ENG 105 - Exploratory Essay

Your topic for the Exploratory essay MUST BE YOUR FINAL RESEARCH TOPIC.
You must have:
at least 3 sources (one for each perspective - more recommended);
at least 3 CLEAR perspectives or points of view on the issue;
compliance with MLA guidelines (in text citations and a Works Cited page);
compliance with the Outline.

Use the following links as aids in your preparations
Exploratory Guidelines
Exploratory Essay Step by Step on Youtube
How To Write an Exploratory Essay on HubPages
Organizing the Exploratory Essay

Your Exploratory Outlines are due via email on Tuesday 15th October.
The Exploratory Essays are due Tuesday 22nd October.

ENG 105 - Invented Rogerian Argument

Your second Rogerian assignment is pulled from today's news on a popular local online news center. Choose one of the following on which to base a Rogerian Argument.

Long Awaited Works On Manse Road Start Today
Cabinet Backs Strengthening Interest In UK
Dumping Of Human Waste In BVI Waters Will Be A Thing of The Past - Vows Candidate
Ruling Party Announces Disney Cruise Line to Extend Cruise Pier; 7-Point Plan Unveiled
Seaweed invading VI shorelines & beaches
FIFA begins Caribbean bribery cases!

After researching these issues to establish your Background and Exigence, use Invention and Hegelian Logic to construct an argument based in the BVI. Be sure to cite sources for support.
This essay is due on October 19. The essay will follow MLA standards (see the links to the MLA guide on this blog): MLA formatting, including a Works Cited page, and in-text citations. This essay is expected to be at least 1,000 words. Outlines must be submitted with the final essay.

MLA Compliant Cover Pages and First Pages

Perusing your drafts, I realize that several of you are not formatting your essays in compliance with MLA guidelines. Therefore I am attaching to this post a sample cover page, a sample of a research argument's first page, and a sample works cited. Please adhere to these examples.

Sample Cover Page - click here.
Sample First Page - click here.
Sample Works Cited Page - click here.

ENG 105 - Urgent

At this time, we should be working on our drafts in order to email to me by Thursday May 7th before 6 pm. In this post I am providing your Submission Form - which should be attached to the top of your standard MLA cover sheet once it is filled out. This should not be done until preparing the paper for final submission on Wednesday May 13th at 4:30 pm.

Also, I am providing the rubric and guidelines for the Oral Presentations on the same date. Please pay careful attention to the expectations in order to perform to the best of your ability.

Download the Submission Form here.
Download the Oral Guidelines here.

ENG 105 - Final Projects Due Dates URGENT

All students must submit a complete draft of their final research argument (3000 words) to me digitally at rwgeorges@hlscc.edu.vg by Thursday 7th May at 6 pm. NO EXCEPTIONS. In order to submit a draft to me you MUST have seen me prior to Thursday.

Your final research argument will be submitted with the required forms and PROVIDED COVER SHEET at the meeting time scheduled on the Final Exam Schedule when it is released. You will receive the required forms, cover sheet, and rubric for the Oral Presentations at your individual meeting the week of May 4-8.

I cannot guarantee comments on anything submitted after May 7th for review. If you have not met with me yet regarding your final research argument, do so immediately.

ENG 105 - German Company Seeking Bailout Tied to Auschwitz

Here's an article of interest. All of us should be paying attention of course to the global financial crisis, especially in terms of large corporations that are desperate for their governments to bail them out in order to save their existence - and therefore thousands of jobs.

An industrial corporation in Germany, The Schaeffler Group, has recently had their bailout request rejected by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It seems they were the architects of an ambitious hostile takeover shortly before the markets crashing last year. In the aftermath of this news, there are now allegations of the Group's profiting directly from the gassing of Jews at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.

While no doubt an extreme case, this is arguably an example of the irresponsible behaviour of global corporations and their roles in the current crisis. How do we feel ethically about their demands for bailouts and assistance to save their operations? Regardless of your response to that first question, are the threats of astronomical job loss and further economic recession ransoming us to accept these bailouts as necessary evil? Lastly, what about the Schaeffler Group? If these allegations are true, what kinds of penalties are appropriate? Must we hold Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler accountable to the sins of her fore bearers?

More Scott Berkun Goodness!

I really need to give you guys another writer to read! But here are two more great articles by Scott Berkun that have direct relevance to the conduct of academic argument.

Why Smart People Defend Bad Ideas

How to Learn from Your Mistakes

Hope you enjoy these, and don't forget to comment! For those of you who have already been commenting - make sure to become a follower of the blog so that you are notified of the posts.