Category: English and Literature

The paper must be 3-4 pages in length. (3-4 FULL pages!)

You can pick your own definition argument, use any of those suggested in chapter 9, or use the default topic, above.  Your thesis sentence (which MUST be in your intro) will contain a definitional claim.

You must use MLA documentation. You may NOT use a paper submitted for another class. All work is run through Turn-It-In.com, and if your paper has been submitted elsewhere, you will not receive credit.

Be sure to read the attached rubric carefully so that you will see how you will be assessed.

You must include at least 3 quotes. One quote must be a long quote (4 or more lines) while one will be a short quote (2 lines or less).

Practice using the skills you have already learned, such as arguing from the heart,  etc 

Remember to come up with a purpose for your paper and find the voice you would like to use. Ill let you decide who your audience is!!

And finally:  no cliche topics!  That means, please do not write on the death penalty, gun control, abortion, legalizing MJ, or euthanasia.  These topics have officially been “done to death” in college papers. Also be sure your topic lends itself to using credible and scholarly sources.

Overview
The purpose of this assignment is to practice with the rhetorical, academic moves you are learning in your textbook, the “They Say, I Say” format, in order to compose a short response to a text. In They Say, I Say, you are learning how to define what others are saying, as well as craft your own response in order to produce academic writing and response. For this essay, you will work on synthesizing your skills in comprehension, analysis, summary/paraphrase/quotation, and response.

Furthermore, today’s employers place a lot of value on thinking critically, ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills, innovation, and a life-long desire to learn. One way to continue to learn outside of school, get exposure to new ideas, and hone your own position is by regularly reading, viewing, and listening to high quality material, as well as discussing it with others. This assignment will allow you to organize your use of the templates in They Say, I Say, as well as show the progress you are making in the acquisition of academic skills and desirable professional qualities.

Academic Values: Critical Thinking, Critical Analysis, Discourse, Claims Based on Evidence, Close Reading

Process
For this assignment, you will choose and respond to one of the articles in Chapter 17 or Chapter 20 of They Say, I Say. After reading this assignment all the way through, you should choose a few articles to read that might interest you before finalizing your choice.

In order to respond to the text, you must first read it and comprehend the author(s) viewpoint, position, or argument. The first part of your assignment will therefore be an explanation of the author’s position using summary, paraphrase, and perhaps some quotation. The second part of the assignment will be your response, using the concepts you learned in Chapter 4, “Yes/No/Okay, But.”

Your essay will start to bring together and synthesize your growing understanding of the templates in They Say, I Say, and the practice with them we have been doing in class. Therefore, on this assignment you will be assessed on comprehension, summary, analysis, understanding of the rhetorical situation, and the logic of your own response. You will also begin to use MLA format in order to design your document and cite your source(s). You may use the Short Template linked in Canvas as the basis for this assignment.

Remember, you are not expected to know everything there is to know about academic reading, writing, and rhetoric, but to show that you are building the skills necessary for success in academic and professional contexts. The more practice you have, the better you will become!

Assignment Criteria
An essay that “Achieves Excellence” will be distinguished in the following criteria:

The writer explains the authors ideas, position, and/or point of view using the concepts and methods addressed in Chapters 1-3 of They Say, I Say.
The writer identifies the reasons and/or evidence upon which the author is basing his or her position.
The writer identifies the conclusions drawn by the author(s)/speaker(s)/producer(s).
The writer uses summary, paraphrase, and/or some quotation appropriately in his or her explanation of the text.
The writer responds to the text with his or her position using the concepts and methods addressed in Chapter 4 of They Say, I Say (“Yes/No/Okay, But”).
The writer defends and supports his or her position with sound evidence and reasoning.
The writer draws well-supported conclusions about the position taken by the author in the text.
The writer demonstrates reading comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking.
The writer meets the standards for effective communication (clarity, logic, precision, accuracy, significance, and fairness).
The writer adheres to MLA guidelines for formatting, in-text citations, and the Works Cited page.
The essay is 500-750 words.

OVERVIEW

The purpose of this assignment is to practice with the rhetorical, academic moves you are learning in your textbook, the “They Say, I Say” format, in order to compose a thesis and support it with evidence. In They Say, I Say, you are learning how to define what others are saying, as well as craft your own claims and engage in synthesis of sources as evidence in order to produce academic writing. For this essay, you will work on your skills in comprehension, analysis, summary/paraphrase/quotation, and supporting a thesis with evidence. You will also engage in some preliminary steps toward research.

Today’s employers place a lot of value on thinking critically, ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills, innovation, and a life-long desire to learn. One way to continue to learn outside of school, get exposure to new ideas, and hone your own position is by regularly reading, viewing, and listening to high quality material, as well as discussing it with others. In particular, for this essay you will be engaging with quality sources and making a claim using those sources as evidence in order to share your point of view with others. This assignment will allow you to organize your use of the templates in They Say, I Say, as well as show the progress you are making in the acquisition of academic skills and desirable professional qualities.

Academic Values: Critical Thinking, Critical Analysis, Discourse, Claims Based on Evidence, Close Reading, Synthesis, Documentation, Compare/Contrast

PROCESS

For this assignment, you will compose a rough draft and a final draft of an essay about a topic you think is significant and meaningful. You will use three sources gathered from the web or FSW databases in order to demonstrate your thesis and support it with evidence. You should anticipate “counter claims” (Chapter 6, They Say, I Say) when composing your assignment. Your topic can fall under any of these three areas: 1) Science and Technology, 2) Entertainment and Popular Culture, 3) History and Culture, or an interdisciplinary topic that spans areas. Here are some examples of professionally written articles (“mentor texts”)1 that share similarities with the purpose of this assignment:

Andrew David Thaler, “The Politics of Fake Documentaries  (Links to an external site.)”
Chloe Angyal, “Romantic Comedies Teach Women That Stalking is A Compliment  (Links to an external site.)”
Laurie Penny, “What to Do When You’re Not the Hero Anymore  (Links to an external site.)”
Claudia Rankine, “The Meaning of Serena Williams  (Links to an external site.)”
Your essay should identify a topic that you think is meaningful and significant, and compose a thesis statement supported by evidence (sources and your analysis) for why other people should pay attention. In order to satisfy the requirements for this assignment, you should complete the steps below.

Compose a first draft of your essay. While your first draft does not have to be the full 900 words of the final draft, it should not be less than 600 words. Your first draft should include a working thesis, body paragraphs, and an outline of your conclusion. You will submit your rough draft to Canvas for peer review. During the peer review workshop period, you will be giving and receiving feedback on your essay.
After you have received feedback on your draft during the workshop period, you should make a revision plan. Your revision plan should identify key areas for improvement and identify specific actions you will take to revision your essay. You should enter those specific actions into your calendar between the workshop and the due date.
Revise your response essay based upon the feedback you received in the draft workshop. Make sure your essay has an original title. Submit your final draft by the due date.
Example Student Essay Preview the document

ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA

Drafting Workshop and Revision

The writer participates in the drafting workshop and has a draft of at least 600 words.
The writer participates constructively in the draft workshop period by giving thoughtful feedback to his or her peers.
The writer takes notes on his or her Revision Plan.
The writer makes a revision plan with a specific calendar based upon the feedback he or she receives.
The writer demonstrates a sound process of drafting and revision.
Final Draft

The writer has composed a strong introduction and thesis statement (Intro-Ch. 7).
The writer uses summary, paraphrase, and/or some quotation appropriately in his or her use of sources (Chapters 2 and 3).
The writer demonstrates strong reading comprehension of his or her three sources (Ch. 1-7).
The writer supports his or her thesis with compelling evidence (Ch. 1-8).
The writer’s claim and support demonstrate sound reasoning (Ch. 1-8).
The writer has a strong, well-supported conclusion (Ch. 1-8).
The writer makes his or her claim and supports it with three sources using templates and methods from Chapters 1-8 in They Say, I Say.
The writer demonstrates reading comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking.
The writer meets the standards for effective communication (clarity, logic, precision, accuracy, significance, and fairness).
The writer includes a Works Cited page (NLSH).
The writer adheres to MLA style (NLSH).
The essay is 900-1100 words.

The writer
…seeks to persuade audiences to accept a particular position on a controversial issue.
…describes the problem, proposes a solution, and provides justification.

Pick out a topic that you would like to persuade your audience to accept a particular position on. Then complete the graphic organizer with the following information:

1. Describe the problem you would like to present to your audience.
2. Provide 5 solutions to your problem.
3. Provide justification for why you problem is still an issue in modern society. Then provide justification for why your solutions would be beneficial.

Once you have completed the graphic organizer begin drafting your paper based the following outline:

Part 1: Describe the problem. Define the problem. Who says it is a problem, and why do they say so? Does your audience need convincing that this is a problem? Try to use specific facts and figures in describing the problem.

Part 2: Propose a solution. Describe your solution(s). Are your solutions practical? Are they obtainable? How so? Be very specific in outlining the steps of your solution.

Part 3: Defend your proposal. Why will your ideas work? Anticipate what the opposition will say and counter their concerns. Recognize that people may be reluctant to get behind your proposal and explain to them why they should overcome their reluctance.

Part 4: Conclude. Remind the readers why this problem needs their attention. Readdress why they should care. What action do you hope is prompted by the writing of this piece? Tell the readers what they can do or how they can help.

For this journal entry, you will read and reflect upon “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander in They Say, I Say (Ch. 16). In order to successfully complete this journal entry, you will need to identify the conversation Alexander is participating in about race, criminal justice, and mass incarceration. You should use the templates we have learned about so far in order to help you write a reflective journal entry of 300-500 words based on the questions and assignment criteria below. One way to approach this assignment would be to use and adapt the “Template of Templates” in the Introduction to your textbook.

For your consideration:

What conversation is Alexander participating in? Who is her “They Say” and what does she think about their point(s) of view?
What is the general claim made by Alexander in this essay?
What is the most important critique she offers in her essay?
What do you think about her claims and evidence?
Assignment Grading Criteria

The journal entry reflects critical thinking and the ability to apply concepts from the relevant textbook chapters.
The journal entry illustrates careful reading and college-level comprehension of the assigned text.
The journal entry is well-developed and shows thought and planning.
The journal entry is well-written and organized.