Eng 1010 Essay 4: Summarizing and Responding
Assignment: Write an essay of min. 1000 words in which you summarize and respond to a position presented in another essay. For a thorough description of writing that summarizes and responds, read the instruction and guidelines in Portfolio Guide that follow and the sample student essay, page 47.
Purpose: Your general purpose is to persuade by argumentation. More specifically, you are to introduce the essay to which you are responding and show clearly, logically, and specifically where you stand, distinguishing your position from that of your source. You must disagree with the author at least in part. You may agree with the author's basic position while disputing some of her/his sub-points or applications. Or you may disagree with most of the article. Whatever your stand, you will want your reader to agree that your position is worthy of their acceptance.
Audience: You must assume that your readers have not read the essay that you are addressing. Be sure to narrow to a specific group, however. Most likely, you will want to select the audience that the writer of the essay was targeting. Where was the essay originally published? What audience does the publication target? What hints does the essayist give about his/her targeted audience?
Invention and Writing Draft 1: You are required to follow through on the "Guide to Writing," Portfolio Guide, pages 52-56. Be sure to follow instructions completely for "Invention and Research." You are expected to generate several pages of invention--at least five handwritten. Also follow instructions for writing and revising draft 1 carefully and completely.
Due Dates and Submission Requirements:
See schedule.
Read a selected essay critically by
questioning and understanding Analyze, interpret, and evaluate the
essayist's position Quote, paraphrase, and summarize the
essayist's position accurately Present a logical and well thought
out response Document the source appropriately
using MLA guidelines Traps to Avoid: You will want to avoid the following problems especially:
Failing to summarize the essay
adequately for your reader who has not read the essay
Agreeing in total with the essayist,
thus failing to offer any criticism of his/her position and insights of your own
Misrepresenting the author
Using the article as merely a point
of departure to launch an argument of your own
Reminder:
Re-read the assignment instructions after you have written a draft of the essay. Make your own checklist of requirements and apply them to your essay.
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Dr. Maria A. Clayton
English Department
P.O. Box 70
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37132
