The academic essay assignment in this unit will be a written, cohesive argument for the change in your community that you have been writing about throughout the course. The assignment should take the form of a persuasive academic essay, in which you will provide evidence from at least four credible sources to support the argument for change that you are advocating. You will also need to address rival hypotheses or misconceptions about your topic within the essay, as the ability to do so is a key component of a strong argument. Essentially, the essay will reflect what you have learned about writing effectively, using research, and creating a logical argument to influence an audience.
APA formatting for the document, including an appropriately formatted title page and references page
A thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph
An introduction paragraph that establishes the issue
Well-developed paragraphs that include evidence from sources to support your argument for a specific change in your community
Effective transitions between and within paragraphs
A conclusion paragraph that brings the essay to an effective close
Four credible sources appropriate for academic writing should be cited within the text of the essay; at least one of the cited sources should be either a book/ebook or a periodical article
Standard English and a formal tone throughout the writing (e.g., stay in third-person voice, avoid slang, etc.)
A strong and well-supported argument will be at least 3–4 pages, not including the title page and references page

Thesis : Food insecurity particularly affects, low-income families, children, seniors, and rural communities, as they struggle to have consistent access to enough food to live a healthy and active life, highlighting the urgent need for increased attention and resources to combat this pressing problem. Community leaders should be addressing this issue more by increasing food access, addressing economic inequalities, and addressing the lack of access to healthy food.

Sources to use
Feeding America. (n.d.). Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org/
New Mexico State University. (n.d.). New Mexico hunger. Aggie Cupboard. https://aggiecupboard.nmsu.edu/new-mexico-hunger.html
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (n.d.). Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/
Kramer, L. A., & Hewlett, J. P. (1991). Food assistance and nutrition research program: 10 years of research at USDA. USDA, Food and Nutrition Service. https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/download/29691/PDF