Learning outcomes this activity helps you to achieve:
Research and assess secondary-source material using university-level methods and resources
Integrate sources effectively into written work using quotation, paraphrase, and summary
Document source material and format essays using MLA citation methods to uphold the principles of academic integrity
Produce clear, grammatical, and logical written work independently
Engage in a writing process that includes brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising strategies to produce university-level writing
The purpose of this activity is to
1. demonstrate your ability to write a persuasive, thesis-driven essay informed by research;
2. demonstrate your ability to find reliable and appropriate sources of information to support your argument;
3. give credit to your sources with MLA-style in-text citations and works cited list, and with appropriate signal phrases introducing quotations, summaries, and paraphrases;
4. write clear and complete sentences.
Instructions:
Write a research essay of 1500 words on of the following topic:
1. Read Alysha Mohamed’s article entitled “Finding Student Housing in Toronto Seemed Impossible. Getting Scammed Didn’t Help,” which tells the story of Defne Yildirim, an international student seeking an apartment in Toronto. This article sheds light on some of the difficulties facing post-secondary students in Canada, especially in urban centers like Toronto and Lower Mainland, BC. Research a challenge (related to a topic such as housing, finances, mental health, accessibility, etc.) experienced by post-secondary students in Canada and write a paper in which you discuss 1) some factors that contribute to this challenge and 2) some impacts of these challenges on students. You may have first-hand experience with some of the experiences that you read about in Mohamed’s article or in other sources, and you are welcome to discuss your own experiences in this paper, though you do not have to do so. However, please note that your essay will be evaluated primarily for the way you support your argument with relevant research. Be sure to refer to Mohamed’s article in your essay, even if you are not writing about student housing.
Required elements of your research paper:
Your research essay must have a thesis statement that answers your chosen question based on research that you have conducted. The most successful essays will narrow the topic to allow for a well-focused discussion of your argument and reasoning.
You should support your thesis statement with a number of unified paragraphs beginning with strong topic sentences that you support with well-explained evidence.
Your evidence should be drawn from reliable sources. You must use at least five sources in your essay, and at least two of these sources must be academic sources. You must cite all the sources that you use to write your essay. Failure to correctly cite your sources may result in a failing grade on the essay.
Cite your sources in MLA style using parenthetical in-text citations and a separate works cited page (see Module 8 and the Purdue OWL website for formatting details). Make sure that your essay is formatted in MLA style
Your essay will be evaluated using the “Evaluation Criteria for Assignments” that is posted on Moodle under “Course Documents.”