CHNS1601

UNDERSTANDING CONTEMPORARY CHINA

1. You are required to write an argumentative essay on one of the topics listed in the document entitled Essay Topics.

2. Your essay and presentation topics cannot be the same.

3. Your essay must have a title. A topic is not a title.

4. Any of the referencing styles recommended by the University is acceptable so long as only one is used consistently.

5. You are required to submit your essay in Canvas.

What is an argumentative essay?

An argumentative essay is a particular kind of academic writing that requires the author to investigate a topic; collect, generate and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. A typical argumentative essay has the following structure:

1) introduction;

2) three sections with subheadings with one including discussion of opposing views, which demonstrate the originality of your essay;

3) conclusion.

The introduction should include a summary of the thesis or main argument of the essay and a statement about the content and organization of the essay. The main body is made up of a series of sections that build up the argument, using facts and ideas from sources that you have identified. Each section contains a sub-theme of the essay and flows on logically from one to the next. The conclusion restates the main findings of the essay in summary form. but in different words to remind the reader and concludes with some brief statements about the (potential) implications of those findings.

Use of sources:

· A minimum of five academic sources in English should be included in the analysis and on the references list. The use of sources in other languages in addition to, but not instead of, English-language sources, is acceptable and encouraged.

· While you can reference online sources (such as government statistics, opinion pieces, news articles, etc.), these should only be used to back an argument or to provide examples to illustrate the ideas and arguments discussed in academic sources.

· The analysis should be relevant to your chosen essay topic; it should show a critical engagement with the literature, and express arguments with clarity. Jargon should be avoided.

· Over-reliance on direct quotations should be avoided. If you cannot summarize the author’s ideas in his/her own words, it means you have not yet fully grasped their meaning. You should use direct quotes only when the exact words of the author are crucial to the argument one is making.

· You should still make sure to acknowledge the authors’ ideas and specific data (e.g. statistical figures) by referencing sources appropriately, even when they have summarized or paraphrased their ideas.

Essay Submission Checklist

1. Have you proof-read your essay carefully?

2. Have you cited all the sources from which you borrowed ideas?

3. Have you put in direct quotation marks all the phrases, clauses and sentences that you have used from other authors?

4. Have you given the details of all the works cited in your essay on the reference list at the end of your essay? Note that only works cited in your essay should be included.

5. Have you done a spell check of your essay?

6. Have you done a word count of your essay? 10% more or less is acceptable. Note that the word count excludes the reference list.