Typical First Assignment: Analysis

Here is Carrie Goulding's first assignment which is, like others, relatively brief (three pages).  She has her students focus immediately on analysis, using a series of directed exercises (also included here) which help build the essay.

FORMAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT # 1

Due dates: 

First Draft:  Friday, September 18

Final Draft:  Friday, September 25

Page requirement:  3 pages, 1 inch margins, double spaced, 12 point font

Format:  In top left corner of the first page please type the following information (single spaced):

                        Name:

                        Section #:

                        Date:

                        Essay Title:

 Assignment:   

In “Learning How to Read and Write” Douglass expresses his belief that education will set him free.  Would Malcolm X agree with this statement? 

Write a 4-5 paragraph essay responding to the above question.  Support your answer by citing to specific examples from both texts.

Prewriting Assignments:

1:  Due September 9 (work on in class)

Assignment:   Both Douglass and Malcolm X have a new perspective on life after learning how to read and write.  This perspective is both positive and negative.

Write one paragraph that explains in specific detail Frederick Douglass’s new perspective after learning how to read and write.  Describe what Douglass did to arrive at this new perspective. 

Write a second paragraph that explains in specific detail Malcolm X’s new perspective after learning how to read and write.  Describe what Malcolm X did to arrive at this new perspective.

Write a third paragraph comparing Malcolm X’s perspective on his life after learning

how to read with Frederick Douglass’s perspective on life after learning how to read.  Discuss how each perspective was similar and how it was different.

2:  Due September 14 (complete before you come to class)

             Assignment: 

Write a thesis statement that answers the following question:  Would Malcolm X agree with Frederick Douglass that education set him free?  Include a “because” in your sentence that explains your conclusion and a roadmap of the two or three main supporting points for your thesis.

Essay Template

Follow this outline as you write your first draft.

Paragraph 1—Introduction:

·         Two to three sentences that introduce the subject of your essay, including complete and correct names for the authors and works you are writing about. 

·         A thesis statement that includes a “because” and a roadmap of two or three supporting ideas. 

o   Example: 

§  Malcolm X would not agree with Frederick Douglass that education set him free because _(supporting point #1), (supporting point #2), and (supporting point #3).

 Paragraph 2—Supporting Point 1:

 ·         Begin with a topic sentence that restates supporting point #1 and also provides a “because” for supporting point #1. 

o   Example from text that supports point #1

o   Explain how this example supports point #1

o   Another example from text that supports point #1

o   Explain how this example supports point #1

·         Concluding sentence that summarizes point #1 and provides a bridge to the next paragraph.

Paragraph 3—Supporting Point 2:

·         Begin with a topic sentence that restates supporting point #2 and also provides a “because” for supporting point #2.

o   Example from text that supports point #2

o   Explain how this example supports point #2

o   Another example from text that supports point #2

o   Explain how this example supports point #2

·         Concluding sentence that summarizes point #2 and provides a bridge to the next paragraph.

Paragraph 4—Supporting Point 3:

·         Begin with a topic sentence that restates supporting point #3 and also provides a “because” for supporting point #3.

o   Example from text that supports point #3

o   Explain how this example supports point #3

o   Another example from text that supports point #3

o   Explain how this example supports point #3

·         Concluding sentence that summarizes point #3 and provides a bridge to the next paragraph.

Paragraph 5—Conclusion:

·         3 sentences (at least) that restate your thesis and provide a recommendation.