Writing English 2A: Writing assignment 3・作文3

Hello!

How are you? Today I will introduce our third writing assignment (作文3) - writing an outline with a thesis statement on a topic. 

This assignment will be especially important because it will connect directly to our final writing assignment (期末作文), so it is important that you do this one. 

Topics/themes
There is no set topic or theme with this assignment. You are free to choose any topic you like. But usually, deeper topics that have a number of points about them make better topics to outline. 

Special note:
Whatever topic you choose to write an outline and thesis statement about about, however, there is one rule you have to follow: You have to write about the same topic for your final writing assignment. So the outline and thesis statement for this third assignment will be preparation for your final writing assignment. 

If you cannot think of a topic to make an outline and thesis statement, then write a final writing assignment about, here are some ideas: You can make an outline and thesis statement, and write a final assignment, about one of the writing assignments we have done before. 

Now here is one special rule: You cannot write about the same topic you wrote about before - you have to choose something different. For example, you have to write about a different person than what you wrote about before, or a different topic within the 2nd assignment theme.

NEW NOTES: Here are the board notes for today's (6/20) class: 

THIS IS IMPORTANT! Look at the key to writing strong thesis statements:

Now here is a refresher about what we have done before: 

Writing assignment 1 (作文1)
These were our topic choices:  

• Writing about a famous person including points on what they look like, how they dress, what     they are known to you for or are famous for, and what else is unique or interesting about them
• Writing about a place including where it is, what is special about it, what special things there are, and how to get there

Writing assignment 2 (作文2)
These were the idea choices for different topics within this theme:  

•          The aging population (老齢人口) of Japan and what older people need for their support  
•       Social media and its problems 
•       Issues and/or things that need improvement for student life at Daito Bunka
•       Possible problems and/or issues connected with the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics 
•       Voting rights (投票権) for 18-year-olds in Japanese elections (選挙) 
•       Refugee issues (難民の問題) and what refugees need for immigration (移住) to Japan 
•       Hikikomori and their problems of social adjustment (社会適応) in Japanese society

Deadline (締め切り)
It will be July 4th (7/4), so I want you to bring in a first draft (下書き) of the thesis statement and outline next week (来週) in your notebooks in pencil. I will then review your work, and you can change things about the thesis statement and outline as you need to. Then you can write to the finish and turn it in on 7/4. 

While I am reviewing your work, you can go ahead and begin writing a first draft of the final writing assignment itself - the body (中心) of your topic and theme in class.

Good luck! I look forward to reading your great thesis statements and outlines! 

Image: Personal photograph. All rights reserved.