Discussion Topic
Read the Thinking Passage: ”The Influence of Media on pages 124-131” in the textbook and respond to the Questions for Analysis in essay format. Be sure to use information from the textbook and at least 2 other Virtual Library resources to support or expand on your writing.
Write a 5-paragraph essay explaining why the wedding guest is sadder and wiser after hearing the Mariner’s story.
Refer to your handbook for instructions on how to write a literary essay.
Using the handout on “Women in Beowulf,” consider how Grendel’s mother defies the stereotypical roles assigned to women in this epic poem.
The first sentence of your introductions should give the title and author of the book. You must have a well-developed thesis statement as the last sentence in your introductory paragraph and topic sentences in each body paragraph. Your thesis should make a claim and should be your own thoughts/opinions about the topic, a claim that you are making throughout the paper. The thesis should have a “so what” to it, meaning it should give me a reason to want to read your paper. You then use your body paragraphs to “prove” your point.
Create a thesis statement, and back up your claim with support/evidence from the text. Support should contain clear, specific examples from the story or stories you are analyzing, as well as documentation for all text references. Include at least one quotation from the story in each body paragraph of your essay, for a total of 4 quotations from the story/poem. *See handouts about how citing poetry is different than stories. It would be a good idea to do an outline before writing the essay.
Follow MLA format: Use size 12, Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins; double space.
Include a Work Cited page. It is not included in the one and a half to two-page length requirement; it should appear on a separate page at the end of your paper. You will automatically lose 20 points for not including a Works Cited page.
Discuss the importance of setting in 1 work from Unit 1. Analyze how the setting (time and place) adds meaning, conflict, and/or relevance to the characters. Do NOT just describe the setting and tell me “in this story the setting is this. In that story the setting is that.” That is not analysis, nor is it interesting. I want to know how and why the setting is significant, what this reveals about the characters, the time period, and the conflict within the story.
The first sentence of your introductions should give the title and author of the book. You must have a well-developed thesis statement as the last sentence in your introductory paragraph and topic sentences in each body paragraph. Your thesis should make a claim and should be your own thoughts/opinions about the topic, a claim that you are making throughout the paper. The thesis should have a “so what” to it, meaning it should give me a reason to want to read your paper. You then use your body paragraphs to “prove” your point.
Create a thesis statement, and back up your claim with support/evidence from the text. Support should contain clear, specific examples from the story or stories you are analyzing, as well as documentation for all text references. Include at least one quotation from the story in each body paragraph of your essay, for a total of 4 quotations from the story/poem. *See handouts about how citing poetry is different than stories. It would be a good idea to do an outline before writing the essay.
Follow MLA format: Use size 12, Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins; double space.
Include a Work Cited page. It is not included in the one and a half to two-page length requirement; it should appear on a separate page at the end of your paper. You will automatically lose 20 points for not including a Works Cited page.
Discuss the importance of setting in 1 work from Unit 1. Analyze how the setting (time and place) adds meaning, conflict, and/or relevance to the characters. Do NOT just describe the setting and tell me “in this story the setting is this. In that story the setting is that.” That is not analysis, nor is it interesting. I want to know how and why the setting is significant, what this reveals about the characters, the time period, and the conflict within the story.
For this assignment, imagine that you are being asked to share some life lessons with a group of your peers. Your life lessons should show how you now understand something about the world, yourself, or anything particularly significant.
Within the essay, you will present the lesson that you have learned, show your readers why that lesson is important or might help them, and detail exactly how you learned that lesson through a personal narrative.
Through this assignment, examine yourself and think critically by both describing events well and drawing conclusions about those experiences.
For most of us, it’s easy to recall big or significant moments in our lives, but it’s harder to pinpoint exactly why those moments are important or to show what we learned through them.
TASK:
Write three to four pages in which you introduce the problem you’ve chosen to address in your Policy Proposal.
Convince your audience not only that the problem exists but also that it is urgent and severe enough to require immediate action and expenditure of resources.
Provide all the history, background and contextual information (including concepts and definitions) that your target audience will need to understand the problem and, eventually, support your policy claim.
Discuss the most important causal (cause and effect) relationships for the persuasive purposes of your essay. This can include both the causes and effects (harms done) of your problem.
Show your audience what experts concerned with the problem are saying in the media.
Use the tools for integrating source material (summary, paraphrase, quotation and synthesis) to show your mastery of the source material.
Use (and cite) at least five (5) high-quality sources to support your points. Use at least two academic sources AND at least two substantial, high-quality journalistic sources.
Include a properly formatted reference list.
The prompt for the paper In The Great Gatsby, what does F. Scott Fitzgerald suggest about the state of the American Dream, the people who pursue it, and the impact of that pursuit through his depiction of Jay Gatsby and the people in Gatsby’s life?
Include specific examples, quotations, and supporting details from the novel in your response. Do not merely summarize the story.
The final project will be a multimedia presentation. Imagine that you’re giving this presentation to an audience as a way to reach a common ground and resolve a problem.
Although this is to be completed as a multimedia presentation, you will still need to show a strong use of the Rogerian structure (more below).
What Does Multimedia Mean?
Any of the following artifacts can be compiled as part of a multimodal project: advertisements, audio files, blogs, collages, comic books, video clips, interviews, phone conversations, lectures, field observations, photos, blogs, posters, presentations, charts, graphs, skits, films, videos, television shorts, websites, performances. You can convey information and images in any way you like to communicate your message.
A few apps you might consider using on their own or in combination:
Powtoon
Prezi
Animoto
Audio Voiceover
Instagram
Storbird
PowerPoint
Screencast (Jing)
Google Sites
Canva
*Instructor’s Note: PowerPoint and Prezi seem to be the best base resources to house the slides of your presentation.
Feeling stuck? Here’s some inspiration:
More app options: https://digitalwritingworkshop.wikispaces.com/websites_and_apps
20 Great Presentation Apps: https://zapier.com/blog/best-powerpoint-alternatives/
How to make a Multimodal Presentation: https://youtu.be/DEZa8Ml3mEg
How to create a Multimodal Composition: https://youtu.be/F1ghx1i3EVE
Choosing a Topic
Begin with ONE of the following research questions, determine your position (yes or no), then craft your thesis statement. Your thesis statement should present your position + the reasoning why.
Is the election process fair to everyone?
Is the current taxation system fair to everyone?
Do cameras enforced by law invade privacy?
Is handgun ownership a right?
Is a two-child policy a good idea?
Are we too dependent on technology?
Are athletes paid more than needed?
Is marketing to children morally wrong?
Is torture ever acceptable?
Does cheating aid learning?
Is testing a good way to judge a student’s skill or efficiency?
Are television shows and movies increasing or encouraging criminal minds?
Should beauty pageants be banned?
Is there any crime the death penalty should be made mandatory for?
Should energy drinks be made illegal?
Should college be free for everyone?
Should SAT or ACT scores be considered in college admissions?
Should all primary and secondary schools switch to a year-round schedule?
Should core standards exist in school?
Does the U.S. have a police brutality issue?
Should citizens who are medically classified as obese pay more for their insurance/healthcare?
Is hunting good for the environment?
Should supermarkets ban the use of plastic bags?
Does being a vegetarian/vegan help the environment?
Are landfills a good idea?
Are alternative energy sources effective?
Do “helicopter parents” harm their children?
Should the U.S. ban interracial adoptions?
Are older parents better parents?
Do cell phones bring families closer together?
Do the expectations set by romantic novels and movies damage real relationships?
Should parents read their teenager’s journals?
Should schools switch entirely to e-texts?
Should teachers be armed?
*Instructor’s Note: If you would like to attempt a topic not on this list, please reach out to me in advance via email for approval.
Your thesis begins with your response to one of these questions: yes or no.
For example:
Older parents are better parents due to . . . (reasoning).
Energy drinks should not be banned because . . . (reasoning).
Structure of Presentation
Make sure to include the following sections in your presentation:
an introduction and claim
background for your topic and the problem you’re addressing
body (following the Rogerian model) which includes a discussion of the various sides of the debate, including core values or warrants underlying their arguments
your universal common ground + solution
conclusion
A Rogerian argument will contain a claim + support, the opposing view, and a universal common ground.
A universal common ground is an aspect of the argument that both sides can agree on. For instance, you may argue that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children while the opposition claims they should not be allowed, but both sides can agree that children deserve a safe and happy home. That “safe and happy home” is the common ground between the two sides.
Your presentation may look something like this:
Title Slide (1 slide)
Introduction/Background (1 slide)
Thesis and Support (1-2 Slides)
Opposing Views (1-2 slides)
Universal Common Ground (1 slide)
Compromise/Solution (1 slide)
Conclusion/Final Thoughts (1 slide)
References (1-2 slides)
Expectations
The project’s text should contain 500-1000 words, but do not let these dominate your slides. Slides hit the highlights only. Your main text should be incorporated as a speech/presentation notes or voice recorded (please upload your scripts along with your slides to ensure the word requirement has been met).
Four sources should be referenced within the presentation: two scholarly, peer-reviewed sources from the APUS library + two credible sources of your choosing.
In-text/source citations should be formatted in MLA, APA, or Chicago style.
Note that all writing in the project should be original; the projects will be run through Turnitin upon submission, and all distinctive matching information caught by Turnitin must be formatted as a quotation. DO NOT copy-paste material without immediately marking it as a quotation and citing it. Any multimedia (art, music) inserted or linked in the presentation should also include full bibliographic information.
Cover Sheet
Before submitting your project, please also respond to and submit the following cover sheet. You may either include it at the beginning of your speech/notes file or copy and paste your responses into the dialogue/comments box before uploading.
1. How many words does your presentation contain?
2. In one sentence each:
What is your claim (i.e. thesis statement/argument)?
What opposing view for this claim is presented?
What is your universal common ground?
3. What formatting style did you use (APA, MLA, or Chicago)?
4. Is this style used consistently across all slides, including the references page?
5. Was this project edited/proofread carefully?
Read the essays by Alan Dershowitz and William Safire, you should be ready to answer the following essay questions.
Select one of the following questions below.
1. How do you think Dershowitz would respond to Safire’s argument?
2. How do you think Safire would respond to Dershowitz’s argument?
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