The Assignment:
Writing
100 / Darling
Summary-Analysis Essay Assignment
In this essay your goal is to summarize the main
idea of a text, and then analyze and respond to that idea using evidence and
examples to support your response. You should focus on the particular main idea
or argument presented, analyze how
the writer presents this idea in the text, and then respond specifically to the
idea you’ve summarized.
You are free to organize and develop your paper
as you see fit, however you should make sure to include the following: First your paper should contain a clear
and concise summary of the author’s main idea; then you should explain with evidence and examples how s/he
supports this main idea; finally you
may present your own argument in response to the author’s idea (agree,
disagree, some combination of these); support your argument/response with
evidence/examples/explanation.
It is important that you use specific
references and examples from the text to which you are responding (title,
author, quotes, summary of main points to which you refer, examples, etc), as
well as clear and specific examples and explanation of the points you wish to
make (support your argument). Any language that you take directly from the
article should be placed in quotes and attributed to the author. You should
also use author tags, or attribute the author any time you are paraphrasing or
summarizing her/his ideas so it is clear when you are citing the author and
when you are presenting your own opinions.
Think about how to focus your essay
so that you can organize and present your thoughts in an effective and
articulate manner. Consider how understanding your purpose and audience will
help you to develop your thoughts and the resources you are using to create an
essay that is coherent from start to finish, and that uses strong,
grammatically and structurally correct sentences throughout.
Consider 2 ways of organizing the paper:
A.
- Summary and analysis 2-3 paragraphs
- Response 2-3 paragraphs
- Conclusion: synthesize the summary and response and leave the reader with something to think about
B.
1. Intro: include an introduction to article’s
main idea and a statement which states your response to that main idea
2. Body paragraphs: include points that both
summarize the main idea of the original essay (and its points), how the author
makes that argument or presents that idea, and explain/support your own
argument/response with evidence and examples
3. Conclusion: synthesizes this information and
leaves the reader with something interesting to think about on the topic
Specific Requirements:
*Choose one of the selections by Henry Miller, Frederick
Douglass, or M.L. King Jr. for your summary-analysis-response.
*Write: 3 pages, double-spaced, typed in Times
New Roman 12 font
*Bring a printed, hard-copy draft to class to
share and discuss
*See syllabus for due dates (workshop in class and
final, revised due on CTools)
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