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Viewpoints Essay #2—the Summary-and-Response Essay (Canvas)

Please read through the entire assignment that follows before watching the video Assignment Explanation and Annotated Example Video located on the assignment Webpage.

Welcome to our second essay. Before you begin, please remember what we have already learned about introductory paragraphs, clear thesis sentences, robust supporting paragraphs to develop the thesis, and elegant conclusions to tie it all together.

First, because this essay will incorporate other people's property (their words and ideas), be sure you have read and understood Working with Words from a Source or watched and understood the Working with Words from a Source Video as well as the information in Assignment Explanation and Annotated Example Video and related information. You will also need to understand how to cite a Viewpoints essay in your essay.

Also, please remember that composing an essay is a process—a series of steps--that takes an essay through as many meaningful changes as the sample essay and revisions found on pp. 59-73 (60-74) of our text Viewpoints. 

Writing Groups

You may find yourself in a different writing group for our second essay, so please find your name and group before posting your rough draft.  Please keep in mind that the purpose of a writing group is to offer constructive feedback on the drafts of essays after the drafts have been taken at least through the second revision described on pp. 59-73 (pp. 60-74) of our text.  Feedback from your peers concerning your essay can then be blended into your subsequent revisions to make your final draft (the one you submit for a grade) even better. You might read again the Peer Editing Advice. Though the advice is written for students taking a "Writing for Government" course, it would be difficult to find a better description of the peer editing process.  Pay particular attention to the recommended approach suggested in the article.  As a basis for your thoughts and comments, you might use the Essay Grading Sheet.

The version of your summary-and-response essay, taken at least through the second revision, is due submitted to your Writing Group by the due date given on the calendar. An on-time submission can yield up to five points.

Each member of the Writing Group will then have the next few days to offer constructive comments and suggestions regarding the other members’ drafts. Of course, it is always your choice whether to incorporate your Writing Group’s advice into your essay.

In addition, full participation in your Writing Group by offering useful, constructive comments to all members concerning their essays can earn an additional five points if completed by the due date on the calendar.

You will then have the next few days to complete the third and fourth revisions of your essay, and submit the final draft to me for grading. Please note the due date for your final version on the calendar. An essay can earn up to 100 points. 

More Specifics

Your second essay must follow the summary-and-response model and be about the same length as the student examples you studied earlier. 

Please keep in mind that a substantial part of your grade on this essay will be determined by how well you have mastered blending others' words with your own, so you will likely need to refer to Working with Words from a Source (Working with Words from a Source Video) quite often.

Please read all four of the following essays located in our text Viewpoints. Then choose ONE essay to summarize and respond to in any way you wish. 

Requirement: Occasionally blend the essay's author's words with your own when appropriate and be sure to credit the words you borrow.  Your essay must follow the summary-and-response structure explained in the PREP WORK.  You will be using another writer's words in this essay: please be sure to quote accurately and document those words correctly.

Link: How to Cite Viewpoints Essays

VIEWPOINTS ESSAY CHOICES for this essay

Please select one of the essays from the following list of four and write a summary-and-response essay to it.

To Err Is Wrong by Roger Von Oech, pp. 87-93 (88-95).

Veiled Intentions: Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering by Maysan Haydar, pp. 179-186 (183-188)

The Dumbing of America by Susan Jacoby, pp. 364-369 (370-375).

Memories of a Sweet, Lethal, Smoke-Filled Home by Dean P. Johnson, pp. 232-235 (237-240).