Final Count Down

We're nearing the end, folks. Make sure to attend Monday's one-on-one conferences. It is worth 25 points and I promise it will be practically painless. Come prepared with a question about your paper or a section of the paper you'd like me to read and give feedback.

Remember to include your freewrite, outline, annotated bib, quote cards and draft worksheet with your final paper. If you'd like your paper returned over break, bring a self-addressed, stamped envelop.

Don't forget to register for next semester. Contact me if you'd like more information about the classes I'm teaching or if you have general questions about the English department's offerings.

Research Paper Thesis statement

You will type up your thesis statement and indicate the topic and the assertion. For example you can underline the topic and italicize the assertion. Remember your thesis statement should be specific and simply stated, and it may be more than one sentence.
Due: Nov. 21st

Short Assignment #6

Select a chapter from Global Woman and write a brief summary. Discuss what you found effective about the author's writing style and point out any problems you had with the selection. Then, give your own opinion of the situation discussed. The paper should be at least one page, typed and double-spaced.
Due: Nov. 28

Short Assignment #5

Supersize Me
Due 11/16

Select ONE of the following questions and write a one page response.

In your opinion, are companies intentionally keeping information from consumers?

Is the film overly dramatic to make a point? Why or why not? And how does that influence viewers?

Does Spurlock present both sides of the story? What was lacking?

Are you influenced by the film? How? Discuss a part of the film you felt was particularly influential.

Quoting

Direct Quoting
4 easy steps
1. Introduce quotes: use author name, which avoids hanging quotes
2. Use the quote: double check for exact wording
3. Cite the quote: use MLA format and always include page #
4. Analyze the quote: to intrpret and enlighten, ask yourself
-why is it significant? How does it connect? How does it reinforce my claim?
* Do not restate the quote*

Remember: the length of your analysis should be as long or longer than the quote to avoid some else's words dominating your essay.

Paraphrasing Quotes
"see, say, matter"
"see" a quote and pull it out from the text
"say" what it means in your own words
“matter” explain the "so what" and why that quote is significant by describing the context or relevance of it all and the bigger ramifications

Essay #3

In the introduction to Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser writes, “This is a book about fast food, the values it embodies, and the world it has made. Fast food has proven to be a revolutionary force in American life; I am interested in it both as a commodity and as a metaphor” (3).

Write an essay in which you describe how fast food is representative of American society. In your own view, what values does fast food embody? What does fast food symbolize and how does it act as a “revolutionary force” in contemporary American culture?


Essay Guidelines:
- Papers must be typed, double-spaced in 12-point font (Times New Roman or similar), with one-inch margins on all sides. You must have a title for your essay, but do not include a separate title page.
- Page length requirements must be observed. Three to five pages does not mean two-and-a-half or two-and-three-lines. You must write at least three full pages.
- Stay away from contractions. Stay away from vague words, such as “thing” “it” “this” “these” and “that.”
- Proofread your paper carefully.
- Attach an outline you created prior to writing your paper to the final version.
- Introduce quotes. Analyze quotes. Provide page numbers for quotes. (Remember the four steps.)
- Observe MLA formatting guidelines, especially when citing text.
- Author quotes need to be introduced, page numbers need to be provided even when you are paraphrasing rather than quoting an author, and your citation should look like this: In his article, Kasser states, “BlahBlahBlahBlah,” (390).
- You need to include a “works cited” page.

Draft Workshop: Wednesday, November 16, 2005. Bring three copies of your essay draft and the first page for my review (optional).
Due Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2005.

annotated bib.

English 1A, Sosa
Annotated bibliography instructions

Sommers, Christina Hoff. “Save The Males.” Rereading America. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 524-538.


(see hardcopy of the assignment for exact MLA format.) After your citation, you will examine the article. Start by including a brief summary of the entire piece, and then focus on how the article relates to your research paper. The intention of the annotated bib is to provide a quick reference so you do not have to reread the entire article. Your summary should be written using complete sentences and be at least one paragraph in length. After that, you may write additional paragraphs, create bullet points or use whatever format you find most helpful for creating a usable reference for the article. Do annotated bibs for two of your research paper sources.
Due: 11/2
Use either a writing handbook or one of the following websites for proper MLA format.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
http://dianahacker.com/

Short assignment #4

Due October 26

Select ONE of the following questions. Write at least one page (typed, double-spaced) and make sure to proofread. Identify which question you are answering at the top of the page.


1. Why do the Lakewood boys complain that "girls have all the power"? What does this statement mean? How realistic or unrealistic does this statement seem to you and why?

2. In what way does Faludi suggest that the Lakewood boys have been cheated or "betrayed"? How does her understanding of their betrayal differ from their own? Based on both of these perspectives, who or what is responsible for their problems?

3. How do the dreams of fame and wealth that the Lakewood boys have differ from those of Ragged Dick (p. 297)? Are the Lakewood boys believers in the American Dream? Why or why not?

Essay #2

Critique one of the articles we've discussed in Rereading America, focusing on the following question: to what level of certainty does the author prove his/her thesis? Look at whether the main arguments are well supported as well as whether evidence is omitted, and consider the context of the article as well as the author's frame of reference.
Make sure you identify the author’s thesis BEFORE you begin writing your paper that asserts whether or not you think the author has done a fair job proving the thesis statement.

For this assignment, you need to include a copy of an outline you created in preparation for writing your essay. The final essay must be a minimum of three pages.

Make sure you:
- develop a clear thesis statement
- keep your essay focused on your topic
- be specific and avoid generalizations
- logically organize your claims
- include transition sentences
- include evidence (quotes) from the article
- avoid repetition and vague terms

Draft Workshop on October 31st. Bring three copies of your draft and the first page for me to review (optional).

Final Essay due November 2nd. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!

short assignment #3

Response to "Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt"

Analyze the following statements Jean Lilbourn makes in her article "Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt." Start by assessing the validity of her claims. What kind of appeals does Kilbourne makes in these two statements? How effective are the appeals? How valid is the claim itself? Does Kilbourne employ any logical fallacies in her statements? Does she provide ample evidence to persuade you, the reader, to agree with her claims? What kind of evidence does she use to prove her point? Address each quote with complete sentences. Your response to each quote should be 3/4 of a page to a full page, for a total of 1 ½ page to 2 pages.

1. “... it is never a good thing for human beings to be objectified. However, there is a world of difference between objectification of women and the objectification of men. The most important difference is that there is no danger for most men, whereas objectified women are always at risk" (464).

2. "I contend that all girls growing up in this culture are sexually abused—abused by the pornographer images of female sexuality that surround them from birth, abused by all the violence against women and girls, and abused by the constant harassment and threat of violence" (473).

Due October 17th.