Essay New

Description

Week 5: Homework Overview
Instructions for Writing the Summary/Reaction Assignment

For this assignment, you will write two paragraphs: one paragraph will be a summary of an article from our textbook, In Concert, and the second paragraph will be a response to the argument within that article.

The Process

To begin, you will need to read one of the following articles in our textbook, In Concert:

“Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Ending a Relationship in the Age of Media” by Gareth Loken, (pp. 260-60)
“The issue of Gun Control,” William Kornblum et al, (pp. 191-192)

The Summary Section

Before writing your paragraph summarizing your selected article, be sure to prepare by completing the assigned reading in your textbook as well as reading the Summarize and Paraphrase section in this week’s lesson. The lesson will help you to see how PIE can be used to write a focused academic summary.

The Reaction Section

Directly following your summary, write a paragraph responding to the argument presented by the author. In this response section, you can agree or disagree; however, it is important that you continue to use PIE in order to provide one clear response, support it with an Illustration, and Explain your reasons. Again, the lesson will help you to do this.

Paper Requirements

After reviewing the lesson and writing your summary and response, use this checklist to make sure you have completed the requirements.

A successful Summary/Reaction Paper will do the following:

Have a summary paragraph that does the following:
Introduces the author and title of the article
Focuses on the thesis as presented by the author in his or her article
Paraphrase a key example or Illustration that shows proof that the author makes the claim you have identified
Provides a parenthetical citation for the article cited that follows the following template: (author’s last name, year published, page or paragraph number)
Here is an example of an entry using page, followed by one with a paragraph number: (Pollan, 2006, p. 59) and (Jones, 2010, para. 4); do not use a paragraph number if the article has page numbers.
Includes transition words and sentences that help your reader to see how one idea connects to the next
Uses your own words to present additional information from the article that explains what you see (that led you to identify the author’s thesis)
Is at least 100 words in length
Uses basic APA formatting, as described below
Have a reaction paragraph that:
uses a Point or topic sentence to focus your paragraph on one key response you have to the author’s argument;
provides one or two clear Illustrations or examples that support your response;
explains how those Illustrations or examples prove your side (i.e., your response) of the argument and ties things back to the original argument to which you are responding;
is at least 100 words in length; and
uses basic APA formatting, as described below.
Week 6: Homework Overview

Essay 2: Draft

In Week 5, you read and wrote about an article by summarizing the writer’s perspective on a topic and then responded with your own ideas that either agreed or disagreed.

The paper you will begin this week and finish in Week 7 will require you to take a stand on the same issue that you summarized and responded to in Week 5. However, Essay 2 will focus on your ideas on this topic. You will state the point that you want to make regarding the topic and direct your ideas to a larger audience; this means you will need some evidence from a reliable source—the author of your article! The following questions will help you to form the overall point that you want to make in your paper.

Which of Loken’s three steps of breaking up do you think is the most difficult?
Is it more important to protect the rights of Americans to own guns, or is it more important to control gun ownership?

You will use prewriting and planning strategies in the first stage of this essay process. Then, you will draft your essay to submit this week. One of the requirements of this assignment is that at some point in your essay, you must use at least one direct quote from the article or a paraphrase of one of the author’s ideas to help support one of your own points. Whether it is a point that you agree with or a point of disagreement that you want to point out, please make sure that you include a relevant point that you explain fairly and smoothly within your paragraph, whether in a body paragraph, in the introduction, or in the conclusion. (Note: You should review the article before writing, and you can also review your summary to remind yourself of the argument.)

Rough Draft Requirements

After reviewing the lesson and writing a rough draft of this paper, use this checklist to make sure you have completed the requirements.

A successful essay draft will include the following:

It will include an opening paragraph that hooks the reader with an engaging introduction and a clear thesis. The thesis should state your position on the topic of how to break up a relationship successfully or the topic of arguments for and against gun control.
It will include at least the beginning of two body paragraphs, according to the following instructions.
Have clear Points or topic sentences that show your opinion and that directly support your thesis.
In one paragraph, include a specific Illustration you have personally experienced or observed that supports your point. You may make a general observation. (For example, write: “Most people talk about dieting or counting calories on a regular basis with their friends.” Then follow that with a specific example to support that point, but limit the Illustration to your own experience; do not use the Internet or any other outside sources.)
In the other paragraph, include a quote from the article that helps to illustrate your Point. In other words, it will show support or make a point with which you disagree. You will introduce the quote and the author, as well as provide a parenthetical citation in APA format.
Your draft may include attempts to explain the Illustration and tie ideas together for your reader, but the Points and Illustrations are the only true requirements for these paragraphs in Week 6.
Include at least 150 words (three paragraphs) of content (thesis, Points, Illustrations, and optional Explanations).
It will include your source on a page entitled Reference. Center the word Reference on the first line. Then, type the reference entry using double-spacing and indent the second line (called a hanging indent): McWhorter, K. T. (2019). In Concert: An Integrated Approach to Reading and Writing. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Include basic APA formatting, as described below.

Note: In the final draft, you will continue to develop these paragraphs and refine your writing in order to reach a specific audience. In the first draft, simply work to get your ideas out and onto paper.

Week 7: Homework Overview
Essay 2: Final Version

This week, you will build on and revise the draft you submitted in Week 6. The purpose will be the same, as will many of the requirements; however, you will be expected to use the feedback you received to strengthen the content and clarity of that original piece of writing. That means you will add to what you have written, but it may also mean that you delete or modify other things. It is important to see how other people interpret and view your writing, and your instructor’s feedback along with this week’s reading, lesson, and discussion will help you in the revision process.

Final Draft Requirements

After reviewing the feedback you received from your instructor, revise your essay accordingly and complete the assignment to include all requirements. Use this checklist to make sure that your essay does the following:

Make sure it hooks the reader with an engaging introductory paragraph that includes a clear thesis. The thesis should state your position on the topics developed in the reading.
It supports the thesis using two well-developed body paragraphs that each include a Point and one or more Illustrations and Explanations.
In one paragraph, include a specific Illustration that you have personally experienced or observed. Do not use any outside sources.
In at least one paragraph, include a quote from the article that helps to Illustrate your Point. In other words, it will show support or disagreement for your thesis (broadly) and your Point (specifically). You will introduce the quote and the author, as well as provide a parenthetical citation.
Include several sentences of Explanation in each paragraph that interpret the Illustrations for your reader and tie things together. In other words, help a general reader see what you see.
Wraps up your argument with a solid concluding paragraph.
At least 200 words (four to five paragraphs) of content (thesis, Points, Illustrations, Explanations, and conclusion)
Includes your source on a page entitled Reference. Center the word Reference on the first line. Then, type the reference entry using double spacing and indent the second line (called a hanging indent): McWhorter, K. T. (2019). In Concert: An Integrated Approach to Reading and Writing. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Uses basic APA formatting (see list and tutorial below).