Narrative Essay: Kairos FOR ESSAYSTAR

A Kairotic Moment Paper Assignment               To better understand reasons why we write, we will study the concept of Kairos.  For this paper you will argue why a particular moment was Kairotic.  The moment must be a personal moment that you experienced. You will support your argument with evidence and examples, and your final paper will be polished.   Explaining Why Your Moment was Kairotic             You will not simply define Kairos.  Instead, you will provide examples and apply readings from class, resulting in a sophisticated and thought-provoking explanation and example of a Kairotic moment that lasts several pages.             You are making an argument. So, be sure to use the strategies we talked about to make an effective argument.   Make arguments based on logic and reason. Your argument needs to be defensible and interesting!  Be sure that you are making an argument, which is supportable and defendable with logic, reason, and evidence. Incorporate class readings. Use quotation analysis to do this (no vague references!). Refer to Crowley and Hawhee to explain elements of a Kairtotic moment.  Vary your argument.  Don’t repeat the same reason for why your moment was Kairotic.  Instead, make sure that you have at least 4 reasons for why the moment you chose was Kairotic.  You will support your reasons with points 1. and 2. Use what we have read, discussed, and thought about. You will write descriptions of apologies, and think of many moments that could be considered Kairotic, use that! I want to hear your thoughts and experiences.  You should include at least a few personal experiences or thoughts, depending on whether or not the moment you choose is personal.  If it is personal include a few personal insights.  If the moment is not something you experienced personally, include as much detail as possible to convey the moment’s Kairos. Make sure to create a nice balance of quotes from the reading and personal testimony in your evidence.   You are writing this paper for a general, academic audience (same as the Definition and Genre Analysis Essays). This means that you can’t assume that your audience has read the articles we read in class.  Introduce a source before using it, engage it with your own writing, and use correct MLA in-text citation.   What I’m Grading On Your ability to argue convincingly. The reader needs to be convinced by what you say, which means that you provide evidence and good examples. Your ability to incorporate course readings and ideas. This includes summarizing, quoting from class sources and using correct in-text citation, as we will work on in class. Your introductory paragraph. The intro paragraph/s should clearly define Kairos, explain why it is a concept worth discussing, and forecast what your moment will be and why it is Kairotic. Your ability to organize your thoughts in writing. Much of this organization will come from the introduction. I will pay special attention to your introduction.       -     Your paper must be at least three pages (to the bottom of the third page), and no longer than five pages. Follow “assignment expectations” listed on the syllabus.   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS   Why Are We Doing This? Throughout your college experience, you will need to focus on a key concept and explain what it means. Most often, professors will want you to talk about this concept in the context of class readings and discussions. For instance, a final question on a history exam may ask you to rethink the concept of immigration given class readings and discussions. Or, an architecture midterm may ask you to apply what you’ve learned in class to a new, specific landscape. In both cases, the ability to speak specifically and apply what you have learned is crucial.   Should I Write a Definition of Kairos? In order to prove that the moment you choose is Kairotic, you will have to include a definition of Kairos.  We will come to a class consensus on what Kairos is.  Be sure to include that somewhere, but also make sure that the way you define Kairos works for your moment.  It is okay to phrase your definition of Kairos so that it sounds like you and makes sense for your paper, without totally changing the meaning of course.   What Kind of Examples Should I Provide? It is up to you to decide what examples work best depending on your moment.  Your examples will help link your claims about why the moment was Kairotic to your definition of Kairos.  What created the opportunity?  What made the moment urgent? What were the circumstances?  Your examples should help to answer these questions.   Where Do I Start? There are many ways you can organize your thoughts, and deciding how to do so is one of the challenges of this paper. You may begin with a personal story and then move into discussions of the readings for the course. Or, you may want to begin with an example, bring in course readings, and end more personally. Begin by brainstorming ideas of moments that might work; then ask questions such as these to ensure your moment will work:     What are the problems and limitations of the moment I came up with?   What is in the reading that connect to my moment?   What sorts of examples might I want to include or exclude from my argument?   What personal experiences do I bring to my argument?     other ideas?