Summary/Analysis/Synthesis
Assignment Sheet
English 102
Spring 2022
This assignment is worth 10% of your course grade, so Anticipated Out-of-Class Work Time (Time on Task): 15 Hours
Out-of-class component is due on Moodle by 20 March 2022
Find One magazine/newspaper opinion piece (at least 600 words long) relevant to the value of “patience,” and write a 1000-word summary/analysis/synthesis of that text.
The first paragraph (the introduction) in your paper introduces the text (who wrote it, when, and where they come from), and the author’s credentials. The last sentence in the introduction expresses your main judgment about the text.
At least one of your body paragraphs will be dedicated to summarizing the source: Identifying the main argument, the support, one example of support, as well as pointing out how the author complicates the argument, or not.
At least one of your body paragraphs will be dedicated to analyzing/evaluating the source, offering a “critical reading” of it, identifying and questioning the author’s methods, assumptions, biases, logical fallacies and examining their style, tone …etc.). Ultimately your goal here is to assess whether the opinion piece is effective in communicating its point and achieving its purpose.
At least one of your body paragraphs will be dedicated to synthesizing the source, placing it in the context of what you already know/think about the issue and relating it to your own local perspective and concerns.
In your conclusion, you can do many but not necessarily all of the following: you can tell us whether you plan on using this source for your future assignments. Why or why not? Did the source help you think about a topic to research further? You can also do something interesting by putting a further spin on the source.
You need a strong title for your essay; you need at least one quote to support each task. Include the citation for the source in proper MLA format in a Works Cited page at the end of the paper. The paper must follow MLA style and will be at least 800 words (not including works cited list) and no more than 1200 words, using 1” margins, double-spacing, and 12 points Times New Roman Font.
During the week before or after the due date, depending on your odd/even numbering, you will produce a brief Summary/Analysis/Synthesis of an article of my choice. This will be worth half the grade.
Except for AUK Writing Center staff, your peer reviewers from our class, and your English 102 Professor, nobody can see your work before I grade it.
Summary, Analysis, Synthesis (50 points)
• The introduction concisely but clearly introduces the opinion piece effectively, and it ends with some forecast of the content of the paper.
• The summary clearly offers the main argument of the opinion piece; gives an example from the text to demonstrate the argument’s support; and points out where the argument becomes complicated.
• The analysis uses details (short but effective quotes) from the piece to demonstrate whether or not it is effective at communicating its point to its audience
• The analysis (using short but effective quotes) points to some of the stylistic choices, implicit arguments, motives, and assumptions of the piece.
• The synthesis uses sufficient details (including quotes) to show how the piece relates to the writer.
• The conclusion indicates other places the topic might go, and/or future research, and/or puts a further spin on the opinion piece…etc.
Organization and Coherence (10 points)
• Each paragraph effectively uses topic sentences that provide transitions from preceding content to new paragraph content.
• Follows a clear and logical organizational pattern.
Style (30 points)
• The writing is generally clear and readable, and it attempts to convey academic tone.
• The sentences are varied and concise (no wordiness or redundancy).
• The language is concrete and specific, allowing readers to understand topic and analysis.
• The paper follows the MLA format as demonstrated in the sample.
Mechanics (10 point)
• The paper is relatively free from grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors
• It uses correct font and font size
Note: You will lose 5 points for every 40 words under 800.
Further comments: