ENG Paper

5/7/2020 Week One – ENG240 Advanced Composition

https://nu.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_124935_1&content_id=_9392434_1&mode=reset 5/7

 Thesis Templates (A valuable resource for learning how to articulate a thesis in response to someone else's argument) - Word Document (25.1 KB)



  0:00 / 7:55 



ASSIGNMENT: Paper 1 (due by Monday morning of week two)

The Summary (1 page).

Summary and Response Paper (4-5 pages) due by 9 am on Monday of week two (your time zone). 23 points.

In this 4-5 page paper, you are going to write a brief summary of your primary response article, the one you chose for the week one, discussion two assignment.  Next, you are going to respond to that article by bringing up your thoughts or feelings on it. As we learned in ENG 100, academic writing is a conversation, and an important part of the conversation is to summarize what someone else has written before we respond to it. This helps our audience understand the broader conversation that we are entering.

Our summaries should try to capture the main arguments of the paper/article as fairly as possible, even if we disagree with the points the article is making. Though we try to be fair, we are also selective, for we want to focus our summaries on what is relevant to the point we want to make.

5/7/2020 Week One – ENG240 Advanced Composition

https://nu.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_124935_1&content_id=_9392434_1&mode=reset 6/7

The Response (3-4 pages).

 Thesis Templates (A valuable resource for learning how to articulate a thesis in response to someone else's argument) - Word Document (25.1 KB)

For example, if I were writing a summary of "Why Games are Good for You" by Stephen Johnson, I would survey the article �rst. I would notice that much of the article is focused on the distinction between books and games and some of the article is devoted to discussing the virtues of hand-eye coordination. If my argument is primarily about the content of games, these aren't areas where I will focus my summary. I will focus my summary on the areas that are relevant to my paper.

For example:

In "Why Games are Good for You" Steven Johnson argues that the bene�cial ways a person thinks when playing video games is an under-explored subject. He stresses interactivity and community, but mainly he mainly focuses on why video games are so entertaining. To do so, he delves into neuroscience and what goes into the idea of grati�cation. He argues that video games are bene�cial mainly because they practice the player in delayed grati�cation. He claims that "It is not what you're thinking about when you're playing a game, it's the way you're thinking that matters" (493).

This summary attempts to convey the basics of Johnson's argument without getting bogged down in sections of the paper that aren't relevant to the point that I want to make. Remember, the point of a summary is to set up the "They Say" before you get to your claim, the "I Say".

You have likely already formulated a basic response to the article in your "entering the conversation" discussion board activity. Now it is time to build and re�ne those thoughts. Keep in mind that it is okay if your thoughts on the subject have changed or shifted. You may need to return to the "entering the conversation activity" and reread what you wrote, as you might have realized there is a better point to argue. For example, just in writing the summary above, I realized that I also don't quite agree with Johnson's point that video games teach delayed grati�cation. Perhaps that would be a more productive argument than the original one I explored. Part of thinking like a scholar is being willing to follow where your thoughts lead. Many responses will move toward the thesis by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your primary response article. Many responses will focus on establishing the "gap" in the conversation that you will attempt to �ll.

You must write your paper in the citation style preferred by the discipline in which you are majoring. Include an end-of-text works cited page in the same citation style. If you are using a rather obscure style (not MLA or APA) please let your instructor know which one you are using.

***Remember to use your Writing Center visit in preparation for this paper. WC tutors can help you to shape you critical response, that is, your argument, in meaningful ways.

 

Click on the link above to submit your assignment, as well as to get more information regarding the due date and grading rubric.