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ENG 1A

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IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM

(SCHEDULED FOR 12/11/18)

           For the in-class final exam, you just need to answer the questions below (one paragraph per question).  In this case, you will be writing about a documentary called Peculiar Pets.  Please answer the following questions:

What motivates these owners to handle and care for their wild creatures?  Do they simply have a special bond with their animals, or is there some deeper underlying issue that drives them to raise a wild animal?  Why?

Which of the owners has the best relationship with their animal?  Why?  If you had to take care of one of the animals featured on the show, which animal would you choose?  Why?

Why do you think this show decided to film these owners?  Are we supposed to admire these people and their relationships to their     animals, or is the show inviting us to stare at the owners and their animals as if they are a freak show?  In other words, is this show a celebration of unique individuals?  Why or why not?

          You do not have to worry about an introduction or conclusion.  I am only interested in how well you analyze.  For this assignment, you have to write at least three paragraphs (at least one paragraph per set of questions) that explain your response to the questions above.  Make sure you defend your response with specific reasons (what the interviewee says or certain scenes).  There is one more important requirement: you cannot bring anything pre-written (no full sentences or paragraphs).  I want you to write your response during the in-class final.

          Please note: the documentary contains brief scenes showing owners preparing small animal carcasses to feed their wild pets such as rodents, rabbit fetuses, and chicks.  In addition, there are a few brief scenes that show pictures of a bleeding finger with deep cuts.  If you are uncomfortable watching these images, I can provide an alternate video for you to watch and write about in class.  If you do choose to write about the alternate class, I will ask you come to class at a later time because I will mostly like replay Peculiar Pets, which is about 45 minutes long, at the beginning of the scheduled in-class final exam.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A blue examination book will be required. You can buy one at the bookstore or any of the snack shops on campus.   You can either print or use cursive, but your assignment must be legible.  Please be aware that this essay must be hand-written.

Please write your name, the date, English 1A, and my name on the cover of the blue book.

Please double space as you write your three paragraphs.

 I will show the episode at least one or two times on the day of this in-class final.

This assignment is scheduled for Tuesday, 12/11.  Please note the meeting times for each class.

For the class that starts at 4:30 pm, the final exam is scheduled from 4:30 to 7:00 pm.

For the class that starts at 6:45 pm, the final exam is scheduled from 7:30 to 10:00 pm.

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ESSAY #5: FORMULATING YOUR OWN ARGUMENT

(IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR 12/4/18)

           For this in-class essay, you will be formulating and defending your own argument. Instead of coming up with your own topic, you will have to write about the following topic…

Higher Education: a four-year degree seems to mean nothing when compared to the real world.  A college degree does not guarantee a steady, well-paid job.  In fact, classes such as Psychology, English Literature, and even Biology have nothing to do with the realities of working, paying the bills, buying a house, and retiring with enough money to spare.  Why should people learn and study such topics? ARGUE OTHERWISE.  Make a convincing argument explaining why a college education is important.  DO NOT make the clichéd argument about a college degree being a requirement for getting a good job.  What are the intangible benefits of receiving a college education beyond simply getting a job?  What is the value of exploring ideas and developing critical thinking skills, for example?

          The basic requirements are as follows: one introduction, three body paragraphs, and one conclusion.  However, you do not have to be so formal in this essay assignment. Play with language and tone, even in your intro and conclusion.  You can use “I”, “you”, or “we” in this assignment.  Nonetheless, you need to incorporate several rhetorical strategies in your body paragraphs.  Here are the rhetorical issues that you need to consider and utilize:

Evidence: you should use the reading material that I have provided in preparation for this in-class essay.  Therefore, you should quote from William Bowen’s essay, “Increasing the Value of a Liberal Education.”  For example, you can quote his personal experience (eyewitness testimony) as a grad student, or you can quote Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, and use his personal story (eyewitness testimony) as evidence.  You can also quote any of the experts such as Woodie Flowers and use his words as expert testimony.  The goal here is to find strong evidence in the reading material and build a strong appeal off of that evidence.

Appeal: you should develop both logical (logos) and ethical (ethos) appeal.  Please keep in mind that logical appeal is a series of statements that lead the reader (your teacher in this case) to a logical conclusion.  Thus, you can first quote Bowen, and then build a series of statements that will lead me to the conclusion that the intangible value of higher education makes sense.  When using ethical appeal, you must convince me that you promote the right ethics and that you are the moral authority.  In other words, you need to establish your credibility, which should make your argument the ethical choice.  For instance, could you build a strong ethos off of Jeff Bezo’s eyewitness testimony?

Language: you should employ both connotative and denotative language.  With denotative language, you need to give me a specific and literal definition.  For example, how do you define post-secondary education?  What is a four-year university as opposed to a community college?  With connotative language, you need to figure out what metaphors you want to create.  How will your metaphorical language (connotative language) help you explain your argument?

Tone: you should decide what sort of tone you want to establish in your argument.  You can create a specific attitude in your writing (sarcastic, friendly, authoritative, etc.).  In addition, you can be aggressive in your tone, or you can be casual and conversational. Whatever you do, your tone must enhance and aid your argument.

Please be aware that the purpose of this assignment is to combine all of the rhetorical tool (evidence, appeal, language, and tone) to create a cohesive argument.

          Even though this is an in-class assignment, you can bring in an outline or notes in preparation for your essay, but you must attach them to your essay before turning it in.  You cannot have anything pre-written. You must write your essay during the class session.  Additionally, you cannot write on a laptop, so your essay must be hand-written. 

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Please bring in college-ruled lined paper; a blue examination book is not necessary.  I will only accept black or blue ink.  You can either print or write in cursive as long as your writing is legible. Please be aware that this essay must be hand-written.

Please write your name, my name, English 1A, and the date in the upper left-hand corner of your first page.

There is no specific required length, but you must write at least five paragraphs (intro, three body paragraphs, and conclusion) for this assignment.

You can bring in any notes or outlines to class, but you must attach them to the essay before turning anything in.  You cannot have your essay already written before the scheduled in-class assignment.  If you have anything that looks too similar to paragraphs or a complete essay, you will receive a failing grade (0%).  In addition to your notes and/or outline, you should bring copies of the reading material that I have provided specifically for this in-class essay assignment.

This essay is scheduled for Tuesday, 12/4.  You will have the entire class period to complete this essay.  Please note: if you do not show up on Tuesday, 12/4, you will not be allowed to write your in-class essay on another re-scheduled date unless you provide a written excuse such as a doctor’s note.

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THE RESEARCH PAPER

(DUE 12/11/18)

Your last major writing assignment of this semester will be your research paper. Please keep in mind that your paper has to be an argumentative paper. This means that you have to formulate an argument that takes a specific stance on a controversial subject.  This argument should be clearly stated in your thesis statement.  The body of your essay should be devoted to bolstering and defending your thesis statement, and the outside sources that you will be using should be strong evidence that supports and defends your argument or thesis statement.

Outside Sources:

Like the other essays, you will be writing an academic essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion, but because this is a research paper, you will need to incorporate several outside sources (books, magazines, websites, etc.) into your paper.  This means that you need to quote or paraphrase certain passages from your sources and write them into your body paragraphs. Your sources will be your evidence that will defend your argument (thesis statement).  As with any paper using outside sources, you will have to cite every source using the MLA (Modern Language Association) format.  I will go into MLA citation in detail during class. In the case of the research paper for this class, you will be required to cite from at least fiveoutside sources. All of your sources can be electronic sources as long as they are credible sources that provide accurate information.  At least two of your sources must be researched-based, articles pubished in a peer-reviewed journal.  I STRONGLY encourage you to get all of your outside sources from the Mt. SAC library databases, but if you have to widen your search, you must make sure that your sources are reliable and trustworthy.  Please be aware that I will take off 1% to 2% points off your grade for the research paper for every weak source that is not credible.  

You will also be required to make citations in the text of your body paragraphs as well as attach a “Works Cited” page at the end of your paper. There is one more thing that I want to mention: I want to strongly discourage you from using any religious texts such as the Bible or the Tibetan Book of the Dead.  That holy book is that religion’s belief system and each religion is going to be slightly different.

Your textbook has a lot of information about paraphrasing, using direct quotes, and formulating your “Works Cited” page.  When it comes to in-text citation, I PREFER direct quotes because there is no confusion about what is an outside quote and what is your own writing.  Paraphrasing is acceptable, but I STRONGLY DISLIKE summarizing outside sources; the delineation between what are outside sources and what are your own words is too hazy and confusion in regards to summarizing.  The rule of thumb regarding in-text citation is ALWAYS cite the source when in doubt.

There is one more important thing to keep in mind.  I do not like long quotes (outside sources). I consider long quotes to be quotes that are longer than four or five lines.  If you do use long quotes, then you must contextualize and/or explain everything in that quote.  I find that long quotes fill up space rather than help make a convincing argument.

If you have any questions about MLA citation format, you can always check the rules at the library, which has the latest books on MLA formatting. I will always try to help you if you have any questions regarding MLA citation, but the library has information about all kinds of formatting and citation rules.

Rhetorical Strategies:

You will be using outside sources to defend your argument, but you will also have to use certain types of rhetoric in your paper.  You should not assume that your outside sources will be enough to prove your argument.  You need to build rhetorical strategies around your sources.  Listed below are some of the rhetorical issues that you need to address in your essay.

Evidence:

You need to defend your argument with convincing evidence, which will come from your outside sources.  Keep in mind the various types of evidence:\

Expert Testimony

Eyewitness Testimony

Numerical Data (statistics, polls, etc.)

Research Data (for example, conclusions made from scientific and academic studies)

Rhetorical Style:

 Appeal: you need to figure out what sort of appeal to use in your paper and how you will build this appeal off of the evidence you present. Will you be incorporating a logical or ethical appeal around your sources, or will you use both? How can you form a strong appeal along with your evidence?  I will discourage you from using emotional appeal since it is very hard to pull off in a research paper.

Language: even though this is an academic paper where you still have to be somewhat formal, you still have room to incorporate denotative or connotative language. You have to consider whether you want to be specific and precise (denotative) or poetic and ambiguous (connotative).  If you are so inclined, you can use both types of language just as long as your word choice helps support your argument.

Tone of voice: keep in mind that you still have to write a formal academic essay (3rd Person POV only).  However, you can also incorporate a tone.  If you feel so inclined, you can leave out all emotion in your essay, but if you want to, you can establish a subtle emotional tone (sarcasm and so forth) just as long as your tone of voice does not get in the way of the formality of your paper.

Please be aware that you cannot assume that your evidence will speak for you.  You must build a strong appeal (logical or ethical) off of the evidence that you present, and don’t forget connotative and denotative language as well as tone.

Requirements for the Research Paper:

The essay must be typed and double-spaced and the font should be no larger than a 12 point font.  The font must be “Times New Roman”, and please be aware that this essay must be in 3rd Person POV only.

The research paper should be anywhere from seven to ten pages. However, this requirement does not include the “Works Cited” page.  For example if you meet the minimum (seven pages), then you must add a “Works Cited” page for a total of eight pages.  The minimum length requirement will be strictly enforced. If you turn in something less than seven full pages of writing (not including the “Works Cited” page), at least 3% points will be deducted from your grade.

 You must use at least five outside sources for your paper.  Please follow MLA citation rules.  This includes both in-text citation (body paragraphs) and “Works Cited” page.

Please follow MLA formatting rules when typing your Name, my Name, the course number, and so forth on your paper.  Use the sample research papers as models.

THIS RESEARCH PAPER WILL BE DUE TUESDAY, 12/11.  I WILL ACCEPT LATE RESEARCH PAPERS UNTIL FRIDAY, 12/14/18 (VIA EMAIL), BUT I WILL DEDUCT AT LEAST 5% POINTS FROM THE FINAL GRADE THAT THE LATE RESEARCH PAPER RECEIVES.

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HOMEWORK (DUE 11/20):

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LAST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: YOUR “WORKS CITED” LIST OF AT LEAST 5 SOURCES AND HARD COPIES OF 3 SOURCES FROM YOUR “WORKS CITED” LIST

(DUE 11/20/18)

Please note: the outside sources on your “Works Cited” list NEEDS to be the ones that you will actually use for your research paper.

          For this assignment, you will be required to type up your “Works Cited” list and bring it to class.  Your “Works Cited” list must contain at least five outside sources.  In addition, you will have to print out at least three outside sources from your “Works Cited” list, and bring them to class on Tuesday, 11/20/18.  One of these sources must be a research article published from a peer-reviewed journal, and the two others can be any article published in a magazine or newspaper.  The only other requirement is that your sources must come from online databases that the Mt. SAC library website offers.  Furthermore, I would like you to write down the name of the database or databases from which your two sources have come from on each printed copy of your outside source.

          What I would like to do this Tuesday is have you to find the best evidence (expert testimony, eyewitness testimony, research data, or numerical data) that would help prove your thesis statement.  I am interested in what you choose to use as evidence and what sort of appeal (logos or ethos) you will build off of your evidence taken from your outside sources.

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Class will be cancelled today (11/8/18).

Unfortunately, I will not make it to class today.  Therefore, class is cancelled.  I will see you this coming Tuesday, 11/13.  Please note, I have posted the prompt for Essay #4, which will be due, Thursday, 11/15.  Please note: you will only be required to write four paragraphs as outlined in the prompt.  In addition, please note the topics that I will not accept for your research paper.  Even though this paper is due Thursday, 11/15, I would like you to start working on what topic you want to write for your research paper.  

We will go over the sample research papers this coming Tuesday, 11/13.  I will see you then.

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ESSAY #4: CHOOSING A TOPIC FOR YOUR RESEARCH PAPER

(DUE 11/15/18)

What is a Research Paper?

           A research paper is simply an essay that uses outside sources (i.e. books, magazine articles, Internet articles, etc.) as supporting evidence (which will be placed in the body of the paper) for the essay's thesis.  Instead of analyzing a piece of writing such as Adam Haslett’s “Notes to My Biographer” or Malcolm Gladwell’s excerpt from his book, Blink, you will be analyzing a specific topic, and your outside sources will be used to support your thesis.

           In short, this will be an argumentative paper.  You will take a position on some sort of controversial topic, and your position will be the basis for your thesis.  Naturally, you will look for and research outside sources to build upon your thesis.

Choosing a Topic

           Where do you start?  There are several requirements in choosing a topic for your research paper. The topic should contain some sort of controversy.  It is a good idea to select a topic that has opposing viewpoints.  As stated above, the controversy will guide you in formulating your thesis.  Your topic should also be rather specific.  If your topic is too broad, it will be difficult to formulate a strong thesis, and you will have too many outside sources to choose from.  If your topic is too narrow, you may have a difficult time finding any good outside sources, and you may run out of things to say before you finish your paper.  Make sure you find something that interests you; your research paper will be much easier to write if you find an interesting or intriguing topic.

           For example, suppose you want to write about violence.  At this point you need to start narrowing down the topic.  Violence covers a whole range of issues and controversies.  What about domestic violence?  This is a specific topic, but it does not really encourage opposing viewpoints.  After all...who would be for domestic violence?  You now need to choose another specific controversy.

           What about the current policies in many universities about “trigger” warnings?  Should there be consideration for those students who may read or watch material with violent and/or sexual content that can “trigger” their trauma?  Should instructors and administrators carefully screen all materials used in the classroom in order not to “trigger” or offend any student?  On the other hand, are “trigger” warnings a new form of censorship?  Will instructors and administrators censor themselves and their material in order not to offend or “trigger” anyone?  With these questions in mind, a rough thesis can be formed.  For instance…while the intent about using “trigger” warnings may be noble, the need to warn students about potentially offensive material in the classroom will only encourage instructors to censor themselves, and shielding students from unpleasant subject matter and issues will not prepare them for the world outside academia; nor will such policies help foster critical thinking skills that students can apply when confronted with any ugliness the world throws at them.

           I cannot emphasize enough that you should choose a topic that interests you. If you choose something that seems really boring to you, I will see that boredom reflected in your paper.  Keep in mind that there is a whole world of controversial subjects that you can choose from.  Do not panic: I will help you narrow down your focus for your research paper.

           Even though you will have to choose a topic, there are certain restrictions.  I will not accept the following topics for the research paper: abortion, death penalty, gun control, euthanasia/assisted suicide, gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana, video games and violence, lowering the drinking age to 18, animal testing, public school uniforms, and child beauty pageants.  Unfortunately, these topics are clichés, and I am too familiar with these arguments already.  

Checklist for Choosing Your Research Paper

 When choosing your topic, you should brainstorm a small number of topics to consider for your paper.

Use the clustering exercise and list details and ideas under each topic.

Take the information you've written down on your clustering exercise and select a topic and stance regarding that topic.

Make sure that your potential topic has a specific pro/con controversy.  For example, child abuse may sound controversial, but who really is “pro” child abuse?

Once you've selected your topic, try to create a thesis.  

What You Are Going to Write in Your Research Paper Topic Proposal

           The good news is that you do not have to write a traditional essay with an introduction, a body, and so forth.  However, the main point of this assignment is that you must convince me that you have a solid topic for a research paper.  Essentially, you will only have to write four paragraphs.  

          For the first paragraph, you must explain what the topic is.  For instance, if you are going to write about violent racial profiling, you must explain what it is (yes, you can even provide specific examples).  You then must also explain the controversy surrounding the topic.  Because you will be doing some preliminary research, you should quote from an outside source (an online article from the database CQ Researcher, for example).  Yes, you will be required to follow MLA citation rules.  I will go over MLA in class before you turn in your proposal.  The second paragraph should the “pro” side of the issue.  Let’s go back to the trigger example.  This means that you need to explain how and why certain people believe that trigger warnings will be beneficial to students and faculty and respects those who have suffered from trauma.  Because the second paragraph is all about the “pro” side, the third paragraph must explain the “con” side of the topic (e.g. how trigger warnings is censorship in disguise and hurts academic freedoms).  The fourth and final paragraph will have to explain your position on this topic (e.g. do you believe that trigger warnings are a necessary evil in order to protect those who are sensitive to any content that might traumatize them?).  What position are you going to argue for and why?  Yes, you can refer to yourself for this assignment.

Basic Requirements

Even though this is a proposal, your paper still has to be typed and double-spaced using a 12 point font.  Remember: I prefer “Times New Roman”.  Your paper must be at least two pages.  

Keep in mind that you have to convince me that you have an interesting and solid topic for your upcoming research paper. In addition to giving you a grade for this proposal, I will either approve of your topic or I will ask you to change/revise your topic.  If you have to choose another topic, you will not be required to write a proposal.  You just need to run it by me so that I can approve it or ask you to come up with another topic.

Please type your name, the date, English 1A, and my name in the upper left-hand corner of the essay.

Please title your proposal, and please be creative.  “Essay #4” is not very interesting.

The final (and only draft) of this assignment is due Thursday, 11/15.  Please be aware that I will accept late papers.  However, I will deduct 2% on top of the final grade that this assignment receives.

A LIST OF SUGGESTED TOPICS

           I encourage you to research and find a topic for your research paper that you find interesting.  However, if you are struggling to find a topic for your research paper, you can consider choosing one of the topics below.

Hallucinogenic Substances: there is a growing movement that promotes hallucinogens such as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide or LSD (“LSD”) as a better alternative to traditional medicine to treat mental illnesses. When done right, micro-doses of hallucinogens help control diseases such as depression better than pharmaceutical medication, according to proponents.  On the other hand, hallucinogens are still dangerous, and there is a reason why they are considered illegal substances.  In addition, they can produce “bad trips” if the dose is too high, which can be very traumatic for those who ingest such hallucinogens.

Fasting Diets to Help People Recover from Illnesses: recently, there have been breakthroughs in medical research into how the body can repair itself through fasting.  Certain research has suggested that periodic fasting can help patients battling cancer, for example, particularly if their bodies have been ravaged by chemotherapy.  On the other hand, fasting, when done incorrectly, can be dangerous, particularly for patients battling diseases.  There is not enough evidence, and there might be research that suggest that fasting diets do not help and can do more harm than good.

Big Game Hunting: wild animal conservation and poaching has become such a big problem that certain governments are turning to big game hunting as a solution to combat poachers and save animals on the brink of extinction.  By charging big game hunters incredibly high fees to hunt a certain number of wild animals, even a controlled number of older endangered ones, governments can then devote these resources to wildlife management and fighting illegal poaching. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that this system will work, particularly when illegal poaching in involved, and hunting animals is too unethical that the cons outweigh the pros of big game hunting.

Nuclear Power: should countries build and utilize more nuclear power plants because nuclear energy is the cheapest power source that emits virtually no greenhouse gases and because green power such as wind or solar cannot be scaled up to power millions of homes and businesses? On the other hand, is the nuclear waste too toxic and is the danger of a meltdown (think Chernobyl and Fukushima) too great to consider nuclear power?

Social Media Corporations and Internet Censorship: because of the rise of trolls and cyberbullying, should there be some sort of regulation of what is posted on social media sites and such?  Is it the responsibility of companies such as Facebook to monitor and censor any posts that are threatening or dangerous (such as allowing Holocaust deniers to spread their beliefs)?  People should be allowed to enjoy the internet without the fear of harassment, so sometimes kicking out and blocking offensive material on certain sites is a good thing in the long run.  However, does such censorship violate the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution? If Facebook decides to censor alt-right posts, what will stop them from censoring other ones?

The Supreme Court and Term Limits: currently, appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States are lifetime appointments, and there are no term limits.  However, some scholars argue that there needs to be some reform in the Supreme Court because this branch of the government has also been infected by the partisan divide. One solution would be to impose term limits on Supreme Court appointments.  One the other hand, many argue that to disrupt the Supreme Court with term limits would be unnecessary, even detrimental the governmental system. Traditionally, the supreme court always stays out of partisan politics and simply apply Constitutional law to guide their rulings.

Criminal Justice Reform: should state and federal legal entities get rid of mandatory minimums and decriminalize nonviolent drug possession?  Getting rid of such things can relieve the pressure from an overflowing population in prisons and may very well likely prevent those from becoming career criminals that get re-arrested and return habitually to prison.  On the other hand, will drugs become too available and will the United States see several drug epidemics such as the opioid epidemic if we reform the justice system too much?  Do mandatory minimums and tough prosecution of drug offenders really work?

Illegal Immigration Reform: should those who came to the United States illegally be granted a pathway to citizenship if these illegal aliens can prove that they have no criminal record and have contributed to their communities?  This country is a nation of immigrants and even illegal immigrants contribute to this nation.  They often fulfill job occupations that no citizen is willing to take yet are vital to the economy.  On the other hand, such individuals have come here illegally, which is not fair to those who come here through legal avenues.  By their very illegal status, they do not pay taxes or otherwise contribute to this country.

Participation Trophies: should children receive participation trophies even if they did not win or come in the top three winning positions? Should coaches, educators, and parents try to foster children’s self-esteem?  On the other hand, does giving out participation trophies encourage a lack of motivation in children, and does it teach them that they don’t have to work hard for a reward?

Trigger Warnings, Microaggression, and Academic Freedom in Higher Education: recently, many institutions of higher education have implemented policies where any topic, classroom material, and event can be cancelled or censored if they “trigger” anyone’s trauma.  In a world where people are bitterly divided by class, race, gender, sexual orientation, and so forth, these institutions strive to create safe places for those who has suffered from discrimination.  Even statements, classroom material, and events that unintentionally communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages {“Microaggressions: More Than Just Race”), particularly in context of race, gender, sexual orientation and so forth should be subject to censorship or some disciplinary action.  On the other hand, students, faculty, and researchers should have the academic freedom to explore all ideas, even those that make others upset or uncomfortable. Furthermore, shielding people from things that make them uncomfortable will hurt not only them but society as a whole because a healthy democracy is dependent on individuals who can tolerate a free market of ideas, even controversies.

  Works Cited

“LSD.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/LSD. Accessed 8 Nov. 2018.

Wing Sue, Derald. “Microaggressions: More Than Just Race,” Psychology Today, 17 Nov. 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race.  Accessed 8 Nov. 2018.

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HOMEWORK (DUE 11/8/18):

Please read the sample research paper, “Doping Done Right,” and answer the questions on the study guide. 

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STUDY GUIDE FOR “DOPING DONE RIGHT”

          Please read the sample paper and answer the questions below. Furthermore, please be aware that your teacher is very dumb.  She doesn’t understand short and vague answers.

 1.      What is a Performance Enhancing Drug (PED), according to the research paper? In other words, how does the paper define this topic? What’s the research paper’s thesis?

2.      The first half of the paper presents a logical defense of the thesis. Please identify what you think is the strongest body paragraph that uses logos and explain how it works using the two-question test. What sort of evidence does the paragraph provide, and does it help establish the factual and truthful nature of the logic? What sort of relationship does the paragraph establish, and what is logical conclusion?

3.      The second half of the paper presents an ethical defense of the thesis. Please identify what you think is the strongest body paragraph that uses ethos and explain how it works. What sort of evidence does the paragraph provide, and how does it help establish the author as the ethical one? What sort of values and ethics does the paragraph embrace and promote, and how does it support the paper’s thesis?

4.      Please find and cite two examples of connotative language in the paper. What are the connotative meanings that the examples convey, and how do they tie back to the paper’s thesis? What sort tone does the paper establish, and how does it affect the paper?

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HOMEWORK (DUE 11/6):

Please read “From The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite” by David A. Kessler, MD (pages 493-503 in Real Questions) and answer questions 1-4 listed under “Questions for Critical Reading” (503-504).

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ESSAY #3: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

(IN-CLASS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR 11/1/18)

          You will be writing a rhetorical analysis one of the essays that we have discussed in class.  Please choose one of the following:

An excerpt from Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

An excerpt from Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America by Barbara Ehrenreich

         Here’s what I’m looking for in this essay: what is the author's main thesis or argument? What rhetorical strategies does the author use?  Why does the author use these strategies?  Essentially, your thesis statement has to state the author's thesis, and what types of rhetoric he or she uses and why. Please keep in mind that your analysis should be based on:

Language: denotative and/or connotative

Tone

Logos and ethos

         Like the previous essay, this essay is a text-based analysis, so you will have to quote from either Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich's excerpt and then explain how your quotes support your analysis of Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich's rhetoric.  Essentially, you need to explain how the rhetoric operates and the reasoning behind the author's strategy in utilizing these kinds of rhetoric.  Please do not summarize any of your quotes.  I don’t want to know what happens in the essay; I want to know how the author’s rhetoric operates and why.  Furthermore, this assignment cannot be about whether or not you agree with the author's thesis.  You simply have to show how you understand the author's rhetoric and what is the strategy behind this rhetoric.

          Since this is an academic paper, you need to structure your paper accordingly: introduction, at least four body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Because you are writing at a college level, do not refer to yourself in your paper (I think, I believe, etc.); you should not use the general “we” or “you” as well.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

 Please bring in college-ruled lined paper; a blue examination book is not necessary.  I will only accept black or blue ink.  You can either print or write in cursive as long as your writing is legible. Please be aware that this essay must be hand-written.

Please write your name, my name, English 1A, and the date in the upper left-hand corner of your first page.

There is no specific required length, but you must write at least six paragraphs for this assignment.

You will be allowed to use your textbook or copy of either Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich's essay, this prompt, the sample paper, any notes and/or outline during this in-class essay assignment. However, cell phone use will not be allowed.  I will provide dictionaries if you need to use them.  

You can bring in any notes or outlines to class, but you must attach them to the essay before turning anything in.  You cannot have your essay already written before the scheduled in-class assignment. If you have anything that looks too similar to paragraphs or a complete essay, you will receive a failing grade (0%). The only exception to this rule is your thesis statement, which can be fully written out on your outline or notes.

This essay is scheduled for Thursday, 11/1.  You will have the entire class period to complete this in-class assignment. Please note: if you do not show up on Thursday, 11/1, you will not be allowed to write your in-class essay on another re-scheduled date unless you provide a written excuse such as a doctor’s note.

ENG 1A

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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: OUTLINE FOR ESSAY #3

           You can either fill out the template below, or you can type up your own outline. However, you cannot have any fully written sentences or paragraphs.  This outline is only a guideline for you to follow as you write your in-class essay this coming Thursday, 11/1/18.  The only exception I will allow is a fully written thesis statement explaining what the author’s (either Malcolm Gladwell’s or Barbara Ehrenreich’s) thesis is and what rhetorical tools (language, tone, appeals) that the author (either Gladwell or Ehrenreich) uses and why he or she uses these rhetorical tools. In other words, what is the strategy behind the author’s rhetoric?

I.                    INTRODUCTION

a.       You are free to write whatever you like at the beginning of your intro (please do not copy the sample essay).

    b.      Thesis statement: please explain the author’s (Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich’s) thesis and identify the specific types of rhetoric (language, tone, and appeals) that they use.

       II.                 BODY PARAGRAPH #1

a.       Topic sentence: what kind of rhetoric (logos, ethos, denotative language, etc.) you are going to focus on?

 b.      Find and quote a passage from either Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich’s essay that captures this kind of rhetoric

    c.       Please explain how the specific type of rhetoric operates in the quote and the strategy behind this specific type of rhetoric.  In addition, please tie your explanation back to the thesis statement.

    III.              BODY PARAGRAPH #2

a.       Topic sentence: what kind of rhetoric (logos, ethos, denotative language, etc.) you are going to focus on?

 b.      Find and quote a passage from either Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich’s essay that captures this kind of rhetoric

  c.       Please explain how the rhetoric works or fails in the quote and tie it back to the thesis statement.

     IV.              BODY PARAGRAPH #3

a.       Topic sentence: what kind of rhetoric (logos, ethos, denotative language, etc.) you are going to focus on?

 b.      Find and quote a passage from either Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich’s essay that captures this kind of rhetoric.

       c.       Please explain how the specific type of rhetoric operates in the quote and the strategy behind this specific type of rhetoric. In addition, please tie your explanation back to the thesis statement.

      V.                BODY PARAGRAPH #4

a.       Topic sentence: what kind of rhetoric (logos, ethos, denotative language, etc.) you are going to focus on?

 b.      Find and quote a passage from either Gladwell’s or Ehrenreich’s essay that captures this kind of rhetoric.

     c.       Please explain how the specific type of rhetoric operates in the quote and the strategy behind this specific type of rhetoric. In addition, please tie your explanation back to the thesis statement.

     VI.              CONCLUSION:

a.      Re-state your thesis statement

    b.      Write whatever you want to finish your conclusion

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/30):

ENG 1A

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A DEEPER ANALYSIS OF “FROM BLINK”

1.      Under the sub-heading, “The Dark Side of Thin-Slicing,” Malcolm Gladwell writes about people’s reaction to Warren Harding.  He states that people “didn’t dig below the surface.  The way he looked carried so many powerful connotations that it stopped the normal process of thinking dead in is tracks” (209).  What does the connotative language in this quote mean?  In other words, please explain the connotative meanings in the quote and how they influence Gladwell’s argument.

2.      After explaining the bias towards tall CEOs, Gladwell goes on to state, “It’s because when it comes to even the most important positions, our selection decisions are a good deal less rational than we think. We see a tall person and we swoon” (211). What does the connotative language in this quote mean?  In other words, please explain the connotative meanings in the quote and how they influence Gladwell’s argument.

3.      When writing about the classical music profession before blind auditions, Glad well talks about a famous conductor, and explains, “Celibidache was a conductor from the old school, an imperious and strong-willed man with very definite ideas about how music ought to be played—and about who ought to play music” (215). What does the connotative language in this quote mean?  In other words, please explain the connotative meanings in the quote and how they influence Gladwell’s argument.  In addition, does Gladwell manage to avoid personally attacking the conductor even if his description of the man is less than flattering?  If so, then how does he accomplish that feat?

4.      Please find a quote that captures Gladwell’s ethos, and please explain how his ethos works and how it affects his argument.

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/25):

ENG 1A

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A DEEPER ANALYSIS OF “IS FACEBOOK MAKING US LONELY?”

1.      At the beginning of his article, Stephen Marche mentions, “Some recent estimates put [Facebook’s] potential value at $100 billion, which would make it larger than the global coffee industry—one addiction preparing to surpass the other” (3).  Why does he refer to both Facebook and coffee as addictions?  Is he trying to present a negative connotation here? Why or why not?  What does he mean by “one addiction preparing to surpass the other”?  Please explain the connotative, metaphorical meaning in this example of context and how it influences Marche’s argument.

2.      Marche tries to capture the American spirit by proclaiming, “The price of self-determination and self-reliance has often been loneliness.  But Americans have always been willing to pay that price” (8).  What does he mean?  Does he embrace this American spirit?  Why or why not?  Please explain the connotative, metaphorical meaning in this example of context and how it influences Marche’s argument.

3.      When examining how people utilize Facebook, Marche mentions, “It’s a lonely business, wandering the labyrinths of our friends’ and pseudo-friends’ projected identities, trying to figure out what part of ourselves we ought to project, who will listen, and what they will hear” (11).  What does he mean?  Please explain the connotative, metaphorical meaning in this example of context and how it influences Marche’s argument.

4.      Marche quotes, Jaron Lanier: “I fear that we are beginning to design ourselves to suit digital models of us, and I worry about a leaching of empathy and humanity in the process” (qtd. in Marche 16).  Is Lanier simply criticizing social media, or does he advocate a specific ethos about people’s heavy use of social media? How and why?  If he promotes a certain ethos, then is Marche using Lanier’s words to promote his ethos?  Why or why not?

5.      Let’s suppose that Marche presents his thesis at the end, stating, “The real danger with Facebook is not that it allows us to isolate ourselves, but that by mixing our appetite for isolation with our vanity, it threatens to alter the very nature of solitude” (18).  What is his point?  Please explain the larger argument about solitude that he is making.

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/23):

Please read “Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?” by Stephen Marche (you can find the article on this link: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-us-lonely/308930/), and please answer the questions posted below.

ENG 1A

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STUDY GUIDE FOR “IS FACBOOK MAKING US LONELY?” BY STEPHEN MARCHE

          Please answer the questions below, and please keep in mind that your teacher is really dumb.  Short and vague answers only confuse her.

1.          The article opens up with a story about the death of Yvette Vickers.  What is the point of this story?  What sort of relationships did Vickers have towards the end of her life?

 2.          According to Stephen Marche, the author, what is loneliness?  How is it different from “being alone” (4)?

 3.          What was the study called “Who Uses Facebook” about? What were the results of this study?

 4.          Who is Moira Burke, and according to her, what is “composed communication” and what is “one-click communication” (10)?  What is “passive communication” (10)?

 5.          Who is John Cacioppo?  What does he say about internet communication?  What is his opinion about Facebook creating relationships and loneliness?

 6.          Towards the end of his essay, Marche writes, “Being happy all the time, pretending to be happy, actually attempting to be happy—it’s exhausting” (14-15). What is his point and what does this exhausting endeavor to be happy have to do with Facebook?  

 7.          After reading Marche’s essay, does he actually answer his own question: is Facebook making us lonely?  Why or why not?

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/18):

ENG 1A

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A DEEPER ANALYSIS OF BARBARA EHRENREICH’S CRITIQUE

1.      What is happiness?  How do you define happiness?

2.      Barbara Ehrenreich writes, “Happiness, after all, is generally measured as reported satisfaction with one’s life—a state of mind perhaps more accessible to those who are affluent, who conform to social norms, who suppress judgment in the service of faith, and who are not overly bothered by societal injustice” (382).  Is this a denotative or connotative definition of happiness?  Why does she define happiness this way?  In other words, what is her rhetorical strategy in her definition or explanation of happiness?

3.      Ehrenreich mentions three longitudinal studies that show how positive attitudes and/or thinking create happier, healthier, and longer lives.  How does the author demonstrate the flaws in each study?  How does she use logos to prove her point about happiness and positive psychology, in particular?  Please quote an example of her logos and explain how it works based on the two question test.

4.      Why does she first use logos in her critique of positive psychology and then use ethos in her argument in her critique? What is her strategy in using a logos first and ethos second structure?

5.      After examining the three studies, Ehrenreich then mentions, “Some positive psychologists acknowledge the pressure to feed the media-positive sounding results,” (378) and she also mentions how Suzanne Segerstrom tells her, “To get the Templeton award…you don’t get anything for a null result” (379).  Why does she point out these issues in her essay?  What is so troubling about the relationship between positive psychologists and the media and more importantly positive psychological studies and grant money? What is her strategy in bringing these relationships up?  How does it set up her thesis about positive psychology and politics?

6.      Why does she bring up the history of the Templeton Foundation and its founder, Sir John Templeton?

7.      How does she prove that positive psychology has a specific political agenda?  How does she use ethos to bolster her criticism of positive psychology?  Please quote an example of her ethos and then explain how it operates.  

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/16):

Please read “From Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America” by Barbara Ehrenreich (pages 374-385 in Real Questions) and answer questions 1-4 listed under “Questions for Critical Reading” (pages 385-386).

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/11):

Please read “From Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell (pages 207-219 in the textbook, Real Questions), and please answer questions 1 - 4 only, which are listed under “Questions for Critical Reading” (page 219 in the same textbook).

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The Modelo commercial uses ethos as a branding strategy.  What morals, values, and/or ethics does the company embrace and promote?  Why would a company like Modelo promote these morals, values, and/or ethics as a way of branding itself?

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The Always #LikeAGirl campaign uses ethos as a branding strategy.  What morals, values, and/or ethics does the company embrace and promote?  Why would a company like Always promote these morals, values, and/or ethics as a way of branding itself?