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Become an Agent of Change
We have spent the semester learning about important social and racial issues, but learning about them is not enough. Now, we will do something about them.
For Writing Project 4, our last essay of the class, we will be working on a research paper about how to become an agent of change. We will research past change makers and their principles. We will use all of the information we have learned in the last 6 weeks to build our Agent of Change plan. This essay will account for 25% of your grade for our class.
To begin, please review this video: The Challenge: Find the Courage to be a Change Maker We are all committed to social change in our own ways. Your choice to pursue further education is in and of itself an act of social change. With it , you will have the tools to be able to make positive social change in your own community as you learn about the world around you and see where injustices remain. These areas of need can become your battle ground. What are they? Where are they? What needs to be changed/improved? How can you build a personal resolve to be part of that shift towards equality or social reform? You can do so by:
Contributing to social change at home
Contributing to social change at your current employment
Contributing to social change in your community
Become a mentor to others around you So, where do I begin? We can begin by looking at those who went before us.
Complete Step 1 and 2: Writing Project 4: Steps 1 and 2 Research Your Agent of Change Please think about a person in history that has made positive changes on society. He/she has helped bring about peace, justice, rights, or a voice for those who could not speak for themselves. Here are some examples:
Caesar Chavez, Latino Civil Rights Activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Civil Rights Activist Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Women’s Rights
Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani Activist Here is a long list of Activists Links to an external site.to explore from the past. Here is a list of current ActivistsLinks to an external site. to research. Please read on some of the choices and choose one that aligns with your concerns for the future. Choose only one to focus on for your paper. Next, find 2 pieces of information: Newspaper article or scholarly article about the actual person (Agent of Change) from a reputable sourceNew York Times
Washington Post NPR A scholarly article on his/her cause.For example: Cesar ChavezNews article (from a reputable source) on Person NPR Life Review of Cesar Chavez Links to an external site.
Scholarly Article on Migrant Workers (Cause) Immigration Reform and Farm Labor MarketsLinks to an external site.
To complete this research, please follow our Research Guide carefully. Visit the Cuyamaca College LibraryLinks to an external site. to conduct your search. List the Characteristics of the Person You Choose What makes this person a strong agent of change? What tools did they use? What temperament did they display? Which characteristics made them well-suited for their activism? Make a list of 10 things about this person that made them a great leader for their cause. Think about how you can embody those characteristics in your own dedication to bring about change. Complete Step 3 Writing Project 4: Step 3 Research Your Cause Research some current issues and choose one to align your efforts towards. Some ideas:
Racial Justice
Immigration Laws
Healthcare Disparities with Covid-19
Policing in the US
Poverty and Education Here is a list of ideasLinks to an external site. to consider. Choose 2 articles on your topic to use as research for your essay.News article on the issueNew York Times
Washington Post NPR Scholarly article on the issue from a reputable source.
To complete this research, please follow our Research Guide carefully. Visit the Cuyamaca College LibraryLinks to an external site. to conduct your search. Step 4 Complete Your Draft Please follow this format for your 800 to 1000 word essay:
Introduction: Introduce your change maker, his/her cause, their attributes, your cause, and your thesis. Thesis: State how you will plan to become an Agent of Change for your given topic. Sample Thesis:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life embodied determination and strength as he tirelessly fought for African Americans’ Civil Rights. He argued that education should result not only in knowledge gained but also character developed, and given the current educational dipartites in our school system, I plan to be an agent of change for students who live in less funded areas. I will use my education and voice to bring awareness to this issue in my home, work place, and community through social media and informal discussions. Body paragraph 1: Introduce your change maker. Explain his/her characteristics that make him/her a strong Agent of Change. Sample TS for thesis above: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life embodied determination and strength as he tirelessly fought for African Americans’ Civil Rights.
Body paragraph 2: Explain his/her cause in detail. Explain with how his/her cause made progress because of his/her attributes. Sample TS for thesis above: Dr. King’s determination mobilized the Civil Rights Movement and ignited change and forced outsiders to see the issues facing African Americans at the time. Body paragraph 3: Explain your cause in detail. Explain why this cause is important and tie it to the previous information of the change maker you researched. Sample TS for thesis above: Dr. King argued that education should result not only in knowledge gained but also character developed; however, given the current educational dipartites in our school system, students who live in less funded areas do not receive that same level of education as their counterparts. Body paragraph 4: Detail the attributes necessary for being a change maker. Explain how you plan to embody those attributes for your cause. Sample TS for thesis above: With determination and honesty, I plan to be an agent of change for students who live in less funded areas. I will use my voice in social media and casual conversation to bring awareness to this issue to those around me. Conclusion: End with a declaration of how you will be an Agent of Change in your home, community, work place, and/or community. Sample concluding statement for thesis above: As a social change agent, I plan to bring awareness to the issue of disparities in education. I can do this by voicing my opinion and sharing my expertise on this issue with others in my home, work place, and community through social media and informal discussions. Like Dr. King, I can use my voice and determination to bring about change and expect more from those around me. Requirements for the Essay:
The introduction must use of the introduction typesActions we learned in class. The thesisActions must include a preview of the points to be made throughout the paper. All paragraphs must have an arguable topic sentenceActions that supports the thesis.
All paragraph must have 2 to 3 pieces of evidenceActions (direct or paraphrased quotes) used to support your ideas. All paragraphs need to include adequate analysisActions of the evidence. The conclusion must use the one of the conclusion typesActions we learned in class.
There needs to be seamless transitionsActions between paragraphs. A detailed Works Cited page is required. Please be sure your paper is in proper MLA format. Step 5 Save and Submit Your Draft Submit your 800 word rough draft.
Too Tired? Too Anxious? Need More Time? We’ve got your back.