Write an essay which draws from and comments upon other writing-- approx 1000 words, plus a bibliograhical essay and/or annotated bibliography.

There is no minimum number of sources required, and no explicit guidelines about which sources you may use.  However, as in any writing, the sources must be good -- that is, reliable and compelling for the purposes for which you use them in your essay.

Possible variation on this assignment:  Some students have asked me if, for this assignment, they may rewrite an academic paper they've written for another class.  The answer is yes, with a policy of "full disclosure"--that is, you must show me the essay as originally written for the other class, along with the teacher's comments, and you must disclose the name of the class, professor, and institution for which the paper was originally written.  Also please note:  Do not take this assignment option if you are unwilling to substantially rewrite or rework your material.

What IS an "Academic Essay"?

Academic writing can be hard to define.  We'll spend a lot of time discussing this issue in class.  For the purposes of this assignment, academic writing is based on other writing and includes formal documentation of sources.  Academic writing also implies a professional audience with interest in an academic discipline or in an academic line of inquiry.