ENG101 Common Final Topic (Spring, 1995)

IMMIGRATION:  "IMMIGRATION THREATENS / ENHANCES LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES."

Students received a packet containing material to aid in the writing of an argumentative essay about immigration. The information was taken from current articles and books providing data, graphs, and opinions for and against legal immigration. Students were required to synthesize and analyze the material for use in their essays. Fu ll texts of the articles and books were placed on reserve in the library for student use. Teachers were supplied with curriculum aids, additional background material on immigration, and a sample scoring guide.

Students received the following directions on the packet:

  1. To prepare for this final exam, read the packet, discuss it, and draw your own conclusions, supported by analysis and examples. The full texts of excerpts, as well as additional materials, are on reserve at the library; ask for the common final materials.
  2. In past exams, students who planned writing strategies did a better job on the final than those who did not prepare. Brainstorming and outlining are good ways to generate material for your essay. You may bring into the exam your annotated packet, a dicti onary and a thesaurus. Students in non-computerized classes must write in blue or black ink (on one side of the paper), but computerized sections may write using the computers.
  3. During the final exam period, you will be asked to write on the above question. You should write a well-developed multi-paragraph essay which argues your point.
  4. A well-written argumentative essay should raise and refute the point of view with which you do not agree, but to receive even a passing grade, your response must reflect familiarity with the material in the packet. Your essay must address the issue raised.
  5. The exam period is one hour and fifty minutes. Use the full amount of time allotted to plan, draft, and edit your essay. Write in ink on one side only of lined notebook paper.
  6. Put your name on the back of the last page only.

    Proofread your essay carefully before handing it in.

    Common Final Topics || English || GCC