College of the Canyons, Prof.

Rebecca Chmiel
English 101-24372 Mon/Wed 9:30-10:50 am
Unit 1 Paper Prompt: A Textual Analysis

Background: This unit were learning about understanding what they say and learning
how to respond to it with what you say, so an ideal first essay to begin practicing these
skills is to analyze a text. This is your first chance to illustrate your ability to break
down an article and identify the parts of it while also judging it for credibility based on
your existing knowledge.
Prompt: To complete this essay, you must choose 1 of the articles weve worked with
throughout this unit and then analyze it for some of the questions below. Your final
essay should be between 2 and 4 pages. By the way, 2-4 pages means a minimum of two
full pages, not 1 . If you submit an essay that is incorrectly formatted so that it can
reach 2 pages, I will deduct points from your score to the nearest of a page. An
example scenario is as follows: Lets say youre just short of 2 pages. 100/2 (pages) =
50%; 50/4 (quarters of a page) = 12.5%; equaling a total grade deduction of -12.5%.
Correct Formatting: Everything should follow MLA style. That means all drafts should
be typed, double-spaced ONLY, with 1-inch margins in 12 point Times New Roman font.
You should include your name, my name, our course number and section, and the date
of submission in the top left corner. There should be a title that is relevant to your
subject and a Works Cited page. Please be aware that your Works Cited page does not
count towards your page limit.
Questions to Address in your Essay:
What background issues/arguments Are there any logical issues with
is the author responding to? their argument? Is there anything
What personally motivated the missing that would make it more
author to engage with this subject? well-rounded?
What possible bias could be behind How do I feel about their argument?
their argument? Why do I feel that way?
How can I complete this?
You will complete this writing assignment in stages. We will spend some time in
class on writers workshops (WW) that relate to the days lectures (L), but you
need to have completed the previous stages in order to be able to take part in
them. When you submit your final assignment, it should include copies of all the
stages contained in a folder. This list of require components is below:
1 pre-writing 1 self-set calendar 1 final self-review
1 rough draft with with deadlines/ rubric with
editing notes commitments for meaningful, reflective
2 peer review rubrics other classes and comments
with meaningful work 1 final Works Cited
feedback 1 final draft

L: Reading and L: Discovering What Theyre
M Responding to Issues in W Saying: The Impact of Perception
Educational Settings WW: Build background,
WW: Reading and consider the prompt
Annotating : Brainology and Hidden
Intellectualism
Presidents Day- L: Pre-Writing and Outlining with
M W Para. Structure 1
College of the Canyons, Prof. Rebecca Chmiel
English 101-24372 Mon/Wed 9:30-10:50 am
No Class Pre-Writing, Outlines, and
: Colleges Prepare Drafting
People for Life and Model : Are Too Many People Going
Essay #1 to College?
L: Para Structure 2 with L: Revising Your Draft and MLA
M Quote Incorporation W Formatting
WW: Practice using WW: Editing and Revisions
quotes; edit quotes
: Model Essay #2

M Unit 1
Paper Due

Unit 1 Paper: A Textual Analysis Essay (Worth 175
points)

Student ID Number: ________________________ Final Score:

________________________
Essay Components (-9 points for each one missing):
1 pre-writing 1 self-set calendar 1 final self-review
1 rough draft with with deadlines/ rubric with
editing notes commitments for meaningful, reflective
2 peer review rubrics other classes and comments
with meaningful work 1 final Works Cited
feedback 1 final draft

S 20 15 15-10 Good 10 5 Needs 5-0 Poor
c Excellent Improvemen
o t
r
e
Thesis Thesis statement Thesis statement Thesis
statement is is a good response is an okay statement
strong as a to the prompt, but response to the doesnt clearly
response to could have been prompt but is respond or is
the prompt. more missing needed impossible to
focused/clearer. clarity. ascertain.
Adequate Evidence is Although there is a There is no
evidence is incorporated from little reference to reference to
incorporated readings, but the course the course
from there are some readings, it is not readings or
readings. weak choices. enough. evidence from
them.
Excellent Analysis of the Although there is a There is no
analysis of text is good, but little analysis, it is analysis of the
the text is could be stronger. not enough. text at all.
incorporated.
There is clear The focus is not Frequently the
The paper does
focus in always clearly a writer gets off not address the
answering response to the topic or loses prompt at all.
the prompt. prompt. focus.
The scope of The scope of the The scope of the The scope of
the topic is topic is a little too topic is noticeably the topic is
appropriate big or a little too too big or too much too big
to the small for the small for the or much too
assignment. assignment. assignment. small for the
assignment.
The writer The writer makes The writer makes The writer
observes the some mistakes many mistakes makes many
conventions with grammar or with grammar or mistakes with
of standard spelling, or does spelling (or) does grammar or
written not attempt a not attempt a spelling & does
English and variety of variety of sentence not attempt a
attempts a sentence structures. variety of
variety of structures. sentence
sentence structures.
structures.
S 11- 8 8-5 5-3 3-0 Poor
c Strong Acceptable Satisfactory
o
r
e
Organization Organization is Organization is Organization is
is appropriate mostly good, but good, but there very bad;
for the topic. there are some are noticeable many ideas are
ideas out of place. ideas confusingly incorrectly
placed. placed.
Effective Transitions are Transitions are Transitions are
transitions attempted attempted not attempted
are used successfully in sometimes, but at all.
within and some places. left out at others.
between
paragraphs.
The The introductory The introductory There are no
introductory and concluding and concluding clear
and paragraphs clearly paragraphs clearly introductory/co
concluding attempt to do attempt to do their ncluding
 paragraphs their job but need job, but are paragraphs.
are suitable more focus. disorganized or
for the paper. lack 1 part.
Citations There is a clear The essay doesnt There is no
follow MLA attempt made at appear to attempt attempt made
guidelines. MLA guidelines, MLA citations, but at MLA
but there are the author is citations and
many mistakes. referenced reference to
consistently. the author is
inconsistent.
There is a There is a Works There is a Works There is no
Works Cited Cited page with Cited page with Works Cited
page with some correct mostly incorrect Page.
mostly citations. citations.
correct
citations.
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