ENG 103 - Critical & Argumentative Writing - Professor Walker: Your Assignment

The proposal will be a 500 word MLA document that elaborates an idea of what you are proposing your paper will discuss. It will identify the ideas you are looking to explore, and a working thesis. You must have these elements in your proposal.  

Think of your proposal as a very rough draft of an introduction paragraph. Your proposal will guide your essay. What key information do you need to tell the audience about your essay? What is it you will be arguing?  Are there any nuances to your argument that are important for the audience to know?

Keep in mind that during the process, there can and will be changes.   The proposal is a starting point. As you research, select your articles, and think about your paper, you might uncover something you did not think of earlier. The proposal is not binding. It is where you are starting your research project.

While West Side Story is a retelling of Shakespeare's tragic love story Romeo and Juliet set in Manhattan, the Academy Award winning musical exposes issues that continue to be relevant for many cities in America today.  When the movie was released in 1961, America was embroiled in the fight for civil rights.  To make many of these issues palatable, the directors made a rhetorical choice portrayed the issues through song and dance numbers.  However, West Side Story does not shy away from areas of conflict.

You will need to discuss at least one of the issues below.  You will need to discuss how West Side Story portrays the issue using specific examples from the film. You will need to research current status, theories, and understandings to highlight either how different or similar these issues are currently. 

Issues:

• Gender roles

• Immigration and assimilation

• Economic / class structures

• Violence

• The Role of Gangs

Your essay will include

• 6 page, 1,500 word

• A minimum of 3 outside sources from the library data base

• MLA format including a works cited page

• Clearly defined arguments on how the issue has changed or remained the same

You will create an Annotated Bibliography of sources from your research.  For this assignment, you will need a total of four sources that you are annotating from the Cerritos College Library Data Bases. 

An entry should be roughly 1 page, approx. 250 words for a total of 4 pages, approx. 1,000 words. Each entry should include:

• Citation in MLA format

• Summary paragraph

• A paragraph on how this article supports your thesis, stance, or main objective

Your entry will follow MLA formatting including the proper spacing, hanging indent, and order. You will need a cover page for your bibliogra

Breaking Down The Research Process  

The following outline gives a simple and effective strategy for finding information for a research paper and documenting the sources you find. Depending on your topic and your familiarity with the library, you may need to rearrange or recycle these steps. Adapt this outline to your needs. We are ready to help you at every step in your research.

1. Choose a topic - or have one assigned
2. Understand your topic
   • Background reading
     
   • Consider a main focus
   • Refine your topic
   • Make a list of your keywords and concepts
     
3. Search Sources
   • Find Books
   • Find Articles
   • Find Websites
4. Write your paper - Informative, Analytical, Argumentative, Critical
5. Cite your sources

Remote access to library databases requires a login. This is the box you'll see if you're off campus and click on any library database.  Please note, this is NOT the real box! Click on any database and you'll get the real box.

Students: Login using your Cerritos College ID number and password, just as you would login to the campus network. You must be currently enrolled in a class.

My library chat during these days and hours:

Monday and Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Monica's Contact Info:

mmlopez@cerritos.edu  

562-860-2451 x2434

LC 60  

To chat with me, use the chat box below. If I'm offline, another librarian will help you if it's during our open hours.