Essay Assignment #3 – The Proposal Argument
Davidson – English 102
7/19: In-Class Brainstorming
7/24: First Drafts Due. Minimum EIGHT pages.
7/26: Second Drafts Due. Minimum NINE pages.
7/31: Final Papers Due in LAB 336 by noon.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
A Proposal argument points to a specific problem, the consequences of a problem, or the circumstances that have created a problem. (The idea of the “problem” may also be understood as not necessarily being something that is completely wrong, but instead a way in which something may simply be improved). The argument then proposes a way in which to solve the problem, the consequences, or both. At the end of a successful proposal argument a reader should be able to both understand the problem presented and the means the writer has provided for the problem to be solved. Furthermore there should be sufficiently credible evidence for the reader to believe the writer’s claims.
For the purposes of this assignment your proposal argument should be based on your evaluation argument. In order to proceed, you should first consider what you have learned from your evaluation. Using this information decide how you can make a successful proposal argument.
HOW TO PROCEED:
Your thesis statement should introduce your argument and suggest the reason why you have chosen this specific subject to focus your analysis. Most importantly it should state the ideas you want your readers to accept. (The argument that follows should be why they should accept this). What do you have to offer that your reader did not initially realize as being problematic? How can you support your argument and convince the reader of what you have discovered as being a suitable proposal?
1). Acknowledge what you perceive to be the problem or what you believe may be improved.
ex: There is not enough parking on campus.
2). Explain why this is a problem and/or why you think it should be improved.
ex: Students and faculty alike are unable to make it to class on time which in turn disrupts the learning process. It also aggravates and annoys which causes further problems in concentration and overall happiness.
3). Propose a solution to the problem.
ex: Build a multi-layer parking garage adjacent to the Payne Center.
4). Provide extensive support why your solution is a viable one and provide a realistic assessment of how this plan could be carried out.
ex: The largest obstacle to this process will be the funding. By current estimates the entire procedure should cost ________ (your research should come in handy here). Three specific areas in which some of this cost could be alleviated are available to students….
5). Assess the negative impact(s) of your solution.
ex: This could provide a bit of antagonism among students who feel the cost of the parking garage should be provided through other sources. However, I would argue that….
6). Provide a reasonable claim as to why your solution is the best one.
ex: While the enrollment of Southern Miss continues to grow, this problem will continue to become worse and worse until a viable solution can be reached. My solution could provide for a swift turn around that would allow the students contributing to the parking garage to enjoy the benefits of their sacrifices.
FORMAT:
The minimum length of this assignment is NINE pages. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers that deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. For the purposes of this assignment you will need a minimum of SEVEN secondary sources. You will need to hand in a paper copy (in my office between 10am-12noon on Tuesday, July 31st) as well as submit your work in electronic format to turnitin.com (by no later than midnight on July 31st).
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Homework for Tuesday, June 26th
Bring a polished rough draft (mimimum five pages) for peer response.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Homework for Thursday, June 14th
Make sure to bring a semi-polished rough draft to class. Papers should be at least two pages long, but the more you have at this stage the better off you will be going forward.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Peer Response Groups
Good Fellas
Matt B.
Jessie
Brandon
Arlisle
DaBomb.com
Megan B.
Megan H.
Brennan
Bridgette
Go Gettas
Marilyn
Elle
Zo
Manuel
Erin
The Blue Barracudas
Sara Lee
Kayce
Drew
Ashley
Five Star (Built Strong to Last Long)
Duncan
Alex
Matthew P.
Joelle
Emily
Matt B.
Jessie
Brandon
Arlisle
DaBomb.com
Megan B.
Megan H.
Brennan
Bridgette
Go Gettas
Marilyn
Elle
Zo
Manuel
Erin
The Blue Barracudas
Sara Lee
Kayce
Drew
Ashley
Five Star (Built Strong to Last Long)
Duncan
Alex
Matthew P.
Joelle
Emily
Homework for Tuesday, June 12
Bring a typed paper proposal to class. This should be a more polished version of your explanations from Thursday's class. Be sure to explore the connections you hope to develop as well as providing a basic overview of your project . Your paper proposal should be a minimum of one - two paragraphs.
Essay 1 Assignment
Essay Assignment #1 – Writing Arguments About Literature
Davidson – English 102
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
For the purposes of this assignment you will need to select either one short story or one poem from Writing Arguments. You will then need to select a movie, television show, or song to use in connection with this text. The focus of your analysis should be human interactions. This is a broad concept that should allow for a wide range of original interpretations. However, since a litany of associations could be considered “human interactions” you should be specific in your paper proposal as to not only what you wish to explore, but also why you feel that it is important to the study of these pieces. Your argument should be an assessment of these works and how they function to create both the character relationships and a reader reaction to them.
A FEW EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE TOPICS:
Choose a subject matter that you enjoy. If your favorite show is American Idol, then use American Idol as a way to look at your choice of literary text. First you need to look at both of your choices (story/poem and movie/show/song) and decide what sort of terms you could use to evaluate both. For American Idol, you might decide that hope, honesty, talent, confidence, judgment, popularity, etc. are all areas that you could write easily. Then using this information you decide that the most complete argument could be written about the judgment of people based on a specific aspect of their appearance and/or performance. With this in mind you choose Grace Paley’s “Samuel” and set about establishing the boundaries of their connection and how both work to help illuminate this concept in the other.
Do not make connections based on the obvious, inane, or ridiculous. Writing an essay comparing Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” with Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” because a character is blind and because Wonder is blind would not be a wise or effective approach to this essay. Try to come up with an analysis and connection that is not available to every astute reader. A few more examples of interesting connections: The female body as a commodity (in romantic relationships) in Sex in the City/ Kanye West’s “Golddigger” and Anne Sexton’s “Cinderella.” Notions of loyalty, faith, and commitment examined by looking at the interactions of Tony and A.J. Soprano and Luke’s “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.”
APPROACHES TOWARDS ANALYSIS:
Your thesis statement should introduce your subject and suggest the reason why you have chosen this specific subject to focus your analysis. Most importantly it should state the ideas you want your readers to accept. (The argument that follows should be why they should accept this). This analysis should go further than the primary relationship to explore ideas extending past a first time reading. What do you have to offer that your reader did not initially discover in the text? How can you support your reading and convince the reader of what you have discovered as being a suitable interpretation?
Some topics/ideas to get you started:
• Are there similarities between the two works? If, so what are they and how does their link enhance or help support your argument?
• How would you define each character? How would you define this character in relation to others?
• What do these works say about the ways in which people treat each other? How do they say it?
• Consider the idea of the intimate (those close to someone) vs. the stranger (someone unfamiliar to someone). How do these roles play out in the respective stories? What does this say about people/society in general?
• Re-evaluate character motivations. Why do the characters feel a certain way about the other characters? Are these ideas justified? What causes certain characters to act the way they do? What do these motivations tell us about the author’s intentions and the overall story?
FORMAT:
The minimum length of this assignment is Five complete pages. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers that deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. For the purposes of this assignment you should not consult secondary materials, nor use another writer’s critical work to supplement your argument. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted. You must turn your paper in to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on Thursday, June 28th. All papers must be turned in stapled and in a folder with both peer response drafts.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
T June 12 – Paper Proposals Due
R June 14 – 1st Drafts Due (Minimum Two Pages)
T June 19 – Blog Post and Response Due
R June 21 – Progress Reports Due
T June 26 – 2nd Drafts Due (Minimum Five Pages)
R June 28 – Final Drafts Due
Davidson – English 102
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
For the purposes of this assignment you will need to select either one short story or one poem from Writing Arguments. You will then need to select a movie, television show, or song to use in connection with this text. The focus of your analysis should be human interactions. This is a broad concept that should allow for a wide range of original interpretations. However, since a litany of associations could be considered “human interactions” you should be specific in your paper proposal as to not only what you wish to explore, but also why you feel that it is important to the study of these pieces. Your argument should be an assessment of these works and how they function to create both the character relationships and a reader reaction to them.
A FEW EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE TOPICS:
Choose a subject matter that you enjoy. If your favorite show is American Idol, then use American Idol as a way to look at your choice of literary text. First you need to look at both of your choices (story/poem and movie/show/song) and decide what sort of terms you could use to evaluate both. For American Idol, you might decide that hope, honesty, talent, confidence, judgment, popularity, etc. are all areas that you could write easily. Then using this information you decide that the most complete argument could be written about the judgment of people based on a specific aspect of their appearance and/or performance. With this in mind you choose Grace Paley’s “Samuel” and set about establishing the boundaries of their connection and how both work to help illuminate this concept in the other.
Do not make connections based on the obvious, inane, or ridiculous. Writing an essay comparing Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” with Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” because a character is blind and because Wonder is blind would not be a wise or effective approach to this essay. Try to come up with an analysis and connection that is not available to every astute reader. A few more examples of interesting connections: The female body as a commodity (in romantic relationships) in Sex in the City/ Kanye West’s “Golddigger” and Anne Sexton’s “Cinderella.” Notions of loyalty, faith, and commitment examined by looking at the interactions of Tony and A.J. Soprano and Luke’s “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.”
APPROACHES TOWARDS ANALYSIS:
Your thesis statement should introduce your subject and suggest the reason why you have chosen this specific subject to focus your analysis. Most importantly it should state the ideas you want your readers to accept. (The argument that follows should be why they should accept this). This analysis should go further than the primary relationship to explore ideas extending past a first time reading. What do you have to offer that your reader did not initially discover in the text? How can you support your reading and convince the reader of what you have discovered as being a suitable interpretation?
Some topics/ideas to get you started:
• Are there similarities between the two works? If, so what are they and how does their link enhance or help support your argument?
• How would you define each character? How would you define this character in relation to others?
• What do these works say about the ways in which people treat each other? How do they say it?
• Consider the idea of the intimate (those close to someone) vs. the stranger (someone unfamiliar to someone). How do these roles play out in the respective stories? What does this say about people/society in general?
• Re-evaluate character motivations. Why do the characters feel a certain way about the other characters? Are these ideas justified? What causes certain characters to act the way they do? What do these motivations tell us about the author’s intentions and the overall story?
FORMAT:
The minimum length of this assignment is Five complete pages. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers that deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. For the purposes of this assignment you should not consult secondary materials, nor use another writer’s critical work to supplement your argument. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted. You must turn your paper in to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on Thursday, June 28th. All papers must be turned in stapled and in a folder with both peer response drafts.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
T June 12 – Paper Proposals Due
R June 14 – 1st Drafts Due (Minimum Two Pages)
T June 19 – Blog Post and Response Due
R June 21 – Progress Reports Due
T June 26 – 2nd Drafts Due (Minimum Five Pages)
R June 28 – Final Drafts Due
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Homework for Tuesday, June 5
Read:
Raymond Carver - "Cathedral" (387-397)
Billy Collins - "Embrace" (419)
Anne Sexton - "Cinderella" (429-431)
William Carlos Williams - "This Is Just to Say" (435)
Bring books (or photocopies of story/poems) to class on Tuesday.
Raymond Carver - "Cathedral" (387-397)
Billy Collins - "Embrace" (419)
Anne Sexton - "Cinderella" (429-431)
William Carlos Williams - "This Is Just to Say" (435)
Bring books (or photocopies of story/poems) to class on Tuesday.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Course Syllabus
English 102 / Summer 2007
Liberal Arts Building 105
TR 10:20 -12:30
Instructor: Ryan Davidson
Email: ryan.davidson@usm.edu
Phone: (602) 391-7442
Office: 336 Liberal Arts Building
Office Hours: TR 12:30 - 1:15 and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
English 102 focuses on research and argument—the basic components of academic writing. Building upon what you learned about writing in English 101, English 102 will help you develop critical thinking skills, construct strong persuasive arguments, and find and effectively utilize sources to support and verify your written claims.
REQUIRED TEXT
• Writing Arguments, Custom Edition for USM, by Ramage, Bean & Johnson
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: Attendance is vital to success in this course. There will be an attendance signup sheet distributed during class every day. You are responsible for signing in every day you are present for class. You are allowed three unexcused absences. Upon the fourth unexcused absence your final grade will drop 10%. (You will no longer be able to make an A in the course). A fifth absence will mean you fail the course. All absences will be considered unexcused unless I have been notified on or before the date of absence and received proper documentation.
Cell phones and laptops: Cell phones must be turned off and put away before class begins. Do not send or read text messages in class. Anyone caught using their phone during class will be counted absent for that day and their overall participation grade will be adversely affected.
Plagiarism: The instructor will investigate all instances of suspected plagiarism. Anyone found to have intentionally plagiarized material will immediately FAIL the course and be referred to the proper university officials for reprimands, suspensions, and/or expulsions. If you have questions about proper citation and documentation of any sources you are using, please see me.
Midterm Grades: Freshmen will receive a midterm grade report. A grade of “C” on this report means your work has been satisfactory; a “D” means unsatisfactory work and an “F” means you have missed too many and are in danger of failing the course. Please note that a “C” on your midterm grade report does not necessarily mean that your final course grade will be a “C.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Grade Distribution: In order to receive credit for the course, ALL of the following must be completed. Failure to complete any one assignment will result in failure of the course. There will be NO FINAL in this course.
Essay 1 20%
Essay 2 20%
Essay 3 25%
Writer’s Blog 15%
Homework 10%
Participation 10%
Writer’s Blog: Every student is required to start and maintain a blog. If you already have a blog or personal website you may use it for the requirements of this assignment, although you may choose to create a new site. Visit http://www.blogger.com or http://www.xanga.com for a few free options. You will be required to write a least one entry per week. There will be specific entries assigned in class throughout the semester and you should make every effort to make your blog as full and creative as possible. All student blogs will have links posted at http://ryandavidson102h006.blogspot.com/
Participation: All students are expected to participate fully in class. Your participation grade consists of not only involvement in classroom discussion and activities but will take into account attendance, in-class writings, and other related activities. If you are unsure about your participation grade during the semester please contact me directly.
Paper Format: All papers and assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers, which deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. All papers should include a properly formatted works cited page in MLA style along with proper in-text citations. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted.
Paper Proposals and Progress Reports: You will submit a paper proposal and a progress report for every essay assignment of the semester. A finished paper will not be accepted without completion of these two tasks.
Turnitin.com: All papers must be turned in to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on the date which the paper is due. You must first create your own user profile (if you have not done so already for a previous course) and then may enroll in this course. The class id for this course is: 1904659 and the password is: southernmiss
Late Work: Students are allowed ONE opportunity during the semester to turn in an assignment late. ONE assignment may be turned in, up to one week after the original due date, without loss of credit. After this opportunity any work turned in late will begin with the lowest grade of the assignments turned in on time by your classmates. Hence if the lowest grade in the class were a C, the highest grade an absolutely perfect paper could receive would be a C. Handing in more than one late paper will drastically reduce your chances of receiving a satisfactory grade in the course. The late paper opportunity may not be used for the final paper.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Writing Lab: USM’s Writing Lab is located in LAB 218. Writing consultants in the lab can help you develop ideas for your papers, articulate your thesis, organize your material, and hone your grammar skills. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the writing lab’s free services. You can schedule an appointment by calling (601) 266-4821.
Accommodation for Students With Special Needs: If a student has a disability that
Qualifies under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Mailing address: 118 College Dr. #8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; Telephone: 601-266-5024; TTY: 601-266-6837; FAX: 601-266-6035
This Course is Part of the General Education Curriculum of the University
At the successful completion of this course, you will have demonstrated the ability to:
• develop and focus on one topic in speaking and writing assignments and present ideas in an organized, logical, and coherent form
• use Standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage
• connect ideas in a coherent essay
• connect course content to other disciplines and/or to real world situations
• write an analytical essay
• find and use (and cite) relevant sources
• analyze the components of an argument
Liberal Arts Building 105
TR 10:20 -12:30
Instructor: Ryan Davidson
Email: ryan.davidson@usm.edu
Phone: (602) 391-7442
Office: 336 Liberal Arts Building
Office Hours: TR 12:30 - 1:15 and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
English 102 focuses on research and argument—the basic components of academic writing. Building upon what you learned about writing in English 101, English 102 will help you develop critical thinking skills, construct strong persuasive arguments, and find and effectively utilize sources to support and verify your written claims.
REQUIRED TEXT
• Writing Arguments, Custom Edition for USM, by Ramage, Bean & Johnson
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: Attendance is vital to success in this course. There will be an attendance signup sheet distributed during class every day. You are responsible for signing in every day you are present for class. You are allowed three unexcused absences. Upon the fourth unexcused absence your final grade will drop 10%. (You will no longer be able to make an A in the course). A fifth absence will mean you fail the course. All absences will be considered unexcused unless I have been notified on or before the date of absence and received proper documentation.
Cell phones and laptops: Cell phones must be turned off and put away before class begins. Do not send or read text messages in class. Anyone caught using their phone during class will be counted absent for that day and their overall participation grade will be adversely affected.
Plagiarism: The instructor will investigate all instances of suspected plagiarism. Anyone found to have intentionally plagiarized material will immediately FAIL the course and be referred to the proper university officials for reprimands, suspensions, and/or expulsions. If you have questions about proper citation and documentation of any sources you are using, please see me.
Midterm Grades: Freshmen will receive a midterm grade report. A grade of “C” on this report means your work has been satisfactory; a “D” means unsatisfactory work and an “F” means you have missed too many and are in danger of failing the course. Please note that a “C” on your midterm grade report does not necessarily mean that your final course grade will be a “C.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Grade Distribution: In order to receive credit for the course, ALL of the following must be completed. Failure to complete any one assignment will result in failure of the course. There will be NO FINAL in this course.
Essay 1 20%
Essay 2 20%
Essay 3 25%
Writer’s Blog 15%
Homework 10%
Participation 10%
Writer’s Blog: Every student is required to start and maintain a blog. If you already have a blog or personal website you may use it for the requirements of this assignment, although you may choose to create a new site. Visit http://www.blogger.com or http://www.xanga.com for a few free options. You will be required to write a least one entry per week. There will be specific entries assigned in class throughout the semester and you should make every effort to make your blog as full and creative as possible. All student blogs will have links posted at http://ryandavidson102h006.blogspot.com/
Participation: All students are expected to participate fully in class. Your participation grade consists of not only involvement in classroom discussion and activities but will take into account attendance, in-class writings, and other related activities. If you are unsure about your participation grade during the semester please contact me directly.
Paper Format: All papers and assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers, which deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. All papers should include a properly formatted works cited page in MLA style along with proper in-text citations. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted.
Paper Proposals and Progress Reports: You will submit a paper proposal and a progress report for every essay assignment of the semester. A finished paper will not be accepted without completion of these two tasks.
Turnitin.com: All papers must be turned in to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on the date which the paper is due. You must first create your own user profile (if you have not done so already for a previous course) and then may enroll in this course. The class id for this course is: 1904659 and the password is: southernmiss
Late Work: Students are allowed ONE opportunity during the semester to turn in an assignment late. ONE assignment may be turned in, up to one week after the original due date, without loss of credit. After this opportunity any work turned in late will begin with the lowest grade of the assignments turned in on time by your classmates. Hence if the lowest grade in the class were a C, the highest grade an absolutely perfect paper could receive would be a C. Handing in more than one late paper will drastically reduce your chances of receiving a satisfactory grade in the course. The late paper opportunity may not be used for the final paper.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Writing Lab: USM’s Writing Lab is located in LAB 218. Writing consultants in the lab can help you develop ideas for your papers, articulate your thesis, organize your material, and hone your grammar skills. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the writing lab’s free services. You can schedule an appointment by calling (601) 266-4821.
Accommodation for Students With Special Needs: If a student has a disability that
Qualifies under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Mailing address: 118 College Dr. #8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; Telephone: 601-266-5024; TTY: 601-266-6837; FAX: 601-266-6035
This Course is Part of the General Education Curriculum of the University
At the successful completion of this course, you will have demonstrated the ability to:
• develop and focus on one topic in speaking and writing assignments and present ideas in an organized, logical, and coherent form
• use Standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage
• connect ideas in a coherent essay
• connect course content to other disciplines and/or to real world situations
• write an analytical essay
• find and use (and cite) relevant sources
• analyze the components of an argument
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