Using one of our focus essays this week and by using the 12 Grand Social Challenges site as a launching point, explore a social issue that you believe needs to be addressed. Youll be writing a problem and solution essay about this issue. Make a claim in your thesis and then in the essay discuss why you are making this claim, what are the causes, and what you wish to propose about combating the social issue and problem you’re exploring.
You will do research, use documentaries, draw upon your own experience and/or interview someone to get a better understanding of the social issue and the challenges that any group or groups it highlights face. Tip: choose something youre interested in because well be spending a lot of time with it.
Your essay will explore two parts: first, the problem and second, the solution. Later on, I will pass out a recommended format, which has suggestions for each paragraph. In general, you will follow this format:
First you will research and write about the problem
– In what ways has this social issue been historically a concern? What lead to the creation of the issue and how has it played out over time? Have there been laws that purposefully (or accidentally) attempted to fix or make it worse? Are there any bias/stereotypes played out institutionally or systemically from groups in power cornering this social issue or the groups effected by this issue?
– What are some of the stereotypes or automatic, default associations about this social issue?
– What is the larger scale, institutional effect of this social issue if it goes unmanaged cared for?
Second, you will research solutions or innovations, approaches and/or laws that combat, or attempt to combat, these biases and stereotypes.
– What are the solutions that people (government, cities, non profits, schools, etc.) have come up with historically? How have they worked or not?
– If you cant find any solutions or approaches, (or even if you do), you can suggest some. Big solutions examples: affirmative action laws, health insurance for children Smaller solutions examples protests, campus groups.
Note: dont get too hung up on the term solution. Solving an issue like systemic discrimination and child poverty is neither simple nor easy. Instead, think of this as identifying approaches to combat these views on marginalized groups.
Minimum standards for complete are:
– Your essay should be between 6-9 pages of text, Standard MLA.
– Correct and appropriate MLA in-text citations and Works Cited page
– References to at least five different sources, two of which is from scholarly journals. The rest of the sources should be credible, but do not need to be from scholarly/academic journals.
– Use direct quotes and paraphrases where appropriate. A balance is good.
– A clear, nuanced understanding of the problem and thoughtful, creative solutions.
– Follow the format of a problem / solution essay.
– Include paragraphs concerning a counter argument and acknowledge why this social issue has been ignored, or why this social issue has persisted.
– Meet all other aspects of the minimum standards rubric.
For A level, in addition to the above:
– References to at least six different sources, three of which is from scholarly journals and peer reviewed. The rest of the sources should be credible, but do not need to be from scholarly/academic journals.
– 7 full pages
– Meet all other aspects of the A standards rubric, including sophisticated use of texts and sophisticated style and language.
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