This document provides instructions for a four-draft essay assignment to help students explore potential topics and narrow down their interests for a final research project. Students will begin by brainstorming topic ideas based on their personal interests and motivations. They will then do some initial research on their topics in the second draft. The third draft involves summarizing the research so far and developing a problem statement. The final draft requires incorporating feedback and adhering to MLA formatting standards. The goal is to find a topic that students are passionate about and that provides sufficient material for further argumentation and research.

1. Unit 1 Essay
“Discovering Your Topic:” Understanding your Topic
This essay is designed to help you explore your interests and find what topic you will
work with throughout the semester. Using the rhetorical practices from last semester, and a bit of
surface research, you will write about things that grab your attention, or that bring up questions
to foster research in later units. A synthesis of your research should help you narrow down your
interests to find one that will present enough argumentation to build from for the final research
project. (Don’t worry about this now but keep it in mind.)
This project will be spaced out into four drafts. The fourth draft is due on Monday, Sept.
16th by 11:59pm, along with each previous draft. The final draft should be 3 or 4 pages and be in
MLA-8 format.
Step One: Zero Draft
Brainstorm topic ideas. Find topics that really get you going: do you hate it? Do you love it? Is it
impactful to your life? Start your personal exploration: your own personal motivations for
choosing the topic. What are your motivations for choosing this topic?
Step Two: Working Draft
Do a little research. You don’t have to break the library here but dig a little deeper under the
surface of your topics. Find subtopics or specific arguments other scholars, or laypeople, are
having about your topic. Continue the personal connection: how will you join your research to
your personal motivations?
Step Three: Rough Draft
Summarize the research you have completed during the first two drafts. Add in the problem
analysis statement (We’ll discuss in class, but essentially, you’re asking ‘so what?’ ‘What’s at
stake?’).
Step Four: Final Draft
After conference with me, make sure questions from your rough draft have been addressed.
Make proofreading edits, and check for MLA-8 format adherence. Turn in all four drafts in
portfolio format.
In assessment I will look for:
• Four different drafts
• Thorough, thoughtful brainstorming
• Thorough, thoughtful research with a works cited page
• A demonstration of narrative (personal exploration)
• A thesis which demonstrates why you chose the topic
• Adherence to appropriate conventions of English (Proofreading)
• Adherence to MLA-8 style and formatting on Final Draft