Summary/Response Essay Assignment

A sample rubric for this assignment can be found here.

Essay II: Summary/Response Essay Assignment

300 points

Hint: Keep this assignment sheet visible while working on your essay and read it several times.

Overview

The Summary/Response essay is designed to help you with the beginning process of research. In doing research, it is vital to learn how to read critically as well as to learn how to summarize and respond to a document. This may sound easy, but many times students struggle with these tasks. This essay also is a starting point for teaching citations and how to avoid plagiarism.

 

You may only* choose from essays in chapter 10 or chapter 60

 

*Should you choose a different text for your assignment, you must get approval from me before submitting the outline.

Focus

You must say whether or not you agree or disagree with the author's main point (yes, say "I agree…" or "I disagree…"). Using "I" is okay in this context. The essay map should identify the three reasons WHY you agree or disagree OR the three points you agree or disagree with. The body paragraphs, then, follow this organization and go into depth for each of those three points. For support, explain what you agree or disagree with and why. Each body paragraph should include the author's points with your response. This means that while each body paragraph will focus on your opinion, it will not ignore the points of the original article. This also means that you are not creating a new argument essay on the same topic. You are responding to the points…think of this as a conversation with the author.

Format

4 pages minimum + Works Cited page

Follow proper MLA document formatting as well as MLA citation rules.

Organization

The essay must first begin with a summary in the first paragraph and follow all the components of an effective summary (see pp. 470-471 in the textbook). The summary and response must be separated by a clear agree/disagree thesis statement, and the response must contain the components of an effective response essay. Hint: Paragraph 1 is the summary. Paragraphs 2-4 are your response. Paragraph 5 is the conclusion.

Development

The essay must follow the conventions of a college-level essay:

·         a clear & supportable thesis statement with an essay map: "I agree with …because…"

·         supporting topic sentences for each point.

·         supporting evidence from your personal life, the text, or another source, and follow logical conclusions

 

The reading & course resources explain what constitutes valid evidence and how to cite the text.

Grammar & Style

This essay must adhere to the rules of Formal Standard American English: 

            No contractions;

            No abbreviations;

            No second person;

            No commands;

            Limited 1st person point of view. (It is acceptable to say "I agree" or "I disagree" in your thesis and topic sentences.)

 

Proper punctuation, verb use, and sentence structure are expected.  The Writing Center or Smarthinking is encouraged as part of the revising process.

Research

The student sample essay uses citations correctly. Follow those patterns for the in-text citations AND the Works Cited page. The only source needed for this assignment is the essay in the textbook. However, you may use another source if so desired. Please keep these points in mind:

 

·         Articles must be quoted, paraphrased, summarized, and properly cited in all cases.

·         Wikipedia, other encyclopedia sites, and personal websites are never valid websites for academic research.

·         Use proper citation techniques for in-text citations & a Works Cited page.

·         Incorporate research within the essay: introduce the source (with credentials) and explain the borrowed information and the relationship between the thesis and the data.

·         Hyperlinks are unacceptable anywhere in the essay (including the Works Cited page).

·         Web addresses are unacceptable within the essay—use proper title formatting. 

·         I am particularly harsh on citation and Works Cited formatting for this essay, so spend considerable amount of time getting the citations correct.