UNIV 112
Fall 2015
Jackson
U2 Core Assignment: Synthesis Essay
Introduction: In Unit 2, we have been focusing our attention on engaging with what other
people say. We have approached what other people say by way of a number of useful tools:
 Summary, which indicates what the text says.
 Analysis, which considers how a particular part of the text or context relates to the
meaning of the text as a whole.
 Response, which indicates what we would say or think in response to the text, once
we understand it well.
 Synthesis, which considers the relations between multiple texts, once we
understand them well.
The core assignment for Unit 2 will emphasize synthesis, the relations amongst multiple
texts. But to synthesize texts effectively, you will need to be able to summarize and analyze
effectively, too. (Response will be somewhat less important in this final exercise.)
Core Assignment: Choose three of the four texts listed below to work with in your Unit 2
Essay. What question can best illuminate the relationships between these three texts? What
question needs to be asked when you bring these three texts together in order to illuminate
how they relate to each other? Why? Write a 1000-1200-word argument essay that
responds to this prompt.
Texts (choose three to write on):
1. Annie Dillard, “Living Like Weasels.”
2. Ta-Nehisi Coates, “ Acting French.”
3. David Foster Wallace, “Consider the Lobster.”
4. Your Class’s Unit 1 Text:
a. 10 AM: LaRissa Rogers, “The Perfectionist.”
b. 11 AM: Londa Schiebinger, “Has Feminism Changed Science?”
c. 1 PM: Roxane Gay, “What We Hunger For.”
d. 2 PM: Beverly Daniel Tatum, “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’”
Formal Requirements:
 The essay must be no fewer than 1000 words in length, and no more than 1200
words, not including the works cited page.
 All three texts must be given equal space in the essay.
 Include a title for your essay that indicates what the essay is about.
 Include page numbers.
 You must include accurate in-text citations and an accurate works cited page (MLA
or APA). Use Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference for guidance.
The Unit 2 Core Assignment is due by class time on Friday, 10.23.15. Post your essay
to BB. This essay is worth 40% of your Unit 2 grade.
UNIV 112
Fall 2015
Jackson
Video Draft: To help you develop your thinking for the Unit 2 Core Assignment, you will
compose a video draft of your essay. For this draft, you should record yourself talking
about the argument your essay will make. The video should do the following:
 Identify the three texts you are using.
 State clearly what you think the “best question” is at the time of your draft.
 Provide a succinct explanation of why that question illuminates the relationships
between your three texts. Make reference to concrete parts of the texts.
 Reflect briefly on what you most need to work on for this core assignment.
The video draft must be 3-3.5 minutes in length. No more than that. This means you need to
prepare ahead of time and be succinct and clear. If you like, insert written text into your
video to help viewers follow you. You will be sharing your video with others in class so that
we can provide feedback for each other.
The Video Draft is due by the beginning of class on Friday, 10.16.15. Share it with me
on Google Drive. This draft is worth 20% of your Unit 2 grade.
Reflection: Your final blog post for Unit 2 will ask you to reflect on the learning you did as
you worked on the core assignment.
Some Tips for the U2 Core Assignment:
The assignment calls for an argument essay: This means you will need to have a single main
point, which you then support with analysis of your texts. Remember to say why you think
your question illuminates the three texts so well.
Draft a working introduction quickly: As soon as you can, write a draft introduction that
includes: 1) the texts you’ve selected; 2) very brief summaries of those texts; 3) a statement
of what unites these texts for the purposes of your essay; 4) a claim that identifies the “best
question” and briefly states why it is the best. You will come back to revise this
introduction later. But drafting one early will help focus your thinking.
Identify short passages for analysis: Look for passages from the essays that illustrate why
your question does so much to illuminate the relationships between the texts. You will
analyze these passages to support your main claim.
Avoid discussing one text at a time for long stretches: Look for ways to compare and contrast
your selected texts.
Avoid discussions of your personal experience: This assignment calls on you to focus on the
relationships amongst your texts. Focus on those texts, what they say, and how they relate.