Reading and writing are not connected

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PROMPT: For this assignment, you are tasked with providing an overview of ONE article from the list in the page in Module 1, each of which dispels a popular myth about writing or reading. Your audience is a group of educators (though not necessarily English teachers) seeking to learn more about teaching writing. Your job is to give them an overview that summarizes the article and responds to its main points from your perspective as a student of composition.

In writing this essay, you have two purposes:

1. Summarize the content of the article to your audience: What bad idea about writing is this author seeking to dispel? What are the authors main points? What evidence does he or she use to support his/her claims?)
2. Offer your perspective on this articles main points: Based on your experiences, what do you think about each point the author raises? Does this point ring true for you? Does the evidence he or she presents seem convincing to you?

Overall questions to consider:

• Do you agree with the authors points? Are there some you agree with and some you dont? Why?
• Does the author provide sufficient evidence for his/her assertions?
• Do you feel the author has credibility to write about the issue?
• Do you have any personal experience with the issue discussed?
• Are there any solutions to the issue the author presents?
• Please feel free to address other questions you may have. Do not use first person in the body of the essay! The analysis should be presented objectively.

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Content Requirements–Your essay must include:

Introduction:

Your introduction should identify the title and author of the article youve chosen as well as discuss the rhetorical context of this article by answering the following questions:

Who is the intended audience of the article? How can you tell?

What is the context in which this article was written?

What is the authors purpose (why did this author write this article?)?

Your introduction should include a one- to two-sentence distillation of the articles argument. This statement will guide the organization of your essay and should answer the following questions:

What is the primary argument of this article?

What are the authors main points?

The introductory paragraph must end with an engaging, relevant thesis statement that indicates the overall effectiveness and relevance of the authors argument. This thesis statement should be the LAST sentence of the introductory paragraph, and while it states your position, it should not be stated as a personal (first person) opinion.

Body Paragraphs:

Each body paragraph should address one key point from the article and paraphrase the authors ideas (no quotations). Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the content of the paragraph (the key point you will discuss in that paragraph). Then, within each body paragraph, discuss the evidence the author uses to support that key point. Stay focused on what the author presents and do not insert your opinion/response until after the body of your summation of the authors key points. So each topic sentence should relate one of the authors key points with a brief summation of that point; this portion is in YOUR OWN words.

Then, after you have presented the point, respond to that point: From your perspective as a student of composition, what do you think of this aspect of the authors argument?

Note: As you organize the main points, follow the order in which they are presented in the original article.

Conclusion:

The conclusion should draw the essay to a close by summarizing the main points and restating the one- to two-sentence summary you presented in the introduction. This paragraph should also offer an expanded thought; this expanded thought could take the form of suggestions for further research or reading, or applications of these ideas to the classroom or beyond.

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Essay 1 Reflection

15 points

This portion of the assignment should be on a separate sheet and included at the end of your essay (AFTER the Work Cited page) labeled with the title Essay 1 Reflection.

Instructions: In one or two paragraphs (double spaced, in an appropriate font and font size), respond to the following:

• Describe your process for completing this assignment. What was easy for you? What was difficult? Describe any obstacles you encountered and how you approached and overcame them.
• What do you think is the strongest part of your essay? What do you think is the weakest part?
• Did you take any risks in either your approach to this assignment? If so, what were they? If not, why not?
• What is one thing you need to work on for the next assignment? Is there anything you will do differently for the next assignment? What/How?
• Feel free to add any other insights you gained in the writing of this essay. These could be about your process, the content that you read, or the assignment itself.

1. This Assignment Measures the Following Course Objectives:Organize essay content into introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs.
2. Construct unified, coherent, and well-developed paragraphs with precise topic sentences.
3. Apply grammar and usage rules correctly.
4. Accurately integrate sources through summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation.

Assignment Requirements:

Source Requirements

One approved article from Bad Ideas About Writing or two linked articles as noted in Canvas

Intended Audience

Educators (though not necessarily English teachers) seeking to learn more about teaching writing

Length

3+ pages/1,000+ words

Specifications

Includes the major claims and all supporting evidence

Accurately describes the audience, context, and purpose of the article

Includes unified paragraphs with clear topic sentences

Uses source integration techniques appropriately

Responds directly to the argument and/or the rhetorical situation of the text

Format/Style

MLA

Point of View

Third person (summary is objective and response is presented not as a personal opinion). NO FIRST PERSON (I, me, my, we, our)