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< Essay #1: Does the United States need a n…
ENGL 1050-33 (36381)
a
Purpose
This assignment will give you practice in writing a
definition claim, comparing and contrasting, and
making proposals. It will be important to
establish your definition of “national anthem” in
the introduction, as that is what your argument
will be based on. The dictionary definition of
“anthem” is “a rousing or uplifting song identified
with a particular group, body, or cause,” but should
al anthem be more than that? Does The
Star-Spangled Banner meet the qualifications of
your definition? How does your proposed
replacement song possess the characteristics in
your definition?
The thesis will propose your song choice as the
new national anthem.
The body of your essay will compare/contrast
the Star-Spangled Banner to your replacement
song, showing why yours is the better choice. (If
you are not arguing to replace the National Anthem,
you still need to show why your suggested
replacement song is a good choice.)
Feel free to have fun with this assignment. You can
choose any song you want to be the new national
anthem, as long as you defend your choice logically
and reasonably. “Baby Got Back (I Like Big Butts)”
by Sir-Mix-A-Lot would be an unreasonable choice,
but logos and pathos could be used to build an
argument for “American Oxvaen” by Rhianna.
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< a
Essay #1: Does the United States need a n…
ENGL 1050-33 (36381)
with a paragraph explaining how your song
suggestion better or also meets that requirement.
(You should plan to discuss 3 different
characteristics, resulting in 6 body paragraphs.)
Evidence should include lyrics from both songs to
support your points.
The conclusion should begin by addressing some
arguments in opposition to your opinion of the Star-
Spangled Banner as the national anthem. Then
reiterate your thesis and main points in a different
way than you said them earlier.
Essays must include at least two sources. Every
topic sentence must be supported by evidence in
the form of facts, statistics, studies, examples (real
or hypothetical), expert opinion, or personal
experience. While the lyrics to the Star-Spangled
Banner and your replacement song illustrate your
points, they are not really sources; rather, those
songs are the topics.
I have posted some supplemental sources on
Canvas to help you with your research.
All sources must be cited in the text and on a
Works Cited page.
Tasks
There are three stages to this (and every) essay
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< Essay #1: Does the United States need a n…
ENGL 1050-33 (36381)
counts Tor 10 points toward the grade oni
your final draft.
2. You will have until class time on
Thursday, 3/3, to complete two peer
reviews. Be prepared to go over the peer
reviews with your group in class.
3. Taking into account the comments from
your peers and your own judgment, you
will write a revised final draft of your
essay, due by
11:59 pm on Sunday.,.
3/6.
The revision must be a noticeable improvement
on the rough draft.
Submission Format
Essays and citations must be in MLA format. All
essays must be 3-4 pages, double-spaced, in 12-
point, professional font, and have one-inch margins
on all sides.
Canvas accepts most types of word files, like MS
Word, Google Docs, Pages, and PDFs. If you have
any trouble uploading your file, please contact me,
and I will walk you through it.
In some cases, I may have trouble opening your file,
so please check your email every day to see if I have
tried to contact you.
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calstatela.instructure.com
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OUTLINE
Title – Your essay begins with the title.
• The title should reflect the thesis. It should tell your reader what the essay is about.
I.
a
.
Introduction
A. Hook – a quote, a personal story, a remarkable statistic, or a noteworthy event
Ideas for a hook:
Quote from the SSB or another country’s national anthem.
Quote about the SSB or national anthems in general.
Statistics from a survey of the number of Americans who want to keep or change or
the national anthem.
Personal story that demonstrates the SSB’s possession of or need for one of the
characteristics you will be arguing a national anthem should have. (This could lead
right into discussion of that characteristic.)
Noteworthy event
Make sure the sentence following the hook connects to it. Don’t leave the hook hanging.
(Someone could get hurt!)
.
B. Background
Give some background about The Star-Spangled Banner. (Don’t get into any criticism
here.) Make sure you connect this to the previous idea.
i. When was it written?
Who was it written by?
iii. What is it about?
ii.
C. Definition – What do you think a national anthem should be?
Your essay is going to be based on this definition. List three messages or characteristics
you think a national anthem should possess. (Consider your song choice and make sure
it meets your criteria for a national anthem.)
i. Message/characteristic #1
ii. Message/characteristic #2
iii. Message/characteristic #3
Ex: A national anthem should promote the ideals of its country, which for the United
States are freedom, equality, and democracy.
.
D. Narrow to thesis
State whether the Star-Spangled Banner meets your criteria for a national anthem.
Ex: While the Star-Spangled Banner has served America well for many years, it does
not accomplish all that a national anthem should.
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E. Thesis = topic + opinion
If it does not meet your criteria, propose a replacement song:
Ex: Girls Just Want to Have Fun more closely resembles what a national anthem
should be because it celebrates freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness.
OR, if you don’t think the national anthem needs to be replaced:
Ex: While The Star-Spangled Banner is a perfectly fine national anthem, if it were to
be replaced, Girls Just Want to Have Fun would be a good choice.
II.
Body paragraphs – Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that tells the reader what
the paragraph is about. It should support the thesis and be clear and concise. Do not
overcomplicate it.
A. Topic sentence stating first reason why the SBB does or does not meet your criteria
for a national anthem.
B. Elaborate on topic sentence – unpack it, expand on it, explain it.
This is super important. You must explain your point before you offer support for it. – At
least two sentences. This can include examples, if applicable.
i. How does (not) the SSB meet (not meet) that criteria?
Why is this an important message/characteristic?
Why is it needed? (Think about America today.)
ii.
iii.
.
C. Show support for the topic sentence. (Why the SSB does or does not have that
message/characteristic.)
Types of evidence you can use:
o Lyrics from SSB
Expert opinion (music critics or journalists who have written about it)
The author’s background
The backstory of the song
Statistics, polls, or studies
o
o
O
o
D. Connect the support to the topic sentence by explaining its relevance.
o Ask yourself, “So what?” How does this support further your argument?
Don’t just repeat the quote or say it in different words. Explain how it
relates to the topic sentence. (Don’t refer to it as “the quote.” Think of it as
o
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E. Concluding sentence – Wrap it up. Show where your point ended up.
Do not repeat the topic sentence or the thesis sentence.
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III.
Compare or contrast your replacement song to the SSB
A. Topic sentence stating how your replacement song does meet the criteria discussed in
the previous paragraph. (Could be stating that it is similar by meeting the same criteria or
contrasts by meeting the criteria, depending on your argument.)
o Use transitional words that either state the similarity or difference
B.
Elaborate on topic sentence – unpack it, expand on it, explain it.
Explain your point in at least two sentences. This may include explaining what the song
is about, describing the feelings it elicits, or discussing the songwriter’s character.
C. Show evidence to support what you just discussed.
For this song, lyrics will be your main source of support.
o Limit quotes to four lines maximum in a short essay like this one.
o Separate lines of the song with slashes:
Ex: “Some boys take a beautiful girl / and hide her away from the rest of
the world / I want to be the one to walk in the sun /’Cause girls just want
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You can also concede if you agree with the point. But then explain why
other concerns outweigh the importance of this point.
D. Conclude the essay by restating your thesis and main points in different words from before.
E. Leave the reader with something to think about.
Look to the future:
o What could happen if your idea is implemented?
What could happen if things stay the same?
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A few rules:
Do not use first-person (I, me, mine, we, our, ours) unless you are telling a personal story. Try not to
use personal experience as evidence more than once.
Do not use second-person (you, your). Look for it when you proofread and rewrite sentences where
you find it.
Essays should be in third-person, unless specified by the assignment. Here are some useful words for
this essay: one, Americans, singers, people, the people, some, patriots, citizens, those singing…
o Try not to use contractions (don’t, didn’t, can’t, they’re, etc.). It’s not the end of the world, but your
writing will sound stronger and more professional without them. Some professors are stricter about
this than others, and you never know when you’re going to end up in their class.
o

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