ASSIGNMENT PROMPT For this assignment, you will be writing a compare/contrast essay–an exploratory piece of writing in which you attempt to show readers how two topics are similar, different, or a combination of the two: both similar and different. Whether you focus exclusively on comparing, exclusively on contrasting, or a mix of both, is totally up to you. However, regardless of which approach you decide to take, you will want to include a strong thesis/claim statement, at least three effective supporting points, and a streamlined point-by-point organizational strategy.  ASSIGNMENT-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Thesis: Underline your thesis statement or the main claim of your essay. Page Formatting: See Appendix C - Formatting and Submitting Your Work MLA Requirements: See Formatting your Essay: MLA 8th Edition RHETORICAL MODE Compare/contrast essays are both creative and analytical in nature. They are typically more formal than a personal narrative in the sense that they are written from a third-person perspective, where a writer is not injecting their own opinion directly using “I” or “me” language.  To prove points–compare/contrast essays rely on researched evidence, and not personal opinion or experience, per se. When you choose two topics, you will have numerous options for comparing and contrasting them–much more than you can actually use in a single paper. Therefore, you will need to decide what elements are worth comparing and contrasting, and why. This is the seek and discover part of the essay, but also the creative part. For example, another writer may choose the same two topics as you, but their essay may rest entirely on thesis and supporting points. When you limit your supporting points to those points you think you can prove most effectively, you are maximizing your creative and analyticalwriting abilities.  Rhetorical Considerations Purpose: Remember that this is an exploratory paper: The piece of writing should show readers, through the inclusion of careful detail and specifics, and strong supporting points, how your two topics are similar, different, or a combination of the two: similar and different.  Audience: The compare/contrast essay is written for someone else–either a single reader or a community of readers. When choosing the points you want to use to show readers that your topics are similar, different, or a combination of the two, you should keep this audience in mind, making sure that you are choosing the most effective points possible to show how your two topics are similar or different.  In this instance, you are writing to show readers that your two topics are similar, different, or a combination of the two (similar and different). Keep this audience in mind by emphasizing the compare/contrast claims throughout the essay. Form: This is a formal writing project, written in third-person, relying on strong organizational strategies, integrating researched evidence, and following MLA formatting guidelines.  SIX FEATURES OF A COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY 1.Compare/Contrast Thesis: Contains a strong and succinct thesis/claim statement that outlines whether the two topics are similar, different, or a combination of the two, and at least three supporting points that can boost that claim. A sample compare/contrast thesis might look like this: Although curriculum A and curriculum B are similar in their student success goals, they are very different when it comes to their structure, topics, and scoring.  2.Transitions:Utilizes transitional words and phrases that help the audience (or reader) move more easily from idea to idea, sentence to sentence, and paragraph to paragraph.  1.*Note–transitions do not only occur in topic sentences but throughout the essay. When you are moving from one idea to the next, whether between two sentences or between two paragraphs, you will want to include language that can help bridge your ideas (and sentences/paragraphs). Some examples might be “in addition to,” “next.”  3.Compare/Contrast Signals:In addition to more typical transitional words and phrases, this essay should also include compare/contrastspecific signals, emphasizing for readers how and why your topics are alike or different. Here are some example:  1.similar: in addition, by comparison, similarly 2.different: however, in contrast, differing from 4.Point-by-Point Organizational Strategy: The essay should follow the point-by-point approach to showcase the use of transitions, synthesizeyour own supporting points with researched evidence, and build a fully developed essay with an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. For this kind of organization, you will create a topic sentence for each body paragraph that outlines a compare/contrastpoint regarding both topics and use the body paragraph to show readers how your two topics are similar, different, or similar and different.  5.Reliable and Credible Sources: The essay should integrate at least two reliable and credible sources (also known as “scholarly sources”) to help prove the compare/contrast claims to readers and to boost or substantiate the supporting points that you have created for your two topics.  Proofreading and Revising: As with any writing project, the final draft of this essay should be carefully reviewed for clarity and correctness. This includes checking word choice, sentence structure, organization, transitions/coherence, and MLA formatting. ALL WRITTEN STUDENT WORK IS EVALUATED AGAINST INDUSTRY-LEADING PLAGIARISM DETECTION SOFTWARE; BY TAKING A COURSE THROUGH STRAIGHTERLINE, STUDENTS AGREE THAT ALL REQUIRED PAPERS, ESSAYS, AND WRITTEN WORK MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBMISSION TO PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE FOR TEXTUAL SIMILARITY REVIEW AND DETECTION OF PLAGIARISM. PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE COMPARES STUDENT WORK TO SEVERAL SOURCES INCLUDING OTHER STUDENT WORK, PUBLIC WEBSITES, VARIOUS INSTITUTIONAL ARCHIVES, THE INTERNET, AND THE GLOBAL REFERENCE DATABASE. 

Discussion 1: Best Practices in Interviewingundefined“Ordinary conversations are about sociability and maintaining a relationship, while interviews are more about making a relationship to help find an answer to a research question” (Rubin & Rubin, 2012, p. 99).undefinedFor this Discussion, you will view videos that depict different interviewing techniques. You will then analyze and evaluate the techniques used, and you will discuss how you will utilize best practices when you conduct your own interviews.undefinedTo prepare for this Discussion:undefined Review Chapter 12 of the Rubin and Rubin course text. Review the two media segments on interviewing. As you view the videos, practice your observation skills by creating field notes for yourself. Be careful to distinguish between observation and interpretation as Dr. Crawford warns in the videos. Consider the following questions for your post to evaluate the techniques used in each interview. Which practices could you use in your own interview? Which practices should you avoid? Where did the person in the video go wrong? How could this issue have been avoided or corrected? undefinedBy Day 3undefinedPost a 2- to 3-paragraph evaluation of the interview techniques used in both interviews. Include commentary and analysis of best practices, practices to avoid, and how this viewing experience will inform your approach to the interviewing assignment introduced in this week’s Major Assignment.undefinedWhen appropriate, be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the reading(s) and/or video program(s) and use APA format.undefinedBy Day 5undefinedRespond to at least one of your colleagues’ posts and provide additional recommendations to your colleague.

The proposal should address a counseling need typical (or atypical if justified) of a school counseling setting. This will be informed by a culmination of course and EG activities, course and outside readings, personal and professional experiences and 10 scholarly references. You should describe an issue of importance to you and your professional school counseling career goals. Students are encouraged to explore educational or therapeutic groups a. Present a rationale for the group. Conceptualize the problem or issue by describing some possible contributing factors, and paradigm shifts that may be needed. （make up a more specific case scenario about a group of ESL students, who struggle with English language that affect academic performance） b. Describe the specific population (e.g. high school students, ESL student who just immigrant, first language is not English )c. Present your group screening processesd. Include a review of the relevant professional literature related to your group and/or group counseling.e. Describe a hypothetical yet possible group counseling solution that applies your knowledge and the best practices from the available research and theoretical literatures.f. Present how you will organize the group counseling sessions. A group format that allows for about 8 to 10, 40-minute sessions should be adequate. For each session, describe the activities in relation to group developmental stages, and goals that will be employed. Please include potential problems that may arise (i.e. scheduling conflicts, resistance from teachers, health care providers, parents even members) and ways you might address these issues.g. Present evaluation criteria.Please cover each of the require outlines from a through g. For the format of the paper, please write the case scenario first. write each of the requirement under the letter. For example:c. Present your group screening processesanswer: the processes is XYZ d. Include a review of the relevant professional literature related to your group and/or group counselinganswer: according to the article XYZ