Essay #1- Article Analysis
(100 Pts)
Learning Outcomes Assessed:
Outcome 2: You will demonstrate the ability to summarize the information and arguments of
individual research sources, and to synthesize a number of those sources into a coherent review of
the literature on that topic.
Learning Outcome 5: You will demonstrate the ability to use consistently the language styles
appropriate to college-level academic writing as well as to its application within other types of
public writing.
Learning Outcome 6: You will demonstrate competence with the use of mature sentence styles
that are appropriate to academic and other types of public writing
Learning Outcome 7: You will show competency in the conventions of standard edited
American English, and learn more about the subtle choices writers make to build upon and subtly
vary those conventions when appropriate.
For your first formal essay, you will be asked to critically read, summarize, and analyze a
given scholarly journal article. The journal article that you receive will depend upon your
intended academic area of study. You will be expected to discuss the article from the
perspective of one versed in the various techniques that writers within your given
academic discipline use to make their writing more effective and accessible.
Essay #1, your article analysis, is designed to assist you in several ways. First, you will
be exposed to a scholarly article in a specific academic discipline and asked to apply your
knowledge if the rhetorical techniques and writing styles of that academic discipline.
Second, through the activities leading up to this assignment, you will be exposed to
articles from different academic disciplines and will have the opportunity to compare and
contrast writing styles and techniques within these disciplines. This will, in turn, help you
to incorporate aspects of effective organization into your own writing and in your future
writings relating to your chosen field of study. Finally, because this will be your first
formally evaluated activity, you will be expected to use APA format correctly and to
properly utilize the standards and conventions of written language. English, Humanities,
and History majors may use MLA if they choose to.
**You may wish to refer to your notes sheets from class regarding critical and analytical
reading, as well as to your notes on writing in specific academic fields
You will need to engage in the following tasks in route to completing this assignment:
 Retrieve a given article through the scholarly databases provided by the Schmidt
Library
 Critically read the article from the perspective of a scholar in your major field
 Highlight or annotate the key main points of the article in order to concisely
summarize it
 Make note of any rhetorical devices or techniques that the author employs in
order to communicate more effectively
 Write a summary (about ¼ of the paper) and response that includes
discussion of rhetoric(about ¼ of the paper), content(about ¼ of the paper),
and the ways that the given article exemplifies writing in its particular
discipline(about ¼ of the paper)
 Compose a rough draft and attend the rough draft peer editing session
 Revise your draft as needed before submitting a copy for evaluation

You will be evaluated on your mastery of learning outcomes 5, 6, and 7, as well as the on
the following:







Focus: Does the essay have a single, specific thesis or point, which is clear from the start
and which remains consistent throughout the piece?
Audience accommodation/Clear purpose: Have you framed the information in ways
that speak to the intended readers? Does it serve the purpose of the assignment?
Organization: Does the essay flow logically, connecting one idea to another in
substantial and understandable ways, using reasonable transitions between ideas?
Credibility: Is the credibility of your information made clear by the way the information
is framed?
Clarity: Are the sentences clear, focused and understandable?
Voice/Tone: Have you used language that is appropriate to the formal presentation of
information—that is, have you maintained a voice and tone appropriate to professional
discourse?
Mechanics: Have you edited your piece carefully so as to have avoided grammatical
errors? Have you used punctuation both correctly and innovatively?
Essay #1 Requirements Quickbox
 APA format
 3-5 pages in length
 Participation in peer review of
rough draft
Nursing
Iacobucci, T., Daly, B., Lindell, D., & Griffin, M. (2013). Professional values, selfesteem, and ethical confidence of baccalaureate nursing students. Nursing Ethics,
20(4), 479-490. doi:10.1177/0969733012458608
Education
Ritchie, S. J., Bates, T. C., Der, G., Starr, J. M., & Deary, I. J. (2013). Education Is
Associated With Higher Later Life IQ Scores, but Not With Faster Cognitive
Processing Speed. Psychology & Aging, 28(2), 515-521. doi:10.1037/a0030820
Computer Sci
Chan, M. (2011). Shyness, sociability, and the role of media synchronicity in the use of
computer-mediated communication for interpersonal communication. Asian
Journal Of Social Psychology, 14(1), 84-90. doi:10.1111/j.1467839X.2010.01335.x
Eng/Hum
Cult TV, Hip Hop, Shape-Shifters, and Vampire Slayers: A Review of the Literature at
the Intersection of Adult Education and Popular Culture.Full Text Available By:
Wright, Robin Redmon; Sandlin, Jennifer A.. Adult Education Quarterly,
Feb2009, Vol. 59 Issue 2, p118-141, 24p; (AN 36321544)
Business
Correlation between innovation and performance of construction firms. Seokin
Choi1Hyounseung Jang1 jang@snut.ac.krJoonsik Hyun2 Source Canadian
Journal of Civil Engineering. Nov2009, Vol. 36 Issue 11, p1722-1732. 10p. 3
Diagrams, 10 Charts.
Behavioral Sciences (Psych/Soc)
Young people's beliefs about the harmfulness of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco for mental
disorders: findings from two Australian national youth surveys. Authors Yap,
Marie Bee Hui1 Reavley, Nicola J.1 Jorm, Anthony Francis1 Source: Addiction.
Apr2012, Vol. 107 Issue 4, p838-847. 10p. 2 Charts, 1 Graph.
Natural Science (Biology and Chemistry)
Yong, D. (2007). Association of serum caffeine concentrations with serum glucose levels
in caffeine-drug users and non-users – results of German National Health
Surveys. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 9(5), 756-758. doi:10.1111/j.14631326.2006.00689.x
Engineering
The Achievements of Engineering Master's Coursework Students from Diverse
Backgrounds. Authors: Suja', Fatihah1,2 fati@eng.ukm.m Yacob, Zahira1,3
Mohammed, Azah1,4 Source: Asian Social Science. Dec2012 Special Issue, Vol. 8
Issue 16, p104-110. 7p. 5 Charts, 3 Graphs.
Criminal Justice
Evaluation of a Single-Session Brief Motivational Enhancement Intervention for Partner
Abusive Men. Authors Crane, Corey A ccrance@ria.buffalo.edu Eckhardt,
Christopher I.1 Source Journal of Counseling Psychology. Apr2013, Vol. 60 Issue
2, p180-187. 8p. 4 Charts.
Sports Management
Dinç, z. (2011). Social self-efficacy of adolescents who participate in individual and team
sports. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 39(10), 14171424. doi:10.2224/sbp.2011.39.10.1417