Skeletal Outline: Summary Response
Essay 1: Summary Response Narrative
First Draft Due: Mon, Feb. 2
Final Draft Due: Wed, Feb. 4
Purpose and Overview: Essay 1 represents several objectives of English 102, and perhaps builds upon skills learned in ENG 101. This essay will focus on the skill set of successfully summarizing a reading selection -- re-communicating the author’s purpose and main points -- and then responding to that author’s ideas appropriately, which requires a certain degree of critical and careful reading and thinking. Whether an academic, professional, or personal context, it is important to be able to understand a piece of writing, note key ideas, and respond appropriately. This essay will also ask students to use detail from their own lives in order to support …show more content…
their responses, which will allow students to bridge a connection between their lives and an academic context.
In class we will discuss important concepts related to the summary and narrative genres, including purpose, concision, sensory description, reflection, and rhetorical devices. To make the bridging of experiences a bit easier, many of the readings for this unit are of a narrative nature. but often include other rhetorical purposes. Each of you should choose one reading assigned during the first two to three weeks of the semester (for Essay 1). See below.
Reading List for Essay 1 (Norton Introduction to Literature)
Updike "A & P" p. 148
Wallace "Good People" p. 215
Tan "A Pair of Tickets" p. 267
Baldwin "Sonny's Blues" p. 95
Morrison "Recitatif" p. 200
Atwood “Lusus Naturae” p. 224
Posted Online/Optional Readings:
Lahiri “Trading Stories” p. 77
Clendinen “The Good Short Life” p. 73
Length: 3 (full) to 4 pages
Format: Modern Language Association (MLA)
Materials Due
One the due date (see top), the following materials should be placed in a folder:
Final Draft
First Draft
Peer Review
Rubric sheet (see next page; points lost on essay if not included)
Requirements for Essay 1
Skeletal Outline of Summary Response Sections
The summary portion of this essay must include the following:
The author and title of the reading selection/other necessary context information
Acknowledgement of why this topic matters/the reason for examining the subject
An overview of the pertinent main ideas/portions of the author’s writing (note that this should not be a list of the WHOLE reading selection’s main ideas—we will address this concept in class)
The response (your own narrative) portion of this essay must include the following:
A transitional idea that signals the connection between the summary and the response
A narrative/anecdote that includes sensory detail, narrative structure, and a solid significance and understanding of why and how your narrative connects to the selected reading
As this is an academic essay, the essay should take into consideration:
An organizing pattern of paragraphing and structure, including an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Error-free writing that has been proofread for grammatical mistakes
Advice gleaned from the in class peer review session; there should be noticeable differences between the peer review draft and final draft
MLA-style headings and …show more content…
format
***Please Place in Folder with Final Draft***
Name: ___________________________
Category
Essay 1: Summary Response Narrative Rubric
Points
Introduction
In the first paragraph, the pertinence of the ideas being discussed is described. It includes the article’s title and author information, appropriate context of the topic in question, and ends with a claim that explains the connection between the summary and the writer’s personal response/narrative.
/10
Summary of Author Selection
The specific article’s main ideas are skillfully interpreted and presented to honestly represent the author’s arguments.
The writer takes into consideration the bigger ideas of the argument/narrative and/or has prioritized them to prove a cohesive point. The writer uses quoting selectively, and the arguments have been put into the writer’s own words accurately.
/25
Use of Narrative Structure and Details
Details are vivid, rich and specific. There are descriptions at various points in the narrative that beyond the obvious and predictable. They appeal to the senses and demonstrate creativity and critical thought. The writer has selected an appropriate and specific enough event that pertains to the reading.
/25
Significance of Response/
Conclusion
The writer understands how the response/narrative agrees or disagrees or corresponds to the selected reading. The meaning adds complexity to the response, for it is not overly simplistic or clichéd. The significance reflects careful and critical reading. This creates a concluding idea to the essay.
/15
Structure
The writer uses paragraphs to separate and emphasize ideas. There are transitions between sentences, ideas, and paragraphs. It is well-organized and fully developed piece of writing.
/20
Using
Language
All sentences are correctly constructed. Vocabulary is varied and precise. Punctuation and grammar conventions are used with accuracy and add meaning to the writing. There are not any distracting errors.
/20
Process
First draft is included, and the final draft is in proper MLA format.
/10
Total
125
Essay 1 Reflection
This assignment will be handed in with the Final Draft of Essay 2, in folder. See course calendar, or Essay 2 assignment packet, for exact dates.
Length: 1 (full) to 2 pages
Format:
- MLA format (with proper headings and organization) - Essay format (complete sentences, no bulleted or numbered lists, multiple paragraphs (one idea per section), organized structure/thought process, proofread and free of errors)
Points/Grade: part of smaller assignments, usually worth 10 points
~~~~~~
Directions: Please re-read your essay and use word processing and MLA format. As you write, you may wish to consider some of the questions listed below. Pick the questions that pertain to your writing process and the strengths and/or weaknesses you had when drafting and revising this essay. These assignments should help you reflect upon your writing process, how well you met assignment parameters, what improvements you made (or did not), and/or your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Be honest and professional.
Why did you choose that particular reading for Essay 1? Was it a good choice?
What did you do to understand the specific reading? Did you accurately and clearly summarize it?
Why did you choose to write about this experience in your own life? Are you happy with your choice?
How well do you think you told your narrative/experience? Were you descriptive enough?
How was this kind of writing assignment different from other composition assignments you have completed? Did you like writing summaries and/or narratives—why or why not?
Where did you actually write this assignment? Did you write it all at once or in parts? Under what physical circumstances did you write this essay? What was most beneficial to you? What might you do differently in the future?
How did you go about coming up with ideas and drafting the essay?
What did you like best about your essay? What did you like the least? Explain.
What one thing would you do differently if you had the chance to do this assignment over? Why?
Do you need to make some changes to your drafting process for future assignments? How might this step of reflection be helpful going into other assignments?
First Draft Due: Mon, Feb. 2
Final Draft Due: Wed, Feb. 4
Purpose and Overview: Essay 1 represents several objectives of English 102, and perhaps builds upon skills learned in ENG 101. This essay will focus on the skill set of successfully summarizing a reading selection -- re-communicating the author’s purpose and main points -- and then responding to that author’s ideas appropriately, which requires a certain degree of critical and careful reading and thinking. Whether an academic, professional, or personal context, it is important to be able to understand a piece of writing, note key ideas, and respond appropriately. This essay will also ask students to use detail from their own lives in order to support …show more content…
their responses, which will allow students to bridge a connection between their lives and an academic context.
In class we will discuss important concepts related to the summary and narrative genres, including purpose, concision, sensory description, reflection, and rhetorical devices. To make the bridging of experiences a bit easier, many of the readings for this unit are of a narrative nature. but often include other rhetorical purposes. Each of you should choose one reading assigned during the first two to three weeks of the semester (for Essay 1). See below.
Reading List for Essay 1 (Norton Introduction to Literature)
Updike "A & P" p. 148
Wallace "Good People" p. 215
Tan "A Pair of Tickets" p. 267
Baldwin "Sonny's Blues" p. 95
Morrison "Recitatif" p. 200
Atwood “Lusus Naturae” p. 224
Posted Online/Optional Readings:
Lahiri “Trading Stories” p. 77
Clendinen “The Good Short Life” p. 73
Length: 3 (full) to 4 pages
Format: Modern Language Association (MLA)
Materials Due
One the due date (see top), the following materials should be placed in a folder:
Final Draft
First Draft
Peer Review
Rubric sheet (see next page; points lost on essay if not included)
Requirements for Essay 1
Skeletal Outline of Summary Response Sections
The summary portion of this essay must include the following:
The author and title of the reading selection/other necessary context information
Acknowledgement of why this topic matters/the reason for examining the subject
An overview of the pertinent main ideas/portions of the author’s writing (note that this should not be a list of the WHOLE reading selection’s main ideas—we will address this concept in class)
The response (your own narrative) portion of this essay must include the following:
A transitional idea that signals the connection between the summary and the response
A narrative/anecdote that includes sensory detail, narrative structure, and a solid significance and understanding of why and how your narrative connects to the selected reading
As this is an academic essay, the essay should take into consideration:
An organizing pattern of paragraphing and structure, including an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Error-free writing that has been proofread for grammatical mistakes
Advice gleaned from the in class peer review session; there should be noticeable differences between the peer review draft and final draft
MLA-style headings and …show more content…
format
***Please Place in Folder with Final Draft***
Name: ___________________________
Category
Essay 1: Summary Response Narrative Rubric
Points
Introduction
In the first paragraph, the pertinence of the ideas being discussed is described. It includes the article’s title and author information, appropriate context of the topic in question, and ends with a claim that explains the connection between the summary and the writer’s personal response/narrative.
/10
Summary of Author Selection
The specific article’s main ideas are skillfully interpreted and presented to honestly represent the author’s arguments.
The writer takes into consideration the bigger ideas of the argument/narrative and/or has prioritized them to prove a cohesive point. The writer uses quoting selectively, and the arguments have been put into the writer’s own words accurately.
/25
Use of Narrative Structure and Details
Details are vivid, rich and specific. There are descriptions at various points in the narrative that beyond the obvious and predictable. They appeal to the senses and demonstrate creativity and critical thought. The writer has selected an appropriate and specific enough event that pertains to the reading.
/25
Significance of Response/
Conclusion
The writer understands how the response/narrative agrees or disagrees or corresponds to the selected reading. The meaning adds complexity to the response, for it is not overly simplistic or clichéd. The significance reflects careful and critical reading. This creates a concluding idea to the essay.
/15
Structure
The writer uses paragraphs to separate and emphasize ideas. There are transitions between sentences, ideas, and paragraphs. It is well-organized and fully developed piece of writing.
/20
Using
Language
All sentences are correctly constructed. Vocabulary is varied and precise. Punctuation and grammar conventions are used with accuracy and add meaning to the writing. There are not any distracting errors.
/20
Process
First draft is included, and the final draft is in proper MLA format.
/10
Total
125
Essay 1 Reflection
This assignment will be handed in with the Final Draft of Essay 2, in folder. See course calendar, or Essay 2 assignment packet, for exact dates.
Length: 1 (full) to 2 pages
Format:
- MLA format (with proper headings and organization) - Essay format (complete sentences, no bulleted or numbered lists, multiple paragraphs (one idea per section), organized structure/thought process, proofread and free of errors)
Points/Grade: part of smaller assignments, usually worth 10 points
~~~~~~
Directions: Please re-read your essay and use word processing and MLA format. As you write, you may wish to consider some of the questions listed below. Pick the questions that pertain to your writing process and the strengths and/or weaknesses you had when drafting and revising this essay. These assignments should help you reflect upon your writing process, how well you met assignment parameters, what improvements you made (or did not), and/or your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Be honest and professional.
Why did you choose that particular reading for Essay 1? Was it a good choice?
What did you do to understand the specific reading? Did you accurately and clearly summarize it?
Why did you choose to write about this experience in your own life? Are you happy with your choice?
How well do you think you told your narrative/experience? Were you descriptive enough?
How was this kind of writing assignment different from other composition assignments you have completed? Did you like writing summaries and/or narratives—why or why not?
Where did you actually write this assignment? Did you write it all at once or in parts? Under what physical circumstances did you write this essay? What was most beneficial to you? What might you do differently in the future?
How did you go about coming up with ideas and drafting the essay?
What did you like best about your essay? What did you like the least? Explain.
What one thing would you do differently if you had the chance to do this assignment over? Why?
Do you need to make some changes to your drafting process for future assignments? How might this step of reflection be helpful going into other assignments?