Rationale This essay is your opportunity to show your understanding of the different modes of writing we have studied this semester. You will also demonstrate research and synthesis skills.

Instructions For this assignment, find one piece of writing from each of the disciplines we have studied this semester – sciences, social sciences, and humanities. These writings should have a subject link. For instance, if you really liked O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” you could look at scientific and social science studies on veterans and see how the findings there are similar or different to how O’Brien portrays his characters. Perhaps you could look at quantitative and qualitative studies on people’s attachment to home and tie that to “Everyday Use.” There are many options. If you have trouble thinking of a topic or finding sources through the library, please contact the instructor. Discuss your findings from the articles. Also compare how these pieces of writing deliver their information and how they affect their reader. What are the major differences? Aside from the subject matter, what are the similarities? In addition to the content, discuss how the information is delivered. You may choose to look at structure, levels of diction, tone, etc. Be sure to give specific examples from the texts and to cite them. Also be sure that your comparison is meaningful for the reader. Remind yourself to ask the “So what?” and “Who cares?” questions as prompted in They Say, I Say. Technical Points Include your major points of discussion and comparison in your outline. Format the essay according to EITHER MLA or APA – writer’s choice! Introduce your articles in the introductory section of your essay. Compose a clear thesis. Use appropriate topic sentences for each section, even when headings are included. Incorporate examples from the text, citing them properly. Be as impartial and unbiased in your writing as possible. Practice good academic writing. Use third person, be concise, and exercise precision in wording. Remember to include your references/works cited page. Submit the essay to BOTH the Assignment and Turnitin upload links by the due date. Essays not submitted to both links will not be graded. You must submit the file to both links. Three to four pages is a good ballpark for this essay, though there is not a strict length requirement. Rubric Content 50 Proper introduction, incorporating titles of articles Clear, solid thesis statement Good topic sentences Examples from text Sufficient elaboration/discussion on points and examples Mechanics 50 Formatted according to APA specifications Properly integrates and cites information from texts Objective, concise, and appropriate for an academic audience Free of spelling and grammatical errors Understandable and easy to read