Essay 2 requires you to choose a broad general research topic from a list. After conducting general research, you will find a focus and formulate a thesis statement. Then use focused research to fin

 Essay 2 requires you to choose a broad general research topic from a list. After conducting general research, you will find a focus and formulate a thesis statement. Then use focused research to find information and evidence to support your thesis. The purpose of your essay is not to argue a side on a controversial issue, but to enlighten your reader in a reasonable way on the topic at hand. You might explain all the reasons why people get tattoos, for example, but not argue for or against them. Or you might present the health risks of tattooing, but not say that getting a tattoo is foolish. You might explain why some Christians get tattoos but not argue that all Christians should get tattoos. Explaining a process, cause and effect, history, reasons why, and current relevance are important parts of informative expository writing. Format: Use MLA 8th edition format. Include in-text parenthetical references and a Works Cited page. Length: Your paper must be a minimum of 4 pages long. A well-developed paper is likely to be longer. Sources: Your paper should incorporate a variety of credible sources. Library class instruction will help you to differentiate between reliable and non-reliable sources of information. Use a minimum of 4-5 sources within your paper. Your writing should include and document both paraphrased information and direct quotations. (Wikipedia, Spark Notes, and personal or nonprofessional websites/blogs are not acceptable sources. Choose websites selectively (ending in .edu or .gov.) Do not simply Google your topic. Topic: Choose a topic from the attached list. Each topic lends itself to a common frame of reference including 1) history of the subject, 2) human interest, and 3) current relevance. Your reader should come away from your paper knowing more about the topic than ever before and convinced that your thesis is reasonable and well-supported. Your research will educate you on the subject; then you educate your reader. Structure: Your essay should contain an effective introduction with a strong thesis statement, clear topic sentences introducing each of the well-developed paragraphs in the body of the paper, and a meaningful conclusion. Point of View: Use third-person academic point-of-view (No “I” or “you” pronouns) 

 Tattoos Excellent topic. We have several books, ebooks, and journal articles to support this topic. Related terms:  ancient traditions and ritual  religion  rebellion  cultural history  oppression  identity/self-expression Book: Customizing the Body : The Art and Culture of Tattooing Body Piercing and Henna Good topic. We have several books, ebooks, and journal articles to support this topic. Related terms:  body decorations  body modification  Indian body decorations (Henna)  Hindu Indian women (Henna)  Rites of passage (Henna) Ebook: Encyclopedia of Body Adornment Dreams Good topic. We have several books, ebooks, and journal articles to support this topic. I think books will be the best source for this topic. Ebook: Encyclopedia of Philosophy has a good article on "Dreams" Ebook: The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology has a good "dreams" article Ebook: The Spiritual, Social, and Scientific Meanings of Dreams: What Do Our Dreams Teach Us? Comic books We have several books, ebooks, and journal articles to support this topic. Related terms:  graphic novels  comic book culture  World War II propaganda (Book: Comics and conflict) Ebook: The Comic Book History of Comics Book: Comic book culture : an illustrated history Book: The encyclopedia of comic book heroes Updated 1/2019 Prescription Painkiller Epidemic Excellent topic. Magazine and journal articles support this topic. Best Databases: Academic OneFile -articles in medical journals, EBSCO Host, Global Issues in Context, Opposing Viewpoints, and Government websites on drug abuse. Profile of a Tyrant Investigate modern tyrants such as Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and—more currently—Kim Jong-il, Hu Jintao, Vladimir Putin, Raul Castro. What characterizes tyranny? How do tyrants come to power?  Pollinators and Colony Collapse Disorder Good topic. For best results, search these topics separately. Pollinators Best Databases: Credo and Gale Best Sources: reference articles Excellent reference article in Gale Virtual Reference Library: "Pollinators." from Environmental Science: In Context, Colony Collapse Disorder Best Database: Credo and EBSCO databases Best Sources: reference articles Excellent reference article in Gale Virtual Reference Library: “Colony Collapse Disorder.” from The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide, Daydreaming (“Stimulus Independent Thought”-SIT) Excellent "daydreaming" article in Gale Virtual Reference Library from the Encyclopedia of Psychology. “Why Daydreaming is Good for Us” Psychology Today and “The Virtues of Daydreaming” The New Yorker “When Daydreaming Replaces Real Life” The Atlantic Best Database: EBSCO’s General Database and Credo Best Sources: General reference sources and magazines Effects of Technology/Social Media Excellent topic. Topic needs to be narrowed with sub-topic, & searched together in EBSCO using the advanced search: For example, “technology and childhood development,” “technology and human sexuality,” “social media and depression.” Best Database: EBSCO’s General Database Best Search: Social Media AND Depression Best Sources: Scholarly academic journal articles Excellent article: "Association Between Social Media Use and Depression Among U.S. Young Adults", Depression and Anxiety, vol. 33, no. 4, Apr. 2016, pp. 323-331. Updated 1/2019 Slavery in the 21st Century Human sex trafficking and forced labor/servitude in the 21st Century. (Amnesty International estimates 45 million human beings are held in slavery worldwide.) Good Source: EBSCO’s General Database Excellent article: “My Family’s Slave,” The Atlantic June 2017. Preppers and FEMA Good topic. For best results, search these topics separately. Best for FEMA Sources: FEMA’s website, Gale US History in Context, Credo Reference, Best database to search “Preppers”: Academic Source Premier Other keywords: “Survivalism” or “survivalist” Best Databases: Credo and Academic Search Premier Best Sources: General reference sources, magazines, and newspapers Best Keywords: Survivalism or survivalist + FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency Olympic Games This topic requires considerable narrowing to find a direction. We have plenty of books, ebooks, and articles to support this topic. (Think Olympic scandals, acts of terrorism, recent controversies, cheating, cost analysis for hosting country, political significance, declining popularity, etc.) National Parks/U.S. National Park Service This topic requires a focused direction, such as why our national parks are valuable, or current threats to national parks. Sources: CREDO, Gale US History in Con