english essay revision and editing
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essay_1__2_promts.docxEssay #1 Prompt.
· Rhetorical features to discuss in your essay may include:
· What is the writer’s argument?
· How is it supported? What is the writer’s intention or purpose?
· The context & exigence of the argument: as we learned in They Say/I Say, arguments don’t occur in a vacuum, but are usually in response to some previously expressed opinion, idea, or problem. What or who is the writer responding to? What is the problem that calls out for an argument?
The writer’s persona: how does the writer’s ethos contribute to or detract from the argument? Who is the writer and why should we believe him or her? How does tone or word choice affect your response to the argument?
Use of Appeals: how has the writer used appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) to effectively persuade this audience?
Quality of evidence – use of evidence: facts, statistics, outside sources or authorities, as well as the credibility of that evidence (this is where outside sources will help – do others agree or disagree with this writer?)
Use of figurative language to move the reader (similes, metaphors, sensory imagery).
Handling of opposing views – does the author address those who disagree with him or her?
· Structure:
Paragraph 1: Introduce the author and the essay; state the author’s main idea in your own words and introduce your connection to the essay. What is your point of view about the essay?
Paragraph 2: Summarize the essay briefly. Provide the important ideas in the text and give your reader a clear idea of what the text is about, keeping in mind your point of view and connection to it.
Paragraphs 3-5: Analyze the essay’s rhetoric. In other words, HOW does the writer convince you? Consider the rhetorical concepts listed above as you consider the CHOICES the writer has made in order to present his or her argument in a convincing manner. You don’t have to consider all of these, but do choose those that are most relevant to this text. Use the requiredoutside sources as necessary to support your analysis.
· Paragraphs 6-8 or more: Respond to the essay. What do you think about this idea? What is your point of view of the topic or the writer’s position on it? You may wish to argue with the writer; you may choose to discuss a connection you have with this idea, an experience you have had, or discuss other articles, videos, films, or books you have encountered on the subject. However, don’t lose sight of the original essay. Remember that your purpose for writing is to analyze and respond to a particular text. Use your outside sources as needed to support your point.
· Provide a clear concluding paragraph that restates your main idea and provides your final judgment on the value or persuasiveness of the text you’ve chosen.
· Include a Works Cited that includes all texts, including videos, films, or other texts that you have referenced.
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· Essay #2 Promt.
· Writing Task:
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· Compose an essay that argues for a particular point of view about waste and space. To persuade your reader, present sensory images to convey the experience of that space/place. You might consider visiting a space or place where trash is handled, used, or processed, comparing two spaces or places, or examining how a space has changed over time in relation to trash (for example, in Chap. 2 of Garbology, Humes gives vivid descriptions of where and how trash was handled in late 19th Century New York City). Your essay might be evaluative; that is, discuss whether one space is better in some way or for some purpose than another. You might describe how a particular space or place has been affected by waste, or you might discover trash-related problems related to a particular space or place, and seek to inform others about potential hazards. Perhaps somewhere near your home was or is a toxic waste dump? What should be done about such a place?
· Your topic could be about be something “close to home” that you can relate to; or, it may be that your research work illuminates a more far-flung issue; for instance, your concerns about pollution of a nearby forest or lake might help you understand what is lost when forests or other natural spaces are polluted in another part of the world.
