Homework English
Objectives
Complete a practice writing exercise using the steps of the writing process
Describe the elements of an argument
Apply punctuation rules to compose correctly punctuated sentences
Edit sentences to correct improper use of punctuation
Write an effective and grammatically correct essay
Assignment Overview
This assignment requires students to use the steps of the writing process in order to compose an essay analyzing an argumentative image.
Deliverables
An essay (1000-2000 words) containing at least four sources cited according to MLA style. Include the three sources from Assignment 1 and add at least one additional source. All quotations or paraphrases or references from the same website will count as one source, even if they are on different pages.
Follow MLA formatting to list your name, course name, and date on the top left of the first page and your last name and page number in the header on the top right of all pages (explore the Purdue OWL
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website for examples and review the MLA checklist in Step 5).
Identifying information, page numbers, title, and ‘Works Cited’ page(s) are not included in the word count.
Your assignment will be graded according to the Lumerit Course Grading Rubric
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. Please reference this rubric when completing each assignment.
Step 1: Use the image located for Assignment 1
Insert a copy of your image under the title of your essay. Include the source of the image in your “Works Cited” list.
Step 2: Prewrite
Using at least two prewriting techniques (brainstorming, freewriting, focused freewriting, invisible writing, clustering, topic-subtopic planning, outlining, journal writing), explore your reactions to the image. Address the following questions in your prewriting:
Is the message of the image accurate and fair, or is it distorted and biased?
Can you support, refute, or extend the message?
What connections can you draw between this image and other aspects of its context (e.g., cultural references, characteristics of its intended audience)?
Which specific aspects of the image help the image achieve its apparent purpose?
How does the image affect you?
Step 3: Draft
Use the Assignment 1 paragraph as the introduction paragraph for this essay. You should make any recommended changes to this introductory paragraph, based on grader feedback from Assignment 1, then expand your analysis into an essay in which the image is thoroughly analyzed.
Using your prewriting from Step 2, develop a full essay draft that analyzes the image.
Your introduction should describe the image and identify its source. Use MLA style to cite the Web page, print magazine, or other material in which you found the image.
Your thesis should clearly convey your interpretation of the image and your view of what makes the image a powerful argument. Be sure to make changes to your original paragraph written for Assignment 1 based on the feedback you received. You still may need to modify this paragraph for use in this essay, as your focus may have changed based on your research.
Your body paragraphs should include topic sentences that focus on how a specific feature of the image (e.g. lighting, color, etc.) supports your thesis.
Your conclusion should discuss the significance of the image, what it says about our culture, and why it matters.
Step 4: Revise
After you finish your draft, leave it alone for at least a few hours and preferably a full day. Reread your draft. Copy and paste a second version of the draft in the same computer file; in this copy of your draft, make changes that improve the thesis, the topic sentences, and the transitions in your paper. Also, try to mention more details from the image to support your thesis and include more connections between the image and the wider culture to deepen your analysis.
Step 5: Edit
After you finish your draft, leave it alone for at least a few hours and preferably a full day. Copy and paste a third version of the draft and “Works Cited” in the same computer file; in this copy of your draft, make changes that improve:
sentence construction (correct errors related to nouns, pronouns, verbs, modifiers, phrases, and clauses)
word choice (tone, correct words, homophones [their/there/they’re, two/too/to, etc.], etc.)
punctuation use (commas, end marks, colons, semicolons)
mechanics (spelling, abbreviations, italics, capitalization, incorrect spacing between words or at the beginning/end of sentences, etc.)
Strategies that may be helpful in checking for the problems mentioned above:
Read your paper aloud from the last sentence to the first sentence. That is, read the very last sentence of the paper aloud to make sure the sentence sounds right and has all the right parts and punctuation. Now, read the previous sentence. Keep going backward until you reach the paper’s beginning.
Use the “Find” tool in the word processing program to search for marks of punctuation (like commas) so that you can be sure they are used correctly. You can also search for commonly misspelled words and words that can usually be omitted (there is/are, it is, clichés).
Confirm that you have addressed every bullet point in the assignment instructions.
Review the MLA checklist
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to make sure you have formatted your paper correctly.
In particular, make sure that you are consistently using present tense to discuss the articles. Save the final version in a separate document, using the file name specified in the “Descriptions” section above. This version is the one that will be graded for writing quality.
Before submitting your paper, review this video
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about Unplag to ensure that all citations are formatted correctly. Submit your draft to obtain your first Unplag report (this video
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will show you how). Unplag highlights anything that is either plagiarized or incorrectly cited. Correct your draft based on your Unplag report, then run your essay through the Unplag report again. You may obtain up to three Unplag reports. Submit your final draft only when it shows a high originality score
