Another Copy of Essay Assignment #1

Essay Assignment #1 – The Multi-Genre Essay
Davidson – English 101

9/18: Paper Proposals Due
9/23: Introductions and Thesis Statements Due (Bring a copy for yourself and every member
of your group)
9/25: Print Media Rough Draft Due
9/30: Visual with Words Rough Draft Due
10/02: Informational Rough Draft Due
10/07: Creative Rough Draft Due
10/09: Structured Rough Draft Due and Conclusions Due (Bring a copy for yourself and every member of your group)
10/14: Final Papers Due

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
This essay assignment starts and ends like a traditional essay. You will begin with an introduction that has a clear thesis statement and end with a conclusion that allows your reader to reassess and validate the claims you have made in your argument. For the body of your paper you will choose five different genres and write your argument under the guidelines of each. There are five general categories of genres below and in each category are specific ideas to help get you started. You will also be required to include an explanation for each genre choice.

For example if your general argument is that Barack Obama is the best candidate for president you would begin by creating an introduction that sets up your argument as well as a clear thesis statement that makes your own argument more specific and original. After that you would try and discover which genres would best help make your argument successful. For Print Media, you may decide that you would like to write a letter to the editor to combat comments that were made by a columnist or by Sarah Palin. You could also decide that creating a Southern Mississippi Freshmen for Obama website would be more effective. For each choice make sure you are aware of the language that is traditionally used in this genre as well as being confident in your approach as being appropriate for your argument.

GRADING BREAKDOWN:
Introduction and Conclusion: 25%
Five Explanations: 25%
Five Genre Based Documents: 50%


CATEGORIES:
You must choose one genre from each category and create a document using this genre to support your argument
Print Media Informational Structured Visual with Words Creative
Newspaper Article Interview Essay Poster Skit
Magazine Article Survey Report Invitation Song
Editorial Trivia Game Book Review Advertisement Poem
Advice Column Encyclopedia Letter Travel Brochure Short Story
Letter to the Editor Quiz/Test Email Greeting Card Personal Narrative
Website Menu Speech Comic Strip Conversation
Blog/Facebook/MySpace Syllabus Job Application CD Cover Diary
Recipe Resume Collage
Map with Directions

So a completed paper will include an introduction, one document from each of these categories, explanation for each document, and a conclusion. Using the same Barack Obama topic as an example your final paper might look like:

• Introduction with thesis statement.
• Print Media - Advice Column: John McCain writing in and a young voter giving advice to him about what he should do to be more like Barack Obama.
• Informational – Recipe: “How to Make a Better America Without Breaking an Egg”
• Structured – Speech: “Obama To the Top!” (Designed for an audience of Southern Mississippi students).
• Visual with words - Invitation to the inauguration complete with detailed descriptions of reception, keynote speakers and a brief thank you from Obama to all of his supporters.
• Creative – Michelle Obama’s diary on the campaign trail all the way up to her inauguration as first lady.

EXPLANATION SECTION:
One aspect of this essay assignment is designed to make you consider your choices in constructing an essay (traditional or otherwise). To that end, you must defend your choice of genre as well as display knowledge of that genre and the language traditionally used within the genre. Each explanation should include:
• One paragraph briefly exploring the genre you have chosen. For example: Advice Columns traditionally use a basic question and answer format. The question is given on a particular subject and an expert answers in detailed fashion. The questions are traditionally brief and to the point. The answers are usually much longer and more complex and illustrate the expertise of the advisor by providing solutions.
• One paragraph explaining why you chose this genre as being most effective for the argument you are trying to make. For example: A Greeting Card worked best for my specific argument because I was able to play with the over the top language of the Greeting Card in order to further make my point about the hypocritical nature of moral conduct in relation to marriage. This is in turn I think I can use to my advantage to illustrate much more important points about gay marriage.
• One paragraph discussing the actual language that you used in your document. For example: Initially in my advertisement, the text read: “Go Green, Help the Earth Get Lean (Again).” I liked the rhyming, but thought that the “Go Green” might be a little cliché already. Part of my idea was to have this be an advertisement urging people to become more involved so I decided that “Help the Earth Get Better, Write a Letter” worked in a much more efficient way. It also helped clarify the visual and I think overall is much catchier and clearer.

Voting

Remember to vote for two categories: Best Content and Most Original
Reply to this post as a comment with a name and reason why. For example:

Best Content - Frank
I really felt that his discussion of why people smoke outside of bars was original and well written.

Most Original - Heather
Her blog is really her own. It has a lot of personality and I feel like I know more about her just by going on there.

Homework for Thursday September 18th

Bring a typed paper proposal that illustrates a clear purpose for your multi-genre essay. You should include a clear thesis statement (the main argument you are making) as well as a plan for each of the five sections.

Peer Response Groups

Quintelligent - "Intelligence x 5"
Carlos, Kamron, Sarah, Adair, and Megan

The Teacher's Pets - "We Kiss Arse"
Quincy, Jay, Ashton, and Mahogany

Emceekaypee - "We Fly High"
Paige, Kari, Matt, and Courtney

English Eagles - "To the Top"
Saquanda, Theriton, Connie, and Danielle

Spartans - "We Don't Need 300 Cuz We Got 4 of the Best"
Keith, Veronica, Garrett, and Madison

Young Billionaires - "Predestined to Succeed"
Saidah, Takera, Dale, and LaKeisha

Homework for Tuesday September 9th

In addition to the weekly blog entry (minimum 250 words, posted by Friday, 5pm)...

Bring a typed "How-To" on any topic of your choice. This "How-To" should be be no less than 250 words and include as much detail as possible. For example if you are writing about how to shoot the perfect jumpshot you would have to take into consideration such things as hand placement, footwork, rotation, follow through, etc. If you are writing about how to become president you would have to take into consideration such things as speeches, mudslinging, raising funds, traveling, etc.

Since this is an exercise meant to help you with your multi-genre essay, if you already have a topic feel free to write your "how-to" on this topic. Please contact me with any questions.