Formal Essay #2

For the second formal essay, you will be writing about a debatable topic. You should write a persuasive/argumentative essay convincing your readers to agree with your opinion on the topic. Essays should be properly formatted using Microsoft Word. Essays should be emailed to me before class on 12/6. In the email, please include your essay as an attachment to the Microsoft Word file. In the email subject line, please write: IERW01 - Your Name - Essay #2.

Select one of the following topics. If you have other ideas for topics, please let me know.

1. Cyber bullying is an issue impacting elementary and secondary students in many countries around the world, including South Korea. What is the best way to prevent cyber bullying? Who should be responsible? The government? Schools? Parents? Write a persuasive essay convincing readers to follow your plan to address cyber bullying.
2. Many people volunteer their time to help others, either through non-profit organizations, churches, or other charitable venues. Think of an example of volunteer work you are familiar with and write a persuasive essay convincing readers to volunteer their time working with this organization.
3. More universities are offering online courses, and it is even possible to earn a full degree without ever visiting the campus. Do you think students should be able to take all their classes online? Write a persuasive essay convincing readers why they should or should not take online classes.
4. Proponents of all-girls schools believe that girls learn better when they aren't competing with or intimidated by boys, who statistically get more attention in the classroom. Do you think single-sex schools are a good idea? Why or why not? Write a persuasive essay convincing readers why they should or should not attend an all-girls school.
5. All Korean men must serve in the military for about two years. What do you think of this policy? Should military service be compulsory? Write a persuasive essay convincing readers why all men should or should not be required to serve in the military in South Korea.
6. According to some health organizations, many foods on our grocery store shelves are made with genetically modified ingredients. Many of these foods, however, do not have a GMO (genetically modified organism) label. Do you think there should be a law requiring manufacturers to label foods containing GMOs? Write a persuasive essay convincing readers whether or not foods with GMOs should be labeled.
7. Views on marriage are changing and many young people are getting married later, or not at all. Do you think marriage is important? Write a persuasive essay explaining the reasons people should or should not get married.
8. There is currently a global refugee crisis millions of Syrians are forced to leave their homes due to the war. Some countries are welcoming these asylum seekers, but more countries need to help. Write a persuasive essay explaining why the Korean government should or should not welcome more Syrian refugees into the country.
9. As the world become more connected, some people argue that there should be one world language that everyone speaks. Do you agree? Write a persuasive essay explaining why there should or should not be a common world language.
10. Other ideas? If there is another debatable topic you would like to write about, please let me know.

As always, let me know if you have any questions.

E-journal post #4 - Unit 8 (Innovations)

For this e-journal post, you may choose to write about a new medical innovation or a new technological innovation. Do some basic research online and introduce a new and exciting advancement. This can be a new medical procedure, a  new type of technology, or a new invention. Explain the new innovation and why it is exciting, important, or significant. You may also choose to focus on an innovator (the person who has developed the new technology). Please refer to the example on p. 184. Revise the draft that you started in class on 11/8, and upload the final version to your e-journal before class on 11/22.

E-journal post #3 - Unit 7 (Ensuring a sustainable future)

For this blog post, you will write a five-paragraph persuasive essay about what people should do to ensure a sustainable future. Revise the draft that you started in class before the midterm, and upload it to your e-journal before class on 11/8. You can use some of the ideas from the Unit 7 reading passages, or you can suggest different actions. Also see the example essay on p. 160. Your essay can be organized in two different ways: 1) Choose a couple of different actions people can take to ensure a sustainable future. Each body paragraph will explain a different action. 2) Choose one specific action people can take to ensure a sustainable future. Each body paragraph will explain a different reason for why this action is important.

Please try to be creative and think deeply about the issue. Try to make recommendations that go beyond things we already do (recycling, using public transportation, etc.). To protect our planet for future generations, we will need to begin making some major changes to our lifestyles that might not always be easy or comfortable.