Major Paper #3–Summary/Response
We will be working on this assignment for the next three units. In this unit, we will focus on the summary. In Unit 9, we will focus on the strong response. Unit 10 is designed to provide time for revision. The paper will be due at the end of Unit #10.
Purpose:
Most of us use critical reading strategies everyday to effectively process all of the information we are consistently bombarded with. This assignment allows you continue to explore ideas of reading and writing rhetorically, as you will use different strategies to write your summary and your strong response.
The Assignment:
This assignment will have two parts:
1.) Summary
Summarize in 150-200 words the article your instructor has chosen from the assignment: “Children Need to Play, Not Compete,” on pages 270-274 of your 9th edition textbook (or on pages 276-279 of your 8th edition textbook or pages 287-291 in your 7th edition textbook). In this summary, you should relay the article’s main points, completely and accurately, in your own words. If you find yourself in a situation in which the author’s words needed to be quoted directly (perhaps for emphasis), you must make it clear that these words are the author’s by using quotation marks appropriately. You will not want to quote anything over one sentence in length, and you will want to limit yourself to no more than 2-3 direct quotes, if you use any at all. Remember that the whole point of this portion of the assignment is for you to restate the author’s points objectively in your own words.
In general, I recommend you structure your first sentence something like this:
In “Children Need to Play, Not Compete, Jessica Statsky…
This will function as the thesis statement of your summary, so this first sentence will need to convey the main point(s) of the article to give your reader an overall view.
2.) Response
Write a detailed response (1 ½ to 2 pages minimum, or at least 400-500 words) to “Children Need to Play, Not Compete.” Before you even begin drafting, you will want to decide on the terms of your response. Once you decide on the terms (or grounds) of your response, you’ll want to figure out how you can support your points—using logic, outside evidence, examples from your personal life—whatever is appropriate.
(We will discuss how to determine the terms of your response in Unit 9.)
Please Note: The sample summary for this unit is included on the “Lecture Notes” page.
Please answer the below questions as brief as possible. I want these answers separately.
Discussion Questions:
Many students find the personal narrative assignment fun and freeing, as they enjoy reflecting on their own lives and telling stories. Others find it excruciating, as they prefer more structured and research-driven assignments with an external (rather than internal) focus. How about you? Did you enjoy this assignment or not? Why? Either way, what skills have you learned that you might be able to apply in other contexts?
Do you agree or disagree (or some of both) with Statsky’s points? Why? What have been your experiences or observations related to the issue of children and sports? What will be the primary basis of your response to Statsky? Will it be your personal views on and experience with the issue, Statsky’s logic, Statsky’s credibility, or use of emotional manipulation?
Which mode was more difficult for you: summarizing or responding? Why? What is the value of performing these two seemingly contradictory tasks?