5

Reading & Comprehension

NFG: Read Chp. 36: Arguing and Chp. 62: Arguments.

Argumentative Essay

Here are the instructions for the argumentative essay as described in the syllabus:

Choose ONE of the three writing prompts below and write an essay in which you make a statement of intent regarding a topic and then report on that topic using at least EIGHT secondary sources. 1250-1500 words. Here are the prompts:

[1] The Great Gatsby is set in what has been referred to as the “Jazz Age.” Write a research essay in which you report information on this topic, accounting for Fitzgerald’s novel in your discussion.

[2] The Great Gatsby is a product of American modernism, an early twentieth century literary and artistic movement. Research this topic and write an informative report. In addition to F. Scott Fitzgerald, be sure to discuss some of American modernism’s leading figures.

[3] Another cultural movement that took place during the Jazz Age and the rise of American modernism was the Harlem Renaissance. Research this topic and write an informative report.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Wikipedia, Spark Notes, eNotes, Cliff Notes, About.com, dictionaries, and other encyclopedias are not viable secondary sources.

AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember to revise your writing thoroughly. The argumentative essay will be graded as much on content as on grammar and writing mechanics. I can't stress the vital role of revision enough. A useful way to do so is to read your final product in three different contexts—on-screen, on paper, and aloud to yourself. Many of you will find that you stumble upon errors in one context that you don't detect in another. I use this technique to revise every piece of my writing, ranging from prose poems, short stories and novels to book reviews, literary criticism and theoretical essays. It works! DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON YOUR WORD PROCESSOR TO DETECT AND CORRECT ERRORS FOR YOU. Word processors are not always the good friends they promise to be.

Assignments

Summary: Summarize Chp. 36: Arguing in NFG. Be attentive both to the information in the chapter as well as the chapter's structure. Your first sentence should be a thesis statement in which you succinctly (yet specifically) define what an argumentative essay is. 500-750 words. Submit via Pilot. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.

Argumentative Essay: Complete and submit via Pilot. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m.

Final Meditation: In English 2100, you have been asked to perform considerable research using computer technology and produce three different pieces of writing. Write a 500 word meditation in which you describe the skills you learned and developed in the course. You may also want to explain how your relationship with computer technology has grown or deepened. This meditation should be entirely free of mechanical and grammatical errors, so be sure to both write something thoughtful and revise your writing. Submit via Pilot. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m.