Category: English

SRA 1 (short-reading assignment one)
eBook:  THEY SAY, I SAY, 5th edition
Read: “Choking the Oceans with Plastic,” by Charles J. Moore
-Write: a one-page paper (one page not including the space for your name and class and such information, if you provide this), double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, that summarizes the main ideas of Moore’s essay. 
Papers too short will be penalized proportionately.  At the same time, writing one full page is a challenge in itself.  Like an athletic contest that has only so much, time, in your summary you are allowed only so much space.
-This is not an opinion paper or a personal reflection paper about how you feel about the matter.
You must summarize the writer’s essay in one page or just a little over (1 ¼ ok).  Do not write one-and-a-half pages to two pages or you will lose points.
You can be straightforward and simple in this assignment, and you may start in this way, and don’t forget to tab in to start:
“Choking the Oceans with Plastic” was written by Charles J. Moore.  His essay is about…
or,
“Choking the Oceans with Plastic,” an essay by Charles J. Moore, is about…
-Then just tell me what it is about.  Say what Moore did, where he went.  Say what specific things he found out.  Talk about the specific problems he expresses with regard to plastics, recycling, and the government.  What are the consequences of the use of plastic?  How are various, different things in our world affected by plastic?  Is there any way to help the matter?
Do not quote the writer with quote marks.  You can say what he said by paraphrasing (He says that…), but do not use his words exactly, with or without quotes.  No quotes.  No exact, precise copies of his words.  This is because I need to see your writing in this summary.  
-You do not need a Works Cited or citations that say where you got your information.  For this assignment, I already know this.  This is not a research assignment per se.  It is a summary.  
But you can certainly write things such as: Moore says…   In Hawaii, he found…  He also suggess…  Biodegradeable plastic also…  Our rivers have been…  Oceans continue to have…  Another interesting thing is…  There is also the problem of…  A possible solution is…    The real challenge…  A focus has been…
-For this assignment, when you write it, I’m looking to see from your writing that you read the essay (of course you may have to read it more than once) and that you can tell me what it is about.  And when I say what it is about, I mean in your summary you must say what Moore’s message is or messages are (in summaries, we use the person’s last name and not the first name, Charles).  
To do this assignment you do not have to know every single thing about the plastics and oceans and do not use any outside, extra sources.  Just tell me what Moore is talking about, the problems he finds and what his meaning or message is.  Keep it simple.  Simplicity is excellent.  As usual, no fancy stuff.
-Finally, again, do not include your personal opinions and feeling and reflections in the part of the paper that is the assignment of one page.
You are not being graded for your feelings or impression of the essay or how you feel about it.  You may include your opinion after you have written the one-page summary, but your summary is not a personal opinion or reflection.  
In your summary, you will give me the facts of Moore’s essay and you will be graded on that in terms of content and, as always, your English.  When you are ready, submit it.

please watch the assigned “Single Story” video from this week before responding to the question below with a thoughtful, fully developed, carefully edited post that includes specific support from Born A Crime, from the video, and from your own experience.  What does it mean to be “born a crime” and how does that relate to the principle of a single story? By Trevor Noah. Please also watch the video posted on YouTube of “The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”

First, choose one short story we have read in class from the list below that you would like to write about:
Hanif Kureishi’s “My Son the Fanatic” (preffered)
James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”
Hwang Sok-Yong’s Familiar Things
Reread the story, looking specifically for 2-3 different kinds of pitfalls of critical thinking, or fallacies, that the characters make. Do not make the mistake of conflating the author with the character and claim that the author is using faulty reasoning; you must assume the author is intentionally having the characters commit fallacies for a reason. Make sure you name the specific fallacy and not just the category (for example, discuss biased consideration of evidence, not just an error of procedure). Consider:
What is the effect or use of that fallacy within the story? In other words, how is it being used as a rhetorical device by the author?
What impact does that fallacy have on the characters and/or the plot?
What is the through-line across those examples/fallacies? What theme, topic, issue, or pattern unites them?
How does that rhetorical device allow the author to provide some kind of social commentary?
What might the author be saying about the theme or issue that you have identified? 
What is the lesson or takeaway for readers?
Use research to help you contextualize the story, allowing you to extrapolate an accurate, specific social commentary and overall argument from the work. Consider:
When and where was the work written?
What socio-historical, cultural events, or other real-world phenomena happened around that time and place?
How do you see these influencing the story?
How does it inform the social commentary you see, and how relevant is that social commentary to our current context?
Just as with the last paper, there should not be any sources about the story itself, so do not include the title or author in any of your search phrases. You also should not cite the textbook for definitions of fallacies; instead, show me your grasp of the definitions through your analysis. To support your claims, you will need to find sound, college-level sources that help you establish the context of your short story, speak to the real-life influences on and implications of the text, and build strong connections to the textual evidence (the fallacies) from the story. 
Remember that I am not looking for a summary of the story. We have all read the stories and discussed them in class, so summarizing will not be giving any new or original information. If you find that most of your essay is making factual claims about the characters or plot points rather than interpretive, analytical claims that utilize the critical thinking concepts above, you probably need to condense the summary significantly and add more analysis.
6 page minimum paper
MLA format (Times New Roman, 12 pt font, double-spaced with no extra spacing, proper heading and header, etc.)
4-6 college-level research sources (no more, no less)
These must be cited in-text and on the Works Cited page
At least 2 must be scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles from MSJC databases
The remaining sources can be popular but must be appropriate for the college level (no dictionary, encyclopedia, or highly commercial texts)
In-text citations and a Works Cited entry for the story you are analyzing (this does not count toward your required number of research sources)
Must be submitted as a Word Doc on Canvas by the due date

I have the first 10 pages written but need help with the rest. I have my own sources that I’ve found as well that I’ll attach as well as an outline. If you could go through and look at the whole paper and make it one voice that would be great. I’m using the Romances of Arthur book. I’m looking how at how different the worlds shift Sir Gawain’s perspective as far as it being heternormative to more feminine. 

You need to write a 400-word summary of the article, but first, you have to create a reverse outline of the article and then write the summary based on the outline. I will provide you with the outline template and a sample to show how you need to process and write the summary. summary must be: 
Introductory Paragraph
Your introduction must include the following three things. (They can be combined into complex sentences):
One sentence introducing the title, author, date, and source of the article.
One sentence statement of the topic or question being addressed.
One or two sentences summarizing the author’s main message. (Overall, what does the article say?)
Body Paragraphs
Develop your summary in short paragraphs. Generally, you should use one short paragraph for each of the key points, but these can be combined.
For each paragraph on a key point:
Describe the content of the point.
Indicate its function in the article as a whole.
Use language of attribution.
Use transitions between points to capture the logical development of the author’s discussion.
Conclusion
Write a short closing paragraph that reinforces the significance of the article.
Why is this article important?
How does it add to our knowledge of the topic?

please avoid using writings with love stories, killings, dying,christians, church, antisemititsm, valentines day, churches, etcetera…
thank you

I wanted to talk about the controversy with the book, “the feminine mystique” by Betty Friedan. I love reading and I’ve already starting reading about it, It questioned typical gender norms and expectations for women in mid-20th century America. At the time, it was widely believed that women had to be happy with being spouses and mothers. Pursuing an education or a job was just something that woman shouldnt have been going after because it was not really normal. However, the book challenged this viewpoint. It also challenged how women were taught to perceive themselves, as well as how society defined their duties and values. At the time of publication, the book’s concepts and arguments became somewhat controversial. A lot of people reacted negatively to it. This book sparked a nationwide debate about women’s rights and contributed to the beginning of the contemporary feminist movement.
********LOOK AT PDF UPLOADED FOR MORE IN DEPTH INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE******

Write an Argumentative Research Essay Assemble data in a short skeletal outline, which must be submitted, with the essay, along with a separate Works Cited page, listing between 7-10 sources.
Write the thesis, underline keywords, then support it in an essay of about 1500- 1700 words. 

completeFOUR entries/responses in your journal. Your entries should focus on evidence/passages from the text that respond to FOUR of the following questions:
How do societal divisions affect communities?
Do social class and wealth affect happiness?
How do cliques and gangs affect our worldview?
What makes up a person’s identity?
What are the limitations of friendship?
What does our response to conflict teach us about ourselves?
What makes a person powerful or powerless?
Be sure to include the page/paragraph #s where the quote/passage you are responding to is located. 
Look for quotes/passages that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or puzzling, and most importantly RELEVANT. 
Your responses should be specific and detailed (ONE PARAGRAPH minimum– that’s 5-10 sentences). You can write as much as you want for each entry. 

85/100  that’s 85%
Based on the rubric, here’s how grader Ashley Ebbs arrived at your score.
Rubric Category Points Percentage Result
Argument Development and Support (40 points) 30.0 40% Acceptable (75%) – The argument is not fully developed; while it is supported by some relevant details, including rhetorical appeals and accurately cited direct quotations and paraphrasing, some aspects of the argument are neglected.
Ashley added: The thesis statement is arguable, but most of the body of the essay is merely informative. How might you revise the body paragraphs so that they match the tone of the thesis and persuade the reader of the steps/actions that need to be taken on this issue?
Research (30 points) 30.0 30% Advanced (100%) – Cites all outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources smoothly and effectively through some direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.
Ashley added: The essay introduces and contextualizes all the sources. All are credible and integrated through a variety of citation techniques.
Organization (15 points) 12.8 15% Proficient (85%) – Includes all of the required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with background information, an argumentative thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement.
Ashley added: All required sections/components are present, but there could be more transitions between paragraphs and ideas.
Style (5 points) 3.8 5% Acceptable (75%) – Demonstrates generally effective style choices, but may include occasional redundancies, imprecise language, poor word choice, and/or repetitive sentence structures.
Ashley added: The word choices and sentence structures are clear and varied, and how might you work on adopting a more argumentative tone in your revision?
Conventions (5 points) 4.3 5% Proficient (85%) – There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.
Ashley added: The writing is mostly free from distracting errors in grammar, punctuation, and formatting.
Reflection (5 points) 3.8 5% Acceptable (75%) – Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight; primarily follows response length guidelines.
Ashley added: The reflection responses are somewhat thorough and contain a couple concrete details about your drafting process.
FEEDBACK:
You have a good start here! As you make revisions, I recommend taking a more argumentative stance throughout and persuade the reader of the steps/actions that need to be taken on this issue. Also, the organization of your body paragraphs should follow the flow of the points shared in the thesis statement. There are a few repetitive sentence structures throughout, try varying those. Please review the touchstone instructions, rubric, and comments to help as you revie. 
Best,
Ashley
Revise an Argumentative Research Essay
ASSIGNMENT: Review the rubric feedback you received on your Touchstone 3.2 draft to enhance your writing. You will then submit a revision of your Touchstone 3.2 draft that reflects the evaluator’s feedback, making all necessary changes to the idea development, organization, style, and conventions.
A. Final Draft Guidelines
DIRECTIONS: Refer to the list below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines. Refer to the Sample Touchstone for additional guidance on structure, formatting, and citation.
1. Editing and Revising
❒ Have you significantly revised the essay by adjusting areas like organization, focus, and clarity?
❒ Have you made comprehensive edits to word choice, sentence variety, and style?
❒ Have your edits and revisions addressed all the feedback provided by your evaluator?
2. Cohesion and Source Integration
❒ Is the information presented in a logical order that is easy for the reader to follow?
❒ Have you included smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs?
❒ Have you introduced your sources clearly and in a way that demonstrates their validity to the reader? Are your sources formatted correctly following APA style?
3. Conventions and Proofreading
❒ Have you double-checked for correct formatting, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization?
❒ Have you ensured that any cited material is represented accurately and with page/paragraph numbers?
4. Reflection
❒ Have you displayed a clear understanding of the revision process?
❒ Have you answered all reflection questions including specific and concrete examples that provide thoughtful insight in all responses?
❒ Are your answers included on a separate page below the composition?
B. Reflection Questions
DIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.
How much time did you spend revising your draft? What revision strategies did you use, and which worked best for you? (2-3 sentences)
List three concrete revisions that you made and explain how you made them. What problem did you fix with each of these revisions? Issues may be unity, cohesion, rhetorical appeals, content, or any other areas on which you received constructive feedback. (4-5 sentences)
What did you learn about your writing process or yourself as a writer? How has your understanding of the research process changed as a result of taking this course? (2-3 sentences)
C. Rubric
Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)
Revising (40 points)
Demonstrate comprehensive “re-visioning” of the composition.
There is evidence of comprehensive re-visioning of the draft composition, including adjustments to organization, focus, clarity, and/or unity where needed or appropriate. There is evidence of significant re-visioning of the draft composition, including adjustments to organization, focus, clarity, and/or unity where needed or appropriate. There is evidence of some re-visioning of the draft composition, including adjustments to organization, focus, clarity, and/or unity where needed or appropriate; however, a few areas need some additional revision. There is little evidence of re-visioning of the draft composition, such that multiple areas in need of changes were unaltered. Revisions are absent or did not address the issues in the essay.
Editing (40 points)
Demonstrate comprehensive sentence-level edits throughout the composition.
There is evidence of comprehensive edits to the draft composition, including adjustments to word choice, sentence completeness, sentence variety, and/or style where needed or appropriate. There is evidence of substantial edits to the draft composition, including adjustments to word choice, sentence completeness, sentence variety, and/or style where needed or appropriate. There is evidence of some edits to the draft composition, including adjustments to word choice, sentence completeness, sentence variety, and/or style where needed/appropriate; however, some issues were overlooked. There is little evidence of edits made to the draft composition, such that many errors remain. Edits are absent or did not address the issues in the essay.
Source Integration (20 points)
Integrate source material appropriately and effectively.
Introduces sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Primarily introduces sources effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Introduces some sources effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary, but more variety could be used. Relies too heavily on one method of source integration (direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary); does not thoughtfully apply source integration techniques. Shows no attempt to integrate source material into the composition or relies on quoted source material for over half of the composition.
Cohesion (20 points)
Establish and maintain a logical flow.
Sequences ideas and paragraphs logically and uses smooth transitions (within and between paragraphs) such that the reader can easily follow the progression of ideas. Sequences ideas and paragraphs logically and uses transitions (within and between paragraphs) such that the reader can easily follow the progression of ideas. Primarily sequences ideas and paragraphs logically and uses sufficient transitions (within and between paragraphs) such that the reader can generally follow the progression of ideas. The progression of ideas is often difficult to follow, due to poor sequencing, ineffective transitions, and/or insufficient transitions. The progression of ideas is consistently difficult to follow, due to poor sequencing and lack of transitions.
Conventions and Proofreading (20 points)
Demonstrate command of standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage.
There are few, if any, negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are some significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are frequent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.
Reflection (10 points)
Answer reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently specific and concrete examples that provide thoughtful insight, following or exceeding response length guidelines. Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; includes multiple specific and concrete examples that provide thoughtful insight, following response length guidelines. Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight; primarily follows response length guidelines. Shows limited reflection; the majority of responses are lacking in detail or insight, with some questions left unanswered or falling short of response length guidelines. No reflection responses are present.
D. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Composition must be 6-8 pages (approximately 1500-2000 words, not including your references or reflection question responses).
Double-space the composition and use one-inch margins.
Use a readable 12-point font.
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment.
Use of generative chatbot artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard) in place of original writing is strictly prohibited for this assignment.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.
Include all of the assignment components in a single file.
Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.
E. Additional Resources
The following resources will be helpful to you as you work on this assignment:
Purdue Online Writing Lab’s APA Formatting and Style Guide
This site includes a comprehensive overview of APA style, as well as individual pages with guidelines for specific citation types.
Frequently Asked Questions About APA Style
This page on the official APA website addresses common questions related to APA formatting. The “References,” “Punctuation,” and “Grammar and Writing Style” sections will be the most useful to your work in this course.
APA Style: Quick Answers—References
This page on the official APA Style website provides numerous examples of reference list formatting for various source types.