Laura Dubek
English 1020
Summer Session 4, 2010
Argumentative Essay #1
Length: 2-3 pages (typed, double-spaced with proper header)*
Source: 1 source minimum (from assigned readings)
Due: End of class period, Thursday, June 17th
Percentage of Final Grade: 10%
Objective: Enter into a conversation about any aspect of popular culture—television, video games,
social networking—discussed by the essayists in your textbook. You can agree, disagree, or agree and
disagree with any of the views presented. Use the templates in They Say, I Say to situate your argument
within an existing conversation.
Criteria for Evaluation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Is the writer’s purpose/position clear?
Does the writer position him/herself within an existing debate/conversation?
Does the writer spend too much/too little/just enough time discussing other writers’ views?
Does the writer offer sufficient (quantity) and compelling (quality) support for his/her own
position?
Is the essay effectively organized?
Are the paragraphs adequately developed?
Is the tone appropriate to the essay’s purpose?
Is there evidence of attention to language, of a conscious attempt to employ rhetorical
strategies to achieve a certain effect?
Does the writer answer the “so what” or “who cares” question?
Does the essay contain basic errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and/or documentation?
*Papers that do not meet the length requirement and/or use more than double-spacing to increase
length will be returned with no grade.
Laura Dubek
English 1020
Summer Session 4, 2010
Argumentative Essay #2
Length: 3-5 pages (typed, double-spaced with proper header)
Sources: 3 source minimum (from assigned readings and interview)
Due Date: End of class period, Tuesday, July 6th
Percentage of Final Grade: 15%
Objective: Enter into a conversation about any aspect of the American Dream—economic policy, social
inequality, unions, Wal-Mart, higher education—discussed by the essayists/journals in your textbook.
You can agree, disagree, or agree and disagree with any of the views presented. Use the templates in
They Say, I Say to situate your argument within an existing conversation.
Criteria for Evaluation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Is the writer’s purpose clear?
Does the writer position him/herself within an existing conversation/debate?
Does the writer spend too much, too little, or just enough time discussing others’ views?
Does the writer offer sufficient (quantity) and compelling (quality) support for his/her own
view?
Is the essay effectively organized?
Are the paragraphs adequately developed?
Is the tone appropriate to the essay’s purpose?
Is there evidence of attention to language, of a conscious attempt to employ rhetorical
strategies to achieve a certain effect?
Does the writer answer the “so what” or “who cares” question?
Does the essay contain errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and/or documentation?
INTERVIEW REPORT
In the documentary Capitalism: A Love Story, Michael Moore interviews various people—foreclosed
homeowners, Wal-Mart managers and employees, investment bankers, politicians—about the economy
and how it works (or doesn’t work) for them. These interviews are powerful reminders of how
economic policies and conditions affect and sometimes ruin people’s lives.
For this second paper, you will conduct your own interview, using someone else’s personal experience
to make your argument. This person may be a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a complete
stranger. Their experiences/views may illustrate one of your points, or they may serve as a “naysayer”
to your argument. On either Tuesday, June 29th or Thursday, July 1st, you will report on your interview
to the class.
Laura Dubek
English 1020
Summer Session 4, 2010
Annotated Bibliography
Length: 10 entries (approximately 5 pages, typed, double-spaced with proper header)
Sources: At least 4 different types: books, encyclopedias, pamphlets, essays, newspaper/magazine
articles, websites, documentaries, personal interviews. You can use up to 3 essays from our textbook, 1
handout, and Food, Inc.
Instruction: On July 20th, you will receive an orientation to the library (Room 272) and instruction on
finding and evaluating sources. You will spend the second half of class in the library, building your
bibliography.
Due Date: We will write annotations in class on Thursday, July 22nd, so bring the source material you
found on Tuesday in the library. We will workshop your annotated bibliography on Thursday, July 29th;
the assignment will be due at the end of the class period.
Percentage of Final Grade: 20%
Objective: Research any aspect of the Food Industry—advertising/marketing, fast food, obesity, school
lunch programs, eating disorders and body image, organics, food production and distribution, the FDA
and food safety—compiling a folder of relevant source material. (If you download or zerox a source,
make sure you have all the publication information.) Read these sources and write concise summaries
of each. Present your summaries as an annotated bibliography. Although this assignment is graded
separately from your research essay, the sources in your bibliography should suggest a specific research
topic—a topic you will explore and then write about in a “they say, I say” manner.
Criteria for Evaluation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is the bibliography complete (10 entries) and in the proper format?
Do the various entries all address the broad topic of the FOOD industry?
Does the bibliography suggest a specific focus within this broad topic?
Did the researcher make good choices with regard to source material? Do the sources pass the
CRAPP test? Is there enough variety and depth?
5. Is each annotation thorough and yet concise? Does the writer tell too much, too little, or just
enough?
6. Do the annotations contain errors in grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling?
7. Does each citation include all the necessary information, with proper formatting and
punctuation?
Laura Dubek
English 1020
Summer Session 4, 2010
Research Essay
Length: 6-8 pages (typed, double-spaced with proper header, not counting the Works Cited page)
Sources: 6 source minimum
Due Date: End of class period, Thursday, August 12th (in final folder)
Percentage of Final Grade: 25%
Objective: Contribute to the current body of scholarship on any aspect of the Food Industry. You can
write from any (or any combination of) disciplinary perspective—psychology, economics, business,
science, advertising, health & nutrition, media, art & culture, etc. Use a blend of exposition (report,
explain, clarify, assess) and argumentation (take a position, persuade, agree/disagree, plant a naysayer,
use metacommentary) to support your thesis. For models of how to structure a long paper, consult the
essays in your textbook, especially “Being Fat is OK” and “Your Trusted Friends.” Use the templates to
situate your own research and views within an existing conversation.
Criteria for Evaluation:
1. Is the writer’s purpose clear?
2. Does the writer position him/herself within an existing conversation/debate?
3. Does the writer effectively manage his/her sources? Is there a good blend of “they say” and “I
say”?
4. Does the essay read like a report? An argument? A little of both?
5. Is the essay effectively organized?
6. Are the paragraphs adequately developed?
7. Is the tone appropriate to the essay’s purpose? Is the essay dull/boring or lively/engaging?
8. Is there evidence of attention to language, of a conscious attempt to employ rhetorical
strategies to achieve a certain effect?
9. Does the writer answer the “so what” or “who cares” question?
10. Does the essay contain errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and/or documentation?
11. Overall, does the essay demonstrate college-level research and writing skills?