A single-source essay is one in which the student uses one source as an idea for writing an essay and will integrate ideas from the source into the essay.
Topic
What is wrong with the idea of princesses?
source:
Peggy Orenstein “What’s Wrong with Cinderella?”
Generate ideas for your topic.
Construct a working thesis statement:
A working thesis is the main idea that helps you to get started writing a rough draft, but will probably need refining for your final essay. Your textbook (LBH chapter 2.2)will illustrate how to construct a thesis. There are also tips from the following website: Creating a Thesis Statement
A Formal Outline (Explanation in LBH pages 36-37):
Thesis statement:
I. First main point
A. Sub-point
1. Detail/Example
2. Detail/Example
B. Sub-point
1. Detail/Example
2. Detail/Example
II. Second main point, etc.
Re-read source essay:
–select passages that support or relate to your points
–note on your outline where you can use the selected passages
Write your rough draft:
–the essay is your ideas, your points; use the source for additional support
–make a Work Cited page for a selection from an anthology, model 27, page 649, or an article in a newspaper or journal on Web, model 7c/9c in LBH
Contents of essay:
Introduction
–summarize Gusterson or Orenstein in 3 or 4 sentences (for your essay)
–state a three-point thesis for your chosen topic
Body I, II, III
–topic sentence with one point from your three-point thesis
–details to support: experience and Gusterson or Orenstein
–use mixture of paraphrase, summary, quotation
Conclusion
–evaluate OR
–summarize
Revise and edit.
–use the Revising and Editing questions on the handout to make sure that you have done what is required. Think of the handout as a Rubric. I use it to grade your papers.
Notes:
Minimum length is 500 words.Try not to go more than 100-200 words over the minimum.
Your essay does not have to cover exactly the same material as the source essay. The objective is a spin-off, not a full-text summary of the source essay.
The source essay should be treated as a form of evidence and cited whenever it is relevant, but always as a context in which to develop your own strategy and assert your own thesis.