Essay 1

ENGL 1A Simotas

Essay #1: Assignment Sheet Introduction: In the first unit of the course, you have learned key strategies for critical reading such as annotating and summarizing, key concepts for academic writing such as MLA guidelines for using sources in your writing and strategies for entering an academic conversation. While you have been learning these key academic reading and writing concepts and strategies, you have been familiarizing yourself with a current national conversation: Racial bias in American policing. In your first formal essay in the class, you will bring together all that you have learned thus far in the class in an essay that synthesizes the national conversation around racial bias in policing in the United States. What is Synthesis? You learned in reading CH 7 of Inquiry 164-182 that a synthesis is “a discussion that forges connections between the arguments of two or more authors.” In this discussion, you are the moderator. Your job is to bring together the ideas of the authors and speakers we have read to highlight the central idea around the topic that can relate to all of the sources and the connections between and among the different sources. Steps to Writing a Synthesis (adapted from Inquiry 181)

1. Make connections between and among different texts. Review the texts and podcasts you have read for Unit 1 with an eye for comparing them. Note relevant examples and formulate a “gist” statement for each of the texts (the gist statement is a one sentence summary of the source).

2. Decide what the connections mean. Fill out the synthesis essay preparation worksheet in Module 4 to compare your notes on the different texts, track counterarguments, and record your thoughts. Decide what the similarities and differences mean to you and what they mean to your readers.

3. Formulate a gist statement for all of the sources you plan to synthesize in the essay. By identifying an overarching idea that brings together the ideas you’ve noted, you have identified the thesis statement for your synthesis essay.

4. Write the draft of your synthesis as a timed writing activity in Module 4. The essay should bring together the ideas you’ve noted, making connections, acknowledging diverging ideas, and summarizing examples when appropriate.

*Tip: Review sample synthesis with examples for all of these steps in Chapter 7 of Inquiry

ENGL 1A Simotas

Assignment Requirements • 4-5 pages • 3-5 sources • A clear thesis that makes a claim (this is your overarching gist statement. See example

on page 180 in Inquiry) • Clear topic sentences that serve as the main ideas for the paragraphs • Paragraphs that synthesize sources by using direct quotes, paraphrases, and summary

from 2 or more sources • Your essay should be cohesive making use of key words, transition words, and

transitional devices to guide your reader. • A works cited page.

Essay 1 Grading Rubric Criteria Excellent Strong Satisfactory Needs

more work Introduction: Introduces the conversation, making it relevant to the reader with the use of engaging factual information

Thesis: Makes a clear claim that brings together the discussion reflected in the essay

Paragraphs: Well-structured with topic sentences that focus on one major connection between sources. Sources are synthesized and quoted, paraphrased, or summarized using MLA style guidelines.

Works Cited: Follows MLA citation guidelines

Sentences: Demonstrate control of sentence grammar

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