OPINION PIECE TEST THIS WEEK

Here are the instructions for this week's test, for those of you who missed class last week. For possible topics, please scroll down and choose a topic for YOUR SECTION. You are expected to do some basic background research so you have some idea what you are talking about. GOOD LUCK! (LOL! That sounds kinda sarcastic! Sorry, it's not!)

MSFP 261

FINAL WRITING TEST: OPINION PIECE April 21st or 23rd
Worth 10% of your final mark.

TOPICS:
PLEASE SEE THE SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR YOUR SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST

The questions relating to these topics will be given on the day of the test.


REQUIREMENTS:

1. This is a CLOSED BOOK test; any research you use must be memorized. It does not have to be formally cited in MLA format, but you must acknowledge the author and source in the body of your essay.
2. Spend 5 minutes planning your answer. Please hand the plan in with your essay.
3. Your THESIS/OPINION should ANSWER the question.
4. Write your essay (in FIRST PERSON) then PRINT it.
5. After you have printed it: PROOF IT!
6. Make corrections and hand in a clean copy.


You will be marked 50% on Grammar. A mark will be taken out of 25 for every grammar error:
1. Sentence construction faults such as run-ons, fragments and comma splices.
2. Misplaced and dangling modifiers.
3. Misuse of punctuation—commas, semicolons, capital letters, periods, apostrophes.
4. Paragraphs not tabbed.
5. Spelling errors, misused words, informal usage.
6. Incorrect tense.
7. Faulty agreement.
8. Incorrect format: should be double-spaced, wide margin, 12pt font
9. Titles not italicized.

SECTION ONE TOPICS
-3D Movies
-News and manipulation
-Closing of Toronto Humane Society
-Canadian dollar at par
-Music piracy and copyright
-Marval vs D.C.
-Legalization of drgus
-Tattoos and workplace discrimination
-The hypersexualization of young women
-Privacy vs marketing
-The economy/The recession

SECTION TWO TOPICS
-Media Foundations
-The Vatican and pedophile Priests
-Kids in violent movies
-Social Neworking
-Graphic sex and violence in art
-3-D Movies and Movie Technology
-US conservative movements such as the recent ideas to support the idea of confederacy
-Politicians and corruption
--Public Transportation in Toronto or the GTA
-Casual Game Market

SECTION THREE TOPICS
-Dancehall music
-Punk is dead
-Urban biking
-Canadian dollar at par
-Child labour
-American healthcare reform
-NHL Playoffs/Maple Leafs
-The Vatican and pedophile Priests
-Influence of religion on the media
-Animals in captivity

SECTION FOUR TOPICS
-Body contact in hockey
-Social services in Toronto
-Canadian dollar at par with US
-Medicinal marijuana
-TTC and customer service
-Toronto Maple Leafs
-3-D Films

DUE NEXT WEEK APRIL 7th and 9th

ASSIGNMENT (5%):
ON APRIL 7th/9th please hand in to me your reading list and a formal outline (the format is given below—obviously, you must fill in the details according to your own project). The reading list does not have to be in MLA format, but when you attach it to your final paper as "Works Cited" it does.

KEEP A COPY you will need to be able to work from it as you write your paper.
Sample Formal Outline
Topic: Canadian Film maker
Limit: Atom Egoyan . . . “What has been Atom Egoyan’s biggest contribution to Canadian film?”
Thesis: Atom Egoyan is a film maker who best represents the Canadian psyche in both story and cinematography. In the Sweet Hereafter, particularly, the white and silent Canadian landscape is used as a metaphor for alienation and isolation.
I. Major Point [Story]
A. Minor Point
1. Evidence (paraphrase idea of writer A)
2. Evidence (my analysis of AE movie)
B. Minor Point
1. Evidence (my analysis of AE movie)
2. Evidence (quote from writer B)

II. Major Point [Cinematography]
A. Minor point
1. Evidence (my analysis)
2. Evidence (writer C)
3. Evidence (my analysis)
B. Minor point
1. Evidence (writer D)
2. Evidence (my analysis)
Conclusion:

Note: headings should make specific points, not simply introduce vague ideas; you can then turn these into paragraph topic sentences.