• The essay should be MLA formatted according to the guidelines in Rules for Writers. When using your assigned text, the essay should include in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
• Permitted materials: Previous Canvas assignments, the assigned texts, and a dictionary and/or thesaurus.
• Outside/internet research or prewritten papers are not permitted and would result in a zero. 
• You will be evaluated according to the Pierce English 101 rubric found in the Rubrics module.

Here is how to structure your essay:

Paragraph 1: Intro & Thesis/Purpose

• Provide context: introduce the topic / issues and relevant information about the text.
• Explain the author’s main argument/thesis in a clear sentence.
• Analyze and explain the author’s purpose.
• Provide your own thesis statement about the effectiveness (or shortcomings) of the text.

Paragraph 2: Methods

• Controlling idea / topic sentence that provides support for your thesis and makes a general point about the author’s methods.
• Provide 2 examples from the text and explain their significance.

Paragraph 3: Persona

• Controlling idea / topic sentence that provides support for your thesis and makes a general point about the author’s persona.
• Provide 2 examples from the text and explain their significance.

Paragraph 4: Audience & Brief Conclusion

• Controlling idea / topic sentence that provides support for your thesis and makes a general point about how the author perceives the intended audience and/or the strategies he uses to connect to it.
• Provide evidence (1-2 examples) from the text and explain its significance.
• Write a concluding statement that sums up, makes sense of, and/or expands upon the ideas in your essay.