What is success? This is a term that we will be discussing all semester as we explore different arguments, perspectives, experiences, and theories on what success is and what a successful life looks like. This term, in and of itself, is an abstract term, meaning that it can have very different interpretations depending on who you ask (similar to love, loyalty, and family). Your job for this first paper is to write a definition essay that defines the term success, drawing from your own experiences and outside source material to construct this definition.
Remember that this is NOT a narrative about a time when you were successful but an argument about what success is and how we understand it. Your definition of success which will be your thesis should be applicable to everyone. If your thesis seems only applicable to yourself, this is an indicator that your focus is too narrow.
For example, DONT do this: I believe that my ability to learn from failure is what made me successful.
DO this instead: Success is possible when a person is able to turn their failures into learning experiences to grow and try again. This thesis can apply to anyone. It can cover various contexts, roles, and experiences.
Here are some additional guidelines for this paper:
USING SOURCE MATERIAL:
You should use at least three outside sources in your paper. This can include any materials used in class and any independent research you do. The library databases are great for finding source materials, and I recommend those first and foremost: Opposing Viewpoints, Proquest, Academic Search Premiere, and the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection are fantastic places to look for source materials.
You CAN use Google, but any sources there MUST be reputable; do not use blogs, .org websites, or any page where you cannot find information about the author and his/her credentials.
Prove that your sources are credible by giving us details about them; when you quote or paraphrase them, explain why we should listen to them. For example: Basketball legend and six time NBA champion, Michael Jordan notes the importance of learning from failure when he said, I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
THESIS:
Your paper needs a thesis, which will take the form of your definition of success. Place this thesis at the end of your introduction as a way to set up your argument, which is essentially your definition of success.
Remember that this thesis should not focus on three successful roles, nor should it be a story about a time when you succeeded at something. You should phrase your definition generally, meaning that it can be applied to anyone.
You may consider a pronged thesis where you focus on three specific aspects and list them in your thesis statement. For example: Success is possible when a person leads their life with integrity, motivation to accomplish their goals, and the ability to adapt.
This means that I will devote a paragraph to each prong in my thesis: integrity, motivation, and adaptation.
If you dont want to do a pronged thesis, here is another example: True success comes from the ability to find value in all life experiences.
This thesis is phrased more generally. I should still aim to prove this thesis in three to four ways, with separate paragraphs devoted to ways to find value in life (for example: learning from failure, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, and building strong relationships). Each of these paragraphs should connect back to my thesis.
SUPPORT PARAGRAPHS:
To prove ones thesis, a writer needs to include support paragraphs that each prove this thesis. Each paragraph will also give an assortment of supporting details in the form of examples, statistics, facts, personal experiences, and expert opinion. The trick is to vary these forms of evidence; a good rule of thumb is to use 3-6 supporting details per paragraph (for a paper of this length).
For example, one paragraph might contain a statistic, a story about your own personal experience, and expert opinion from an outside source. Refrain from incorporating too much personal experience; your personal experience will mean a lot to you, and it can mean a lot to your audience too, but it may not convince others. Find a balance between your source materials; variety is, as they say, the spice of life!
INTRODUCTION & CONCLUSION:
Your introduction should grab your readers attention, narrow to your focus (the definition of success), and then lead into your definition of success. Consider beginning your essay with an interesting quote, statistic, a brief story, or a general statement about the pursuit of and/or desire for success.
Your conclusion should restate your thesis (though not in the original wording of your introduction), restate the main ways you are proving your thesis, and leave your reader thinking. You want your audience to understand why this conversation about success is important, and how others can benefit from your argument.
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:
At least 1200 words
Double-spaced
12 point standard fonts (Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, etc.)
Standard margins on all sides
MLA formatting for all source material (in-text citations and a works cited page)
If you need help with citation, visit the Purdue OWL citation page: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ (Links to an external site.)
Remember to use spell check and grammar check before turning anything in
