Option #1: American Dreamers

6-10 pages Do you believe that the American Dream is still possible in American society? Do you believe the American Dream leads to happiness? Create a research paper that answers one or both of these question. Use statistics, interviews, history, literature, film, current events, and theoretical works to support your argument. Your answer does not have to one-sided; instead you can look at both sides of these debates. You can take a middle approach, arguing that the American Dream is possible but difficult due to the economic problems in America. Other questions you may want to consider as you develop this paper: Do you believe the American Dream destroys the souls of those who seek it? Look to Selbys article from the course textbook. 5-6 Required Sources You must include a personal interview that you have conducted and statistics from a legitimate source. You may include 2 sources from the class material. Recommended Texts from Reading Hubert Selby, The American Dream Pew Charitable Trust, Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream Alive and Well? Langston Hughes, Let America Be America Again Recommended Statistics Happiness Indicator http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/06/weekinreview/20110306-happiness.html Pew Charitable Trust, Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream Alive and Well? Title Introductory paragraph This paragraph sets up the debate . Thesis Statement Your thesis statement must make an argument about the social issue Background Paragraph This paragraph will provide the reader with context for understanding the rest of the paper. Three-Six Supporting Points For each point, you must provide evidence to back your claims: Use statistics, examples, analogies, interviews. Each paragraph must begin with a clear topic sentence that sets up the main idea of the paragraph. Then use your evidence to support your main argument. Counter opposition In this paragraph, you will respond to those who may be against your changes. Refute the opposition. Example: Some may argue that this proposed change is too expensive; however, . . . Concluding Paragraph

An effective conclusion ends the discussion smoothly by flowing logically from the rest of the essay (Troyka 35). Do not simply repeat your introductory paragraph. You may want to end with a call to action or a personal reflection. Dont just trickle off; end your paper with power. Works Cited Page

Option #2 Educational Change

6-10 pages Choose an educational institution and propose two-four changes that will help improve the school. Use statistics, interviews, and educational theory to back your claims. You may also use the observations you took in ED 110. Another option is to make a broader argument about what should be done about Americas failing schools, focusing on one or two of the schools in New York City that have been in the news. This has the potential to be too broad, so be sure to narrow it down by focusing on two-three core changes. Proposal for Change Choose an educational institution and propose two-four changes that will help improve the school. Use statistics, interviews, and educational theory to back your claims. You may also use the observations you took in ED 110. Another option is to make a broader argument about what should be done about Americas failing schools, focusing on one or two of the schools in New York City that have been in the news. This has the potential to be too broad, so be sure to narrow it down by focusing on two-three core changes. Inequality in Education Using Jonathan Kozols Savage Inequalities as a starting point, create a research project about inequality in the American public school system. Interview students, teachers, and parents to create a report about the state of the school system in New York, and in America as a whole. 5-6 Required Sources You must include a personal interview that you have conducted and statistics from a legitimate source. You may include 2 sources from the class material. Recommended Texts & Sources from class Waiting for Superman Jonathan Taylor Gatto, Against School Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities Anu Partan, What Americans Keep Ignoring About Finlands Schools 5-6 Required Sources You must include a personal interview that you have conducted and statistics from a legitimate source. You may include 2 sources from the class material. Recommended Texts & Sources from class Waiting for Superman Jonathan Taylor Gatto, Against School Suggested Sources for Statistics New York City Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics Suggested News Sources

Gotham Schools Inside Schools htpp://insideschools.org Title Introductory paragraph Thesis Statement Your thesis statement must make an argument about education. Background Paragraph This paragraph will provide the reader with context for understanding the rest of the paper. Three-Six Supporting Points For each point, you must provide evidence to back your claims: Use statistics, examples, analogies, interviews. Each paragraph must begin with a clear topic sentence that sets up the main idea of the paragraph. Then use your evidence to support your main argument. Counter opposition In this paragraph, you will respond to those who may be against your changes. Refute the opposition. Example: Some may argue that this proposed change is too expensive; however, . . . Concluding Paragraph An effective conclusion ends the discussion smoothly by flowing logically from the rest of the essay (Troyka 35). Do not simply repeat your introductory paragraph. You may want to end with a call to action or a personal reflection. Dont just trickle off; end your paper with power. Works Cited Page

Option #3 Proposal for Change: My Neighborhood

6-10 pages Proposal for Change For this paper, you will propose three ways that you would like to change or improve your neighborhood. These three points will serve as your thesis statement. You will explain to the reader the benefits of making these changes, and you will outline how you can implement these changes. If you do not want to focus on your neighborhood, you may pick a public service, or a public institution that you would like to change (ex: MTA, New York Public Library). However, if you choose not to write about your neighborhood, you must seek my approval of your proposed topic IN WRITING by Thursday, April 29th. This will allow me to help me guide you during the research process.

Your three points for change should not be overly specific or overly general. For instance if you would like to have a decent gym in your neighborhood, you will need to move beyond that specific point and make a larger argument such as, more businesses targeted towards young people such as gyms, bars, coffee shops, etc. You also need to prove why your proposed changes will benefit the entire neighborhood, not just you and your friends. Also avoid overly general points such as I would like to cut down crime. If you would like to make that change in your neighborhood, think of specific ways that you can solve the problem: neighborhood patrols, police presence, after school programs. Another option is to propose only one change and develop it in extensive detail, pointing out what it will bring to your community and explaining how you can actually implement the change.

Research This paper requires you to do some research to create a profile of your neighborhood and to find sufficient evidence to back your claims. For this paper, you must use at least five sources. 5-6 Required Sources You must include a personal interview that you have conducted and statistics from a legitimate source. You may include 2 sources from the class material. You must use MLA format when citing your resources. This means that you must include in-text citations for any materials that you summarize, paraphrase, or quote. You also must include a works cited page at the end of your paper. All papers should include the following elements:

 Title Introductory paragraph This may be a sensory description of your neighborhood that captures the readers attention and leads into your thesis statement. Thesis Statement Your thesis statement will propose 1-3 changes depending upon which option you choose. Background Paragraph This paragraph will provide the reader with a statistical/demographic profile of your neighborhood or institution. Three Supporting Points For each point, you must provide evidence to back your claims: Use statistics, examples, analogies, Counter opposition In this paragraph, you will respond to those who may be against your changes. Refute the opposition. Example: Some may argue that this proposed change is too expensive; however, . . . Concluding Paragraph An effective conclusion ends the discussion smoothly by flowing logically from the rest of the essay (Troyka 35). Do not simply repeat your introductory paragraph. You may want to end with a call to action or a personal reflection. Dont just trickle off; end your paper with power. Works Cited Page Step #1: Neighborhood Proposal: Brainstorm For this assignment, you must propose three changes to your neighborhood. You can look at problems you would like to solve in your neighborhood and/or think of things or programs you would like to add or implement. What can you add to the list? Possible Problems to Solve Litter & Trash Crime Drugs Vacant Lots Dangerous traffic Poverty Unemployment Overcrowded schools High Noise Levels Graffiti Unleashed dogs

Possible Things to Add or Implement Schools (public schools, alternative schools, charter schools) Parks Skate Parks Basketball Courts Handball Courts Swimming Pools Bike lanes After school Programs Arts Programs Employment Opportunity Centers Drug Rehab Centers Businesses Museums Libraries Community Gardens Neighborhood Watch Community Theater Community Group Block Parties Art Festivals Make apartment buildings more energy efficient

Independent Research Project: Option #4

6-10 pages Your main project for this class will be a thesis-driven independent research paper that uses between 5 and 10 secondary sources. I do not want canned high school papers. Choose a topic that you have some interest in but have never fully researched or explored. Let the research process develop and shape your perspective on the issue. You must include interviews in your paper Through the research writing process, you will Form a research question Use databases, library catalogs, and internet indexes Research and take notes Develop a debatable thesis Summarize, paraphrase, and quote your sources Organize your research Integrate quotes into your own sentence structure Use MLA documentation

Persuasive Argument If you choose to write a persuasive argument, you must choose a topic where you have room to develop an opinion as you research. If you already have a rigid, immoveable stance on a particular topic, you should not write about it for this class. You must not only present your side of the argument; you must also engage and respond to the other side of the debate. Sample Papers Written by Former Students: America Needs Universal Health Care Keeping College Athletes in School For Profit Schools, Not Profitable for Students Why We Should Redevelop Coney Island Stop Shopping at Wal-Mart! Body Image and the Media Analysis of Film, Literature, Art, Pop Culture, etc. If you choose this option, you will analyze a primary source or several primary sources. You can choose films, literary works, television shows, magazines, or any type of art or

media. Your thesis must be interpretive; it must not simply summarize the plot of the works. Sample Papers Written by Former Students: Race and Beauty Standards in Popular Magazines Graffiti: Art & Subculture Love & War in Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong Proposed Topic If none of these options appeal to you, you can devise your own thesis-driven research project. Sample Papers Written by Former Students: School Architecture and Education Comparing Sexual Behavior in Three Cultures Resources For this paper, you will use 5-10 outside resources. You will use different types of resources depending on your topic. Acceptable Resources Books Scholarly journals Magazines Newspapers Articles Retrieved through Databases Government Documents Statistics Testimonies Documentaries Critically evaluated websites Unacceptable Resources Blogs Wikipedia Personal websites

During our first library workshop, we will discuss in more detail acceptable and unacceptable resources. We will also discuss how to critically evaluate web resources. Please feel free to email me any questions you have about your sources.