academic essay?
 What is argumentative writing?
 What is critical thinking?
 What is analysis?
 What is evaluation?
 Why is audience important in writing?
 What is the process involved in writing an academic essay?
 What do you do if you decide to use an external source in your writing?
Sources: If you borrow information from any of your readings, make sure that you cite it in your essay and document them in the Works Cited page using the MLA format as shown in Chapter 49 of The Little Brown Handbook.
1. When you are done reading this assignment here in this Assignments section and the lecture on Parts of an Essay in the Course Documents section, then, look at your Course Schedule in the Course Information section for all the dates for this assignment and do the needful.
2. Then go to the Discussion Board and start participating in the required discussions in the forum for Essay #1.
3. You will first have to post your Topic Selection assignment to the discussion forum so your classmates can read it and give you their feedback. In return you will also respond to at least 5 other classmates Topic Selection assignments by giving them your feedback. I will then go over it and give you the feedback in the same forum.
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR TOPIC SELECTION TO THE DIGITIAL DROP BOX BUT POST IT ON THE DISCUSSION BOARD IN THE FORUM FOR ESSAY #1.
4. When you are done participating in the discussion forum for the Topic Selection assignment, then type the first draft of your essay in Microsoft WORD document, save it in RTF (Rich Text Format), and Email it to 1-2 classmates and ask them to peer critique it for you. In return for that you will also critique 1-2 classmates first draft of the essay. When your receive the peer-critiqued draft back from your classmates then revise and submit the final draft of the essay draft to the DIGITAL DROP BOX by the given timeline by clicking on Send File and NOT on the Add File. See Visual below:
NOTE:
1. When you send the first draft for peer critiquing to your classmates, send all the following parts with it to be critiqued.
2. When you submit the final draft for grading to the Digital Drop Box submit it with all the following parts, or else, you will end up losing your points.
3. Any essay that is less than 4 pages will be penalized -5 points for each missing page.
4. Any essay without the following parts will be penalized -5 points for each missing part.
 Cover page with the title of your topic, your name, and class & section
 Outline
 Essay 4-5 pages long double spaced
 Works Cited Page if any
 Revised Topic Selection Assignment
NOTE: Check the Course Schedule to see all given timelines, and do not miss them as there are strict policies on late assignments mentioned in your Syllabus. Your participation in the essay forum on the discussion board is very important for you to do a good job on your assignment. This is where you can discuss all about the current assignment and seek help from your classmates and from me.