jousrnal entry due nov 2 11pm eastern time
michelle_4321
in_chapter_2.docxIn Chapter 2, George Ritzer explains that fast-food chains have become so popular because they fit with our contemporary lifestyle. In this journal entry, you are going to examine whether this statement fits your own life. You should answer the questions below to structure your essay.
First, think about your own use of fast-food chains (such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc.). How often do you use them, and how (dine-in, carry out, drive through, etc.)?
Then, look at the elements of the changing society that Ritzer describes in Chapter 2 when he examines the relationship between McDonaldization and social change in American society (there is a section in the chapter that covers this topic. We are NOT referring to the dimensions of McDonaldization. Which ones of those can you apply to your situation? In other words, in what ways do you see your own life reflecting the changes Ritzer describes? Which ones do not fit? Give specific examples from your life to answer these questions.
Your journal entry is worth 10% of your final grade. It should be 3 pages long using a 12-point size font, double- spaced. You should use a header with your name, the date, the course number, and “Journal Entry 1” on the first page (NO title page). You should cite and reference your textbook properly in a standard formatting style, such as ASA, APA, or MLA. The first two pages should be your essay, and the third page should be your reference list. Please consult the library resources listed in your syllabus and in your course menu to make sure you are formatting your source correctly.
As you will know from reading the Syllabus for this course, it has a heavy emphasis on written communication. The University wants you to not only know about something--in our case, the impact of McDonaldization on our institutions and our thinking--but also wants to give you practice in expressing yourselves effectively, and to demonstrate your ability at “critical thinking.” There is a helpful document attached to the link, “Critical Thinking” on the left navigation bar that you might want to read, and that you should read, if you haven’t been covered on this topic already.
To these ends, I will be rather diligent in grading your written submissions. As stated in the Syllabus, you will submit 5 written documents: 4 Journal Entries (in MS Word) and a Final Presentation (in Power Point). I won’t accept any Journal Entry that is not in a Word document, and the Final Presentation must be in Power Point. Also, when you submit a paper, make sure that Turnitin.com can “read” it. Sometimes I get papers that Turnitin.com cannot review. If Turnitin can’t read it, neither will I. If you have problems with Turnitin’s ability to read a submission, please contact Tech Support.
Now, here is an outline of how I will grade your written work on your four Journal Entries, each of which is worth 100 points:
Introduction: 10 points
o In the Introduction, state the purpose of your essay or presentation, and give a summary of what you’re going to say in the body of the paper (or presentation)
o In other words, summarize what you’re going to tell me, and the sequence of topics you will cover in the body of your paper.
Body: 60 points
o The points you receive on the body will be based on how well you define and integrate the course concepts into your presentation and your use of illustrative examples and/or research information. I favor the use of examples for illustration of your points and to back up (where necessary) what you are asserting in your paper.
o Make sure you answer ALL the questions stated in the Module instructions. Though it may seem surprising, people often forget to make sure they have done this.
o Though the papers have a word count associated with them (in the Syllabus), if it takes you more words to make your point clearly, use more words.
o Don’t leave me hanging: If you bring up a point and don’t follow up with a thorough presentation of its implications, don’t bring it up.
o Don’t just assume that I know something—the objective here is for you to prove to me that you know it.
Grammar: 10 points
o This is self-explanatory
o Use the Smarthinking link to get help with your writing if you need it.
Mechanics: 10 points
o Is it easy to follow?
o Do you talk about one thing at a time in each paragraph?
o Does each paragraph have a “topic sentence”?
o If you need help with this, a Smarthinking tutor can provide that, too.
Conclusion: 10 points
o Summarize what you just finished proving or illustrating; remind the reader (me, in this case) of why he or she read the paper in the first place
o The more clearly you state the conclusion, the better
I hope you find these guidelines to be useful.
Some of you, especially new students, will benefit from using the University’s resources in this class. The reading list is not very heavy, and what you get out of this class is largely determined by how much effort you put into becoming a better writer. So invest in yourself and make use of these resources. The guidelines I have proposed, if followed, will benefit you, not just in this class, but in all of your future classes.
