Thematic Learning
Write like elementary method A response essay with summary asks the writer to read rhetorically and respond to ideas presented within a text. As a college student, you’ll often be asked to write papers in response to readings. Professors assign response papers because they allow you to demonstrate your ability to read complex texts carefully, understand what they mean, and think critically about them. Response papers invite you to do more than just memorize key course concepts for a test. They invite you to begin taking your place in the college community by “entering a conversation” about those concepts. For this assignment, you will consider ideas presented in a text, write a focused summary of those ideas, craft a thesis statement outlining your response to an idea presented in the text and then support that response with evidence from the text. From Gerald Graff & Cathy Birkensteins They Say/I Say: the underlying structure of effective academic writing resides not just in stating our own ideas but in listening closely to others around us, summarizing their views and responding with our own ideas in kind. Broadly speaking, academic writing is argumentative writing, and we believe that to argue well you need to do more than assert your own position. You need to enter a conversation, using what others say (or might say) as a launching pad or sounding board for your own views. The best academic writing has one underlying feature: it is deeply engaged in some way with other peoples views (3). In order to prepare for this paper, pick ONE of the thematic module readings from this list: THEMATIC MODULE: What should be done to reduce lead levels in Indiana children? To approach this assignment you will read/listen to the text carefully and begin to consider some of the following questions surrounding a focused idea presented in the text: As reader, what was your response to that idea? Why? What of the authors appeals to emotions or reason influence your response? Do you trust this authors knowledge and information? Why or why not? What of your own knowledge, biases, or pre-conceived notions of the issue influence your response? In your draft, briefly summarize the reading (1-2 paragraphs only) and develop your paper in response to one idea presented by the author. You have many options for how you choose to respond, but your response should be focused and cohesive. You could, for example, provide a personal connection to the text, discuss the author’s writing techniques, or disagree or expand on the ideas present in the text. You will draw quotations and examples from the text to support your response. Information and ideas that you use to support your ideas should be documented with appropriate APA style in-text citations and a References page. Guidelines Your Summary Response must: Include an engaging introduction and conclusion. Include a thesis at the end of the introduction that summarizes your overall response to the reading. Include a 1-2 paragraph summary of one of the texts from this course’s thematic readings. . Provide a focused and cohesive response to the text. Incorporate quotations and paraphrases of the text to support your response. Utilize proper quoting strategies. Be formatted in APA style with a correct title page, header, and References page. Cite source in-text using APA citations and on a Reference page. Papers that lack in-text and/or Reference citations will receive zero points! No outside sources may be utilized–Focus only on summarizing and responding to your chosen thematic reading. Focus on strong organizational and paragraphing strategies. Be clear of major grammatical errors. Be a minimum of two pages, double-spaced, using Times New Roman 12 font, plus the title and Reference page (minimum of 4 pages total). Be saved and submitted as a Word document.
