Instructions:
Consider your knowledge of pathos, ethos, and logos to appeal to your desired audience.
Read the article published in The Wall Street Journal titled “How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds” by Nicholas Carr. After reading the article, take a position on the following prompt:
Are smartphones making people more intelligent OR are smartphones making people dumber?
Develop an essay with at least five substantial paragraphs arguing your side on the issue. DO NOT do any outside research beyond Carr’s article. The majority of the information should come from you. If you decide to quote Carr’s article, use correct MLA citation to avoid plagiarism. Example: “Quote” (Carr 4).
Carr, Nicholas. “How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds.” Wall Street Journal, 6 Oct. 2017,
pp. 1-5. www.wsj.com.
Things to Remember:
1. Voice: You will write in THIRD PERSON for this essay. Your audience will be someone who is not as interested in your personal experiences; rather, he or she may wish to know from a detached observer.
2. Length: Your paper should be at least two typed double-spaced pages. DO NOT exceed three pages.
3. Format: Follow the MLA rules for page formatting (1-inch margins, double-space, header)
4. Editing: I will consider grammar and mechanics in the final draft of this essay, so make sure to proofread carefully.
5. Plagiarism: Students who plagiarize a phrase or an idea will receive a ZERO on this assignment! No exceptions. Cite your sources using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format. Your essay should include a Works Cited page at the end.
Weight of Assignment: 10%
Grading Criteria:
I will evaluate your essay based upon the following set of criteria:
Content and complexity; audience adaptation (6 points)
How well do you argue for or against your topic? Do you remain focused on your topic? Do you provide clear examples and evidence to support your argument? There should be evidence of a main idea (thesis) that guides your essay.
Organization (2 points)
Is your argumentative essay well-organized? Do you have separate paragraphs that contain a main idea along with supporting details? Are your topic sentences clear? Do you keep your reader from becoming lost? Are transition words used correctly?
Style and editing (2 points)
Does the essay follow MLA format? Is a Works Cited page included if you used an outside source? Do you follow MLA citation for quotes or paraphrased material? Is it typed using a proper font and font size? Do you have run-on sentences or fragments? Do you use commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks properly?
