critical analysis essay

ENG 122 Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric First Draft of Critical Analysis Essay

Overview: The ability to communicate a message through writing is essential in any career. Effective writing shapes and informs the opinions of its readers. The writing process can be intimidating; however, the more you work with it, the more comfortable the process becomes. Prompt: For this milestone, you will build on your writing plan from Module Three while incorporating your instructor’s feedback. Now that you have revised your approach to writing your critical analysis essay in the Feedback and Revision Reflection assignment, be sure to incorporate your new ideas into this draft. Use the prompt questions below to help develop your draft. You will pull out quotes and paraphrases from your selected reading and write summaries that you will use to support your analysis. When you are done responding to the prompts below, you will have the first draft of your critical analysis essay. In Module Six, you will complete a revision activity to further improve this draft. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Introduction: The introduction of your essay is where readers will learn what your essay is about. They will also learn about the claim that you plan to prove in your essay. Introductions give readers a sample of what is to come. Don't forget to review your writing plan to make sure you are briefly covering all of the key points you identified. If your claim and key points have changed since the writing plan, that is okay! Seek feedback on your new ideas from your instructor or the SNHU Online Writing Center.

A. Provide an overview of the selected reading you have analyzed, briefly describing main points and your reaction to the author’s claim. B. State your evaluation of the author’s claim that you will prove in your essay. This statement will give direction to your essay and should be well

thought out.

II. Body: The body of your essay is your opportunity to support your evaluation of the author's argument. Make sure your thoughts and evidence are clear and easy to read and understand.

A. Be sure to write paragraphs that are focused, clearly state their intent, and move logically from one to the other, building the analysis as the essay progresses.

B. Your body paragraphs should support your analysis by combining thoughts and ideas with evidence from the selected reading. There is no such thing as a right or wrong evaluation; the keys are how your analysis is supported and the quality of the evidence used.

III. Conclusion: Think of the conclusion paragraph as a review of your analysis. Use this section to restate your evaluation and remind readers of your

supporting evidence. Think of this as your last chance to prove your point. A. Write an overview of your analysis, summarize your key points from the selected reading, and describe how they helped you form your analysis. B. Explain what lessons you have learned about critical thinking, analysis, and revision for future writing activities in your academic or professional

life.

Rubric Guidelines for Submission: The draft of your analysis essay should be 1–2 pages in length. Save your work in a Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Then, check your writing for errors. Once you have proofread your document, submit it via the Milestone One: First Draft of Critical Analysis Essay link in Brightspace.

Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction: Overview

Provides an overview of the work being analyzed

Provides an overview of the work being analyzed, but it contains issues regarding clarity

Does not provide an overview of the work being analyzed

15

Introduction: Claim States an evaluation that covers the analysis that will be explained throughout the essay

States an evaluation, but it contains issues related to clarity or relevancy

Does not state an evaluation 15

Body: Intent Writes multiple paragraphs that are focused, clearly state their intent, and build the analysis

Writes multiple paragraphs, but writing does not build the analysis

Does not write multiple paragraphs

15

Body: Body Paragraphs

Supports analysis with body paragraphs that combine thoughts and ideas with evidence

Supports analysis with body paragraphs, but they do not combine thoughts and ideas with evidence

Does not support analysis through body paragraphs

20

Conclusion: Overview Reviews analysis and key supporting points of essay

Reviews analysis and key supporting points, but review contains issues regarding alignment to the evaluation

Does not review analysis 15

Conclusion: Lessons Learned

Explains what was learned about critical thinking, analysis, and revision for future writing activities in one’s academic or professional life

Explains what was learned about critical thinking, analysis, and revision for future writing activities in one’s academic or professional life, but explanation is unclear or cursory

Does not explain what was learned about critical thinking, analysis, and revision for future writing activities in one’s academic or professional life

15

Articulation of Response

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

5

Total 100%