summary

----- Modified Instruction (10/23/2018 19:00:43) -----
Our next writing assignment will be a summary/response essay. Students will select any ONE essay from our text 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology and create a thorough summary and response to that reading. The essay need not be one we have read aloud in class, but it should be one that strikes you as significant for its larger message. Be selective, as some essays may not be as easy to respond to as others. Your summary is typically a brief part (about 1/3) of the assignment and should mention the title of the piece and author and your understanding of the main idea(s) of the reading. You may also include some introductory information such as background of the artist or where/when the piece was published, etc. The response is the bulk (about 2/3) of your assignment and typically includes your opinion or reaction to the issue(s) or purpose the author has intended. What do you think the author is trying to say? Do you agree with the author’s viewpoints, or do you disagree? Why? You may want to critique the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s writing approach in the piece as well. Consider also what kind of contribution this piece makes in understanding society. Feel free to use a commentary approach when responding to the reading. (This means you don’t have to firmly take one side of a debatable issue). This should definitely be an essay where you will use passages from the text to support your opinions and your critique. Use proper MLA citation. You may bring in other outside sources if they assist your response or help you create depth and content. The essay should be no shorter than 4 pages (NOT including the works cited list). NOTE: Questions at the end of the reading selections in our text may guide you in deciding areas of discussion in your response. Read through those questions to see how they may help you. Draft due: FINAL COPY DUE: