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E3 Essay Examples for DB #20

Instructions:

Read the two attached essays, and follow the instructions on DB #20. What grade do you think each of these essays earned? See Prof. W.’s rubric below.

Standard Rubric for 1020 Major Assignments

See the syllabus for more information about grades, assessment, and evaluation.

Keep in mind that as we progress throughout the semester, standards and expectations will increase. For example, an A on your first assignment, might be equivalent to a B on your second or third assignments because Prof. W. expects you to improve during the course.

A=Excellent—Keep it up!

The essay is well organized, presents a clear thesis statement, addresses the prompt, demonstrates an understanding of the essay’s purpose, and displays the writer’s attention to revision and editing methods. Writing includes quality sources and integrates them smoothly, including in-text citations and a Works Cited page.

B=Great Job—Focus on the details!

The essay is mostly organized, presents a thesis statement, addresses the prompt, mostly demonstrates an understanding of the essay’s purpose, and displays the writer’s attempts at revision and editing methods. Writing includes quality sources and integrates most of them smoothly, including in-text citations and a mostly accurate Works Cited page.

C=Good start but needs some work!

The essay lacks organization, presents an attempt at a thesis statement, somewhat addresses the prompt, does not entirely display an understanding of the essay’s purpose, and the writer shows little attention to revision and editing. Writing lacks quality sources and fails to integrate them smoothly; in-text citations and a Works Cited page need attention.

D=Inadequate but has room for improvement!

The essay is not organized, might not include a thesis statement, shows little attention to the prompt, does not display an understanding of the essay’s purpose, and the writer shows little-to-no attention to revision and editing. Writing includes quality sources and fails to integrate them smoothly; in-text citations and a Works Cited page require major attention.

F=Failed Assignment

The essay is incomplete and/or does not address the prompt; in-text citations and/or Works Cited page are absent.

Student 1 Example

Professor Williams

English 1020-002

April 19, 2022

Analyzing the State of Modern Sports Journalism

Sports are a multi-billion dollar industry in the modern world. They captivate audiences not just in the United States, but all over the world. Not surprisingly, there is a high demand for media content related to sports. Journalists and broadcasters provide tons of content across a broad array of different outlets including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and podcasts. A major controversy that these journalists face is how to approach, or even discuss at all, issues of social or political matters that occasionally intersect with sports. Sometimes media personalities even feel so passionate about a certain subject that they provide their opinion publicly even if it has nothing to do with sports. Sports journalists of all sorts have an important job, as they are responsible for researching, organizing, and presenting sports news to the general public in an ethical manner; to do this, I must familiarize myself with the common practices of the job and obtain a degree which will equip me with the necessary skills to deal with the rigors of the profession.

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with all sports. My dad originally got me basketball them through watching it with him at home. My grandfather’s favorite sport was baseball, and I quickly grew to love it as well because of him. My uncle, who is also an avid fan, used to take me to Tennessee Titans games and the Senior Bowl regularly; fostering my love for football. Through reading magazines like Sports Illustrated, I gained an appreciation for the art of top notch sports reporting. I always knew I wanted a career related to sports, but never thought of it as a realistic or obtainable goal. However, after several years of working jobs that I was miserable doing, I finally made the decision to start school and work toward realizing my dream job of being a sports journalist. Ideally, I hope to eventually possess the talents of a multifaceted journalist, who is able to work in television, radio, and in print. As an aspiring journalist, I have had to learn the important aspects of the job such as ethics and how to create compelling content. Along with this, I have taken notice of several rewarding aspects of my chosen career field.

There is no shortage of pros to a career in sports journalism. The profession allows for lifelong sports fanatics to be thrust directly into the thick of the most dramatic and important events related to their hobbies and obsession. Sports writers are paid to attend games, press conferences, drafts, and award ceremonies. They conduct interviews with elite players and coaches, then reveal their observations and opinions for the public to consume; not to mention getting paid to do so. It is a career that any hardcore sports fan would love to have. Needless to say, the job also allows for a lot of travel opportunities, usually at an employer’s expense. The journalists of today even have more freedom and influence on the public than in the past, as author Goran Bolin explains, saying, “The growing autonomy of the journalistic field has meant that journalism has expanded and diversified, as well as entered and affected entertainment” (Bolin 345). With all of the platforms currently available for media, it is now easier than ever for a journalist to produce and present content for a large audience that continues to grow. That being said, these benefits do not come without their drawbacks.

As with every career, sports journalism also has its negative aspects. The excessive travel demands can certainly take its toll on most anyone, especially those who have families. The constant of always reporting the most up to date and accurate information can lead to lengthy work days, and even sometimes having to work at late and unconventional hours. Freelance work, though being beneficial and showing a willingness to be proactive, often requires paying out of pocket for equipment, which can become rather expensive. In regards to the liberties of the job and ability to reach a large audience mentioned above, those can also lead to issues for some journalists; due to the fact that everything they say or do is in the public eye and open for scrutiny. An example of this is the case of Jemele Hill, who was an ESPN employee who received flak for her tweets which were critical of President Trump, and was even removed by the company from her role as a host on “Sportscenter” because of the controversy in 2017. Hill has been outspoken about sports media members' rights to speak on political issues, saying, “There are sometimes things that happen in our communities, cities and country that we have a right to react to, just like anyone else” (qtd. in Deitsch). This is just one of a large number of instances in which outside issues have spilled over into sports.

Perhaps the most controversial topic around sports journalism today is whether or not members of the sports media should comment on social or political issues. According to a poll, 26.13 % of air time on variety talk shows shown on ESPN in 2016 pertained to social or political issues in sports (Schmidt 8). Though every American is certainly entitled to their own opinion and has the right to express it freely, doing so as a person whose livelihood is predicated upon an audience made up of members of both the left and right wings could be detrimental to their career. Clay Travis, a Nashville native and radio and television personality for Fox Sports, is well known for his strong conservative beliefs and is often vocal about them. In his book Republicans Buy Sneakers Too: How the Left Is Ruining Sports with Politics, Travis accuses left-wing media members of only reporting news that fits their worldview and shaping narratives in a way that persuades consumers to conform to their political beliefs (Travis 160). On the other hand, Hua Hsu, writer for The New Yorker, has speculated that Travis, in fact, is guilty of the same; offering that “At times, it can be hard to tell whether Travis is a sports pundit who knows a bit about politics, or a political adept who knows a bit about sports” (Hsu). According to data acquired by author William P. Cassidy, a number of sports editors who were interviewed said that one of the largest concerns in sports reporting was “the need of sports journalists to expand their knowledge beyond 'the game’ to include law, medicine, business, politics, and sociological matters that have become increasingly relevant in sports journalism” (Cassidy 2). Though there is not a definitive solution in particular, this appears to be the most adequate answer: Opinions can be stated, but should not be presented as fact; and most importantly, the author of the content should be aware of the backlash or criticism they receive, just as they would for any other work that they create.

To gain further clarification on this topic, I conducted an interview with John Doe, who I have known since playing on the same baseball team with him in third grade. John works in my home town of Florence, Alabama as a radio host on Fox Sports Shoals and is a columnist for the local newspaper, The Times Daily. He has roughly seven years of experience in the sports journalism field. Since he primarily covers local sports, John does not have to get into the particulars of situations like Colin Kaepernick kneeling for the national anthem very often. However, he did expound on some of the controversies he faces, saying, “Most everybody already knows what is going on here locally, so that makes it more difficult to report on and remain unbiased. Everyone has their opinion and wants to make it known” (Doe). John also brought up another factor that sports journalists face, which is censorship. He explained that he is not always allowed by his employers to say whatever he wants, even admitting that sometimes companies that sponsor his shows can influence what is said.

Sports journalists of all sorts have an important job, as they are responsible for researching, organizing, and presenting sports news to the general public in an ethical manner; to do this, I must familiarize myself with the common practices of the job and obtain a degree which will equip me with the necessary skills to deal with the rigors of the profession. Through my research, I have learned that there is not one particular right or wrong way to report sports news, as long as it remains fact-based and opinions are well informed. To reach my ultimate goal of being a nationally recognized sports journalist through television, radio, and print, I must remain dedicated to always searching for the truth in every story, while still creating the most compelling content possible.

Works Cited

Bolin, Göran. “Television Journalism, Politics, and Entertainment.” Television & New Media, vol. 15, no. 4, 13 Mar. 2014, pp. 336–349., doi:10.1177/1527476414525671.

Cassidy, William P. Sports Journalism and Coming Out Stories: Jason Collins and Michael Sam. Springer International Publishing, 2018.

Deitsch, Richard. “Should Sports Media Discuss Politics Publicly?” SI.com, 26 June 2016, www.si.com/tech-media/2016/06/26/media-circus-sports-media-politics-michele-tafoya-adam-schefter-jemele-hill. Accessed: 2 Apr. 2019.

Doe, John. Personal Interview. 6 Apr. 2019.

Hsu, Hua. “Should We Keep Politics Out of Sports?” The New Yorker, 17 Sept. 2018, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/09/24/should-we-keep-politics-out-of-sports. Accessed: 2 Apr. 2019.

Schmidt, Hans C. “Sport Reporting in an Era of Activism: Examining the Intersection of Sport Media and Social Activism.” International Journal of Sport Communication, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018, pp. 2–17., doi:10.1123/ijsc.2017-0121.

Travis, Clay. Republicans Buy Sneakers Too: How the Left Is Ruining Sports with Politics. Broadside Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2018.

Student 2 Example

Prof. Williams

EN 1020-002

19 April 2022

Defining High School Teachers and Researching the Field of Education

High school teachers are very important to our society and education; they influence children and have a great impact on them. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, “High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market” (“Summary”). In this profession, I must obtain a bachelor’s degree in the field. Also, this field requires a completion of a teacher preparation program and supervised experience in teaching (“Summary”). My dedication will help me advance; for this career, I need to be comfortable with using and learning new technology, acquire great communication skills, have incredible patience, gain resourcefulness to adapt to each student as well as engaging them and always learning and continuing to grow. A passion for art, being an art teacher is an amazing way to impact students’ creativity and them enjoying art as much as I do; these rewards exceed the lower pay and any obstacles I may encounter.

I was inspired by many of my teachers I had growing up to become a high school teacher. Ms. Smith especially because I enjoy doing art projects. Since I was young, I have always loved art. In elementary school, every year I would win the yearbook cover because of my talent. I want to become a role model and create a learning atmosphere where children feel happy and security; I want them to explore their creativity. I will be responsible with imparting some of life’s most important lessons. My job will require me to show students how to become independent and form their own relationships. Also, I would love to become a coach for the high school soccer team; soccer is my obsession along with art. My excitement would be far beyond to be a teacher as well as a coach.

A high school teacher comes with many rewards; teachers develop bonds with the students and provide them with an education to carry into college and throughout life. Making a difference is a sense of accomplishment which is one of the amazing rewards of being a teacher: “Any student can be successful in the hands of an effective teacher. Effective teachers do what-ever it takes to ensure that concepts are well-taught and thoroughly understood. They simply do not settle for anything less” (Breaux and Breaux 17). Striving for student achievement is crucial; the ability to build relationships will determine the success of a teacher. Breaux and Breaux state, “Nothing inspires and motivates us more than our own successes. The fact is that we can all be successful at some level. Therefore, it is the job of the teacher to find that “level” for each student” (43). Qualities such as: a positive attitude, sense of humor, and high academic expectations will be beneficial in the success in teaching.

While teachers get gratification from the difference and success they make, the low pay is one of the most significant cons of being a teacher. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook “The median annual wage for high school teachers was $60,320 in May 2018” (“Summary”). However, according to Berliner et al., “Aspiring teachers cite their love of learning, desire to help children succeed, or other nonmonetary motivators for entering the profession despite the relatively low pay over one’s career” (55). Teachers sacrifice lower pay for being able to love what they achieve each day. Also, another con to be a teacher is longer hours. For example, teachers often spend time grading papers and preparing lessons; additionally, some are coaches or advise clubs.

Every school has different rules when it comes to dress code. School uniforms has many advantages and disadvantages. Students dressed in uniforms are better perceived by teachers and other students; it sets high standards of behavior. Cohn emphasizes, “Uniforms reinforce the expectation that school is, as it should be, a workplace for learning” (22). This will help prepare professional for students going into their career. However, students oppose the idea of uniforms because they do not like wearing them, and it does not help with fitting in. Also, they do not feel more connected with the school community. For example, this article states, “Many students object to mandatory uniform policies because they believe these policies take away their individuality, promote conformity, or are unflattering or uncomfortable” (“School Uniforms”). However, students can express their individuality by adding their personal style of accessories and their hairstyle. Maria Ponderosa responds, “Uniforms restrict children's freedom to wear what they want. In schools where uniforms are mandated, teachers and administrators are turned into fashion police and not educators. No one should tell parents what their children should wear to school” (qtd. in Hoge et al.). Students, teachers, parents, and the community all have different opinions about the higher dress standards.

Lucy Smith is a fine arts teacher at Forest High School. She is the only art teacher that teaches art 1, 2, and 3. Being an art teacher comes with many rewards: getting to do art work every day, talking and getting to know students. However, the challenges she encounters are having to proctor test, be a class sponsor, and calling parents when a student is not doing well in her class. Her schedule begins with her highest-level art class then jumps to her beginner art class. At the end of the day, she has her Art 2 class. Also, she has students come in throughout the day asking for help on their art work. She states, “There are more males becoming teachers, but still is a female oriented business” (Smith). Her biggest obstacles of her job daily are lack of value to fine arts; when the budget gets tight, fine arts is one of the first to get look at to remove. Being an art teacher in a county with three high schools; there is one per high school. Ms. Smith comments, “Usually if someone becomes an art teacher, and they’re good enough and love it enough; they stay there for life.” She hopes to learn new techniques and try different projects. She defines her success by having former students approach her and telling her that she was one of their favorite teachers. Ms. Smith has years of experience of being an art teacher, and she gave me an inside look of what her profession truly is like.

A passion for art, being an art teacher is an amazing way to impact students’ creativity and them enjoying art as much as I do; these rewards exceed the lower pay and any obstacles I may encounter. Even though teachers are not the highest paid professionals, they receive a massive amount of respect from society. To be a teacher, there are many qualities you must take on to ensure success in each student. I need to receive a bachelor’s degree, complete a teacher preparation program, and experience in teaching while supervised. My goal is to become an art teacher as well as to coach high school soccer; I am very knowledgeable about both and can provide my experiences to help each student.

Works Cited

Berliner, David C., et al. 50 Myths & Lies That Threaten Americas Public Schools: the Real Crisis in Education. Teachers College Press, 2014.

Breaux, Annette L., and Elizabeth Breaux. Real Teachers, Real Challenges, Real Solutions: 25 Ways to Handle the Challenges of the Classroom ... Effectively. Routledge, 2017. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=645038&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Cohn, Carl A. "Mandatory School Uniforms." School Administrator, Feb. 1996, p. 22. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A77195660/ITOF?u=tel_middleten&sid=ITOF&xid=15fdd5b8. Accessed 2 Apr. 2019.

Hoge, John, et al. “Mandatory school uniforms: a debate for students.” Social Education, vol. 66, no. 5, 2002, p. 284+. General OneFile, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A92081397?ITOF?u=tel_middleten&xid=47be2d67. Accessed 5 Apr. 2019.

"School Uniforms." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2018. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3010999340/OVIC?u=tel_middleten&sid=OVIC&xid=14880c76. Accessed 29 Mar. 2019.

Smith, Lucy. Personal interview. 9 April 2017.

“Summary.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 May 2018, www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm . Accessed 2 April 2019.