Option 1) Write a 5 paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the illegal Mexican
representation in the political ad image (found at the end of assignment and in Moodle)
and in the film A Better Life (2011 Director Chris Weitz) or comparing and contrasting
the beginning Luis character of the film to the end Luis character. (The CCC library has a
few copies of the film.)
Option 2) Write a 5 paragraph essay comparing and contrasting two like items, for
example: two films, or two siblings, or two college classes, or whatever two like items
you choose.
This essay will include a thesis statement (claim and reasons) and at least five
paragraphs, of which three will be supporting paragraphs (use topic sentences for support
paragraphs and offer specific examples).
• Compare and Contrast Essay: Hacker pgs 48-49
(Don’t use the option 1 suggestion in the video link above; look for the
organizational model document in Moodle)
• A thesis statement should be the last sentence of the intro paragraph. This essay’s
thesis claim might be: The illegal alien political ad and A Better Life reveal
similarities and differences in the portrayal of illegal Mexicans.
Thesis Statement: Hacker pg 102;
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_
tips.html
• A topic sentence serves the same function in the paragraph as a thesis statement
does in the essay. Topic sentences should state the paragraph’s main idea in the
first sentence of the support paragraph. An example of a topic sentence in this
essay might be: Another contrast between the ad and the film is the portrayal of
family values. (Note how the topic sentence connects to the thesis example above.)
Topic Sentences: Hacker pgs 43-45
• Specific examples should be used in the body/support paragraph that support the
paragraph’s topic sentence.
• Follow my guidelines above first and use the Hacker grammar book as a
supplement to the above notes (if the Hacker text strays from my guidelines, then
follow mine).
• Refer to MLA manuscript/essay format guidelines pgs 462-464 and sample MLA
essay on pg 465 in Hacker grammar textbook.
Essay Due Electronically to Moodle by 11:55 pm CST Sunday Sept 16th (150 points)
Submit your essay to Essay/Project 3 Submission in Moodle as a Word document. Make
sure your essay submits correctly.
Guidelines for formatting:
Refer to MLA manuscript/essay format guidelines pgs 462-464 and sample MLA essay
on pg 465 in Hacker grammar textbook. Another MLA formatting resource online: read
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_s
tyle_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
or view https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Y31UrG2q4
Write a 5 paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the illegal Mexican representation in the political ad image (found at the end of assignment and in Moodle) and in the film A Better Life (2011 Director Chris Weitz) or comparing and contrasting the beginning Luis character of the film to the end Luis character. (The CCC library has a few copies of the film.)
