Assignment Background: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention OJJDPLinks to an external site. asserts that “Juvenile murder arrests drastically reduced in 2012 compared to 1993, but peaked by 27% between 2012 to 2018.” Hence, one can assume that 2019 to date may also be at the peak of juvenile crimes.
According to an Amazon book reviewLinks to an external site., “in December 2000, the Baltimore Sun ran a small piece about Wes Moore, a local student who had just received a Rhodes Scholarship. The same paper also ran a series of articles about four young men who had allegedly killed a police officer in a spectacularly botched armed robbery. One was named Wes Moore.”
The review continues that both had had difficult childhoods, and both were fatherless; they’d hung out on similar corners with similar crews, and both had run into trouble with the police. They had come across similar moments of decision at each stage of their young lives, yet their choices would lead them to astonishingly different destinies.”
Your Charge:
Considering the high rate of crimes among juveniles in California, and outside of parental and governmental roles, do you agree that “Environment” or “Personal Choices” has the greater power to influence a person’s life for the better and why? In an argumentative essay, respond to this question, making your position clear.
Purpose: To take a position on an issue and support your argument with credible sources, such as journal articles, periodicals, and textbooks (primary and secondary sources).
Your thesis should support your position on the issue and answer the question. It should also be clear and debatable (arguable).
Audience: Someone outside of our class who is unaware of our discussions on Moore’s The Other Wes Moore.
Directions and Suggested Resources:
Read the assignment background above and take a position for or against whether the environment or personal choices significantly influencing someone’s life.
Do some background reading online (credible sites), in journal articles, The Other Wes Moore, newspapers/periodicals, such as LA Times, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, and textbooks on Sociology, Psychology, Admin. of Justice, etc. for possible pieces of evidence to support your claims.
Using AVC library resources and other credible online sites (do not use Wikipedia), narrow your search to terms such as Juvenile crimes, personal choices, environment, etc.
Document all outside information, using summaries, paraphrases, and a few quotes in correct MLA format, both in the text and on the Works Cited page. Suppose you find gaps in your research or weak points in your argument, either search for more sources or analyze the ones you have in more depth. Be sure to interpret the evidence in your own words, making connections and showing how each part relates to your thesis
Meet with a Writing Center tutor (AVC Online writing tutor), and ask yourself revision and editing questions to help you produce an excellent research paper.
Submit your revised and well-written essay in a Word Doc. format through Canvas on or before Nov. 28th well before 11:50pm
I will not accept a LATE or emailed essay.
Research Paper Grading Rubric
Content: Introduction & conclusion, thesis statement with clear position on argument, development of argument, supporting ideas & evidence, depths of analysis, and coherence.
Note: 4.5 pages minimum and 5.5 max., not including the Works Cited page.
50%
MLA Format: Paper appearance, credible sources, quotes, summaries, & paraphrases (accurately integrated with signal phrases and cited correctly in the text, and the Works Cited page
30%
Style and Mechanics: Organization, transition words/phrases, tone (balanced but persuasive), proofreading & editing (grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.)
20%
Total:
100%
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