In Essay #2 you will be asked to extend your analysis by identifying and analyzing conventions in academic texts. As defined by Webster’s college Dictionary, conventions refer to “a rule, method, or practice established by usage… a general custom or accepted usage.” For this essay, you’ll be asked to focus on the use of tone and evidence, and to evaluate the effectiveness of these conventions on readers like yourself. You will need a Works Cited page, which means that you will also need to include the parenthetical citations after each reference to the author’s text (both direct quotes and paraphrases). Be SURE to use the Writing Strategy, at least as a checklist to make sure you detail all parts of this prompt in your essay. You may also use it to organize and structure your essay. In the Writing Strategy, I have once again given you a sample thesis you can use in your essay, as well as provided more detailed information about how to focus your analysis and evaluation.
The prompt: Choose one of the articles above, and write an academic essay that:
1. identifies the author’s purpose, goal and audience (this will require a little research to identify who reads this publication);
2. identifies and analyzes at least one example of tone in the author’s introduction, detailing how it establishes tone for the rest of the article. You should also evaluate how the use of tone in each article affected your response to that author’s argument. (For a C paper, one example is fine; for a B paper you will need to give two examples; for an A paper, you will need to give three examples.); and
3. identifies and analyzes two examples of evidence and evaluates the effectiveness of each example on readers like yourself. (For a C paper, detailing one persuasive appeal for each example will be fine. For a B paper, you’ll need to detail two appeals for each example. For an A paper you’ll need to provide a third example of evidence and detail at least one appeal for that 3rd example.)
Regarding the effectiveness of the use of tone and evidence, be sure to detail how both have changed or re-enforced your views on this topic. For example, how have these conventions helped you see the issue in a different light or helped to reinforce your position? Remember, the point of the prompt is not to agree or disagree with the authors. Rather, how has the way the authors presented and supported their argument effected your perception of, or attitude towards, this issue? You will be evaluated not only on how adequately you respond to the all parts of the prompt and develop your points but also on how you organize your response.
No. of Pages: 6
