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PROMPT FOR ESSAY 3

Your Assignment: Essay 3 is a research paper asking you to delve into discovering, and developing an argument about, solutions to global problems.

As a research paper, this essay is driven by a research question, which you endeavor to answer via reading and pondering. When you arrive at an answer to the query, you will have a thesis you can argue.

This explains why this project has to be undertaken in several stages: reading, thinking, writing, more reading.

· As you did in Essay 2, you will make an argument about your topic –- and then support it with expert evidence, using at least 2 sources in each paragraph. This will require you to find places where authors overlap, relate to each other, and/or comment on similar things. Each of these paragraphs should also include some explanation of how the material supports or relates to your argument.

Aim to include specific examples. Don't write around a topic or in generalities; instead be specific when you can.

You will also need to include a body paragraph that consists of a counter-argument and rebuttal.

· Follow your interest and find a focus that you are interested in. Below are topics that will work, but you can also locate your own.

· Your final draft should include at least 6 sources. You may use one or more sources that we read together in class – but you must find at least 5 sources on your own. I have aimed at locating some useful sources and counterarguments.

· This essay requires a substantial amount of independent research. The sources may include academic journals, newspapers, websites, magazines, documentaries, etc. -– they do not have to be academic but they must be reliable. You may find that you will need more than the required 6 sources to be able to discuss each topic in depth, present a counterargument, and have enough content to meet the word count -– it is common for successful essays to include 10 or more sources.

· The suggested word count for Essay 3 is 1350-1750 words, or 5-7 pages, and a Works Cited list.

Format: The Usual Suspects, meaning double-spaced, 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12 or similar-sized font, add page numbers, put your name on your work, include a fine and apt title for your paper.

TOPICS AND RESOURCES:

Some organizations solving global problems:

1) The Ocean Cleanup Project and Boyan Slat

https://theoceancleanup.com/about/

1. Counterargument:

Scherrer, Pascal. "3 Little-Known Reasons Why Plastic Recycling Could Actually Make Things Worse." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2025. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/XMUHFI439739623/OVIC?u=temple_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=664f09e4. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025. Originally published as "3 little-known reasons why plastic recycling could actually make things worse," The Conversation, 28 May 2023.

LINK: https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/XMUHFI439739623/OVIC?u=temple_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=664f09e4

FULL TEXT: 3_LittleKnown_Reasons_Why_Plas.pdf

2) Feeding People in Crisis Zones: World Central Kitchen

https://wck.org/

3) Making Microloans to Low-Income People: Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunis

https://www.grameen-info.org/grameen-bank-introduction/

Counterargument sources:
a) Surowiecki, James. "Microloans Do Not Encourage the Economic Growth That Developing Countries Need." Alternative Lending, edited by Amanda Hiber, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010637223/OVIC?u=temple_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=47389af5. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025. Originally published as "What Microloans Miss," New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2008.

LINK - https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010637223/OVIC?u=temple_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=47389af5

b) Epstein, Keith, and Geri Smith. "Microlending in Mexico Makes Many Poor Citizens Even Poorer." Alternative Lending, edited by Amanda Hiber, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010637227/OVIC?u=temple_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=71666ff0. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025. Originally published as "The Ugly Side of Microlending," BusinessWeek, 13 Dec. 2007.

LINK- https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010637227/OVIC?u=temple_main&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=71666ff0