Project One Critical Response

This assignment asks you to read rhetorically and develop a strong response to ideas you identify in a text selected from the several we have read thus far.  You’ll then use that response to draft a closed-form, thesis-based essay. You’ll support that essay with points that develop your argument (your argument for this essay is how you feel about the writing: is it good? Why or why not? Is the point of the story a good one? Etc) so readers understand how you arrived at your thesis.  You will also present particulars from your selected essay that either support or contradict your thesis. Throughout the essay, you will document (use MLA formatted source citations) all information that originates from these outside sources.  You will also produce a works-cited page that lists the text you chose to use in addition to one other text. Please try to use proper MLA format for this page.

Directions: Write a critical response essay that includes:  (a) a short summary of J.S Foer’s Eating Animals or one of the texts we have read so far;  (b) a strong response to the text (either in support or in opposition to its ideas) in which you respond with your own critical thinking, personal experience, other texts, and values.  As you formulate your response, consider both the author’s rhetorical strategies and the author’s ideas; in other words, your response should include a rhetorical analysis.  Think of your response as your analysis of how the text tries to influence its readers rhetorically and how your wrestling with the text has expanded and deepened your thinking. Additionally, if you feel it fruitful, you can use one of the other readings we did in class or one that you picked in order to elucidate your views on the primary text.  

The Final Draft will be a polished, REVISED essay of 850 - 1,000 words that is posted in Canvas.

Your essay should (in other words, use the following as a checklist of things your essay should. Be doing):

-Summarize at least one of the texts we have read so far

-Analyze that text and Respond to it critically

-Provide a thesis statement (what do you think of the text?)

-Provide support for your thesis using personal experience

-Provide support for your thesis USING the primary text

-Organize paragraphs coherently

-Show awareness of rhetorical situation and rhetorically strategies

-Cite all sources using proper MLA citation style

-Format paper in proper MLA format

-Provide a properly cited works cited page.

Be sure that all documents:

• are typed;
• use 12 point font size;
• use Times New Roman font;
• are double-spaced;
• follow MLA style requirements for all other formatting issues (see the Purdue OWL for guidelines);
• have been spell-checked and edited for grammar and syntax problems;
• are properly uploaded as a WORD .doc or .docx or .pdf file (you can download Microsoft word for free by using your Bellevue College sign in at the Microsoft webpage).

(Assignments not uploaded as a WORD DOC or DOCX or PDF file will receive a zero and be ignored. In other words, absolutely no txt, zip, .pages, or other files are acceptable. If you need help formatting, come see me during office hours).

Your grade for this essay will depend on how well you addressed each issue above.