The Assignment
Basically, you’ll write a research essay of 600 – 900 words about a healthcare problem or dental healthcare problem on this continent. Pick prompt #1 or #2:
- Identify a proposedsolution to this healthcare problem and evaluate the solution. You could focus on a government or tribal policy change or a new approach being considered by healthcare providers. In your essay, describe the proposed change of action and evaluate whether the solution is viable or not.
- Identify a new solution already in placeto address a healthcare problem and evaluate the solution. You could focus on a government or tribal policy change or a new approach taken by healthcare providers. In your essay, describe the solution and evaluate how it is working.
Some Advice:
Remember what I’ve said before: “A position is not a thesis statement.” So if you write something like, “We need universal healthcare for all,” that’s a POSITION. It’s not really a thesis statement because it doesn’t contain an IDEA or a REASON. A thesis statement has to have the “why” or the “because.”
Don’t just list the pros and cons of the solution you are covering. Surely, you’ll want to include the pros and cons, but in the end you want to organize your essay around ONE IDEA. That one idea is your thesis statement. Mostly likely, your thesis statement will contain a word like “because.” For example, “Universal healthcare in the U.S. is not viable because there is a strong socialist stigma associated with it.”
Finally, or almost finally, remember that a thesis is an answer to a question. That means you need to ask a good question. It often takes weeks of reading just to come up with the right question. Be patient with yourself. Here’s an example of the kind of question you might ask:
[Your answer to the question–your thesis–should have some sort of “because” in it. If you only answer the question, you won’t have an idea and therefore no thesis statement.]
Word Count: 600 – 900 words
Source Requirement: At least 5 substantive or scholarly sources required. One of the 5 sources must be considered scholarly.
Do you have the required number or sources? At least three substantive or scholarly sources.
- Scholarly – written by academics, professors, students, peer-reviewed journals and magazines
- Example: articles found in library searches (Academic Search Complete)
- Substantive – in-depth, reliable articles or books of public concern
- Example: New York Times
- Popular sources – inform & entertain the public, journalist & freelance writers, persuade the general public.
| Uber Rubric | ||
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Thesis Statement To what degree is the thesis statement… (a) concise and easy to find, (b) a good match for the rest of the essay, (c) an argument, not a mere description, (d) illuminating, beyond the obvious | ||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Clarity of Writing To what degree is the writing… (a) concise and understandable, (b) easy flowing and well punctuated, (c) edited for spelling and grammar, (d) correctly formatted. | ||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Organization To what degree does the essay… (a) stick to one main point, (b) use transitions to move gracefully from one idea to another, (c) stick to one idea per paragraph. | ||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Support To what degree is the evidence… (a) sufficient to prove the thesis, (b) a good match for the argument, (c) correctly integrated and formatted according to MLA or APA guidelines, (e) safe from plagiarism. | ||
