MLA Style
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The essay is supposed to be on the road not taken. Like something that happen in the past where I had to make a decision on choosing the best path for me. I started working on the essay so I have the basics of the outline. In the thesis, I’m supposed to state my decision directly (choosing to go back to school online after the loss of my brother, I wanted to continue my education to provide better opportunities for my nephew whom now is my responsibility to take care of) when writing the essay don’t describe the experience, you should analyze it. You will not just be telling a story. Rather, in the body paragraph, you will be explaining your reasons for selecting one option out of possible options. You should list three reasons when writing a working thesis (during the planning stages of an essay). The number of points (reasons) you should list in the thesis depends on the requirements of the assignment. For this essay, to reach the required length you need three body paragraphs/ 3 reasons.
Introduction: Make a connection with your readers
Hook/interest-getter:
-Sometimes life gives a person too much that they cannot handle. Sometimes we are compelled to make difficult choices, where consequences are bound to follow regardless of choice made.
Background: Information concerning the circumstances leading up to the decision.
An explanation of the choices available to you.
-Everything seemed to be going per my expectations until my last year of high school when I had to make a tough decision. My brother, who was more like my best friend, passed away, leaving me to raise his six-year-old son since raising any child isn’t cheap, forcing me to take on more hours. I was faced with a tough decision, choosing to either drop out and work full time or switch to online school to take on the full-time position to support my family.
Transition: Connect the background information to the thesis.
Thesis statement: the decision that you made and at least in your working thesis your reasons for the choice.
– Given my circumstances, I took the direction that felt like the best decision for me. I am glad it could renew my purpose and help me become a more hopeful educated human being.
Paragraph 1: One reason, possibly the strongest reason OR the next in sequence.
A clear explanation of the reason
Details and examples to support your topic sentences
– Topic sentence: The loss of my brother put a significant toll on me, causing me to suffer lost hope, anxiety, and depression. I no longer had my person to run to when things got tough. No one to confide in about the difficult things in life. Although, this broke me down. It also gave me hope to continue my education because I always felt it was essential to me & I now am responsible for his precious son.
Paragraph 2:
One reason, possibly the next strongest reason OR the next in sequence.
A clear explanation of the reason
Details and examples to support your topic sentences
-Topic sentence: Being blessed with the opportunity to raise my nephew, I knew my brother would want his son to have a good life and much more than we had growing up. So, I needed to finish school to get more opportunities and become and round human being for my family. ( my topic sentence needs to be clearer and relate to my thesis. In example: I needed to provide a good life for my nephew or I wanted to continue my education for myself)
Paragraph 3: One reason, possibly the next strongest reason OR the next in sequence.
A clear explanation of the reason
Details and examples to support your topic sentence
Topic sentence: Choosing to continue my education online instead of dropping out has opened so many doors for me, like becoming a Shift Manager, Store Manager, then quickly moving to General Manager at a local organization at such a young age was a great start on my resume along with graduating. I probably wouldn’t have had access to these things if I had chosen to drop out of school. ( I was told to rewrite my topic sentence in the third body paragraph too; Taking online classes would allow me to accept promotions………)
Conclusion: (should include)
Thesis statement:
Reflection on the impact of your decision in the long and/or short term (as appropriate)
Wrap up:
– In conclusion, I have grown from many months of self-doubt and hopelessness. Choosing to go back to school online and finishing was a huge win because I thought I would not have the chance to graduate.
This is only info from Assignments submitted leading up to the rough draft. If more info is needed it can be provided in a timely manner given the short time frame.