Essay Two

DUE September 23 (11:59pm, EST)

100 Points

General Directions:

  • To follow these General Directions with relative ease, be sure to review Thinking to Write Lesson W1: Formatting for APA Style with Google Docs.
  • All essays MUST be typed into a KSU Google Docs document. (KSU Google Drive is located in Flashline.) You may not write the essay offline (such as with MS Word) and upload it. I want to see how the essay develops, to help me analyze your writing process. This means that I will be checking the essay document’s version history.
  • The essay must be formatted in APA  documentation style.
  • Be sure to put your last name and the assignment in the document label (upper left corner), for example: Smith’s Essay One, or Jones’ Essay Two.
  • You are also encouraged to save a copy of the paper.
  • Be sure to share the essay with me (clrobins@kent.edu), allowing me permission to edit it.
  • In order to receive confirmation that I have access to the essay, make sure that I receive email notification (and thus a link to the essay) when you share it.

Essay Two Directions:

Choose ONE of the below topics. This essay should be 500-1500 words (2-4 pages) long.¹ In-text citations and a references page are  required for this assignment.

TOPIC OPTION #1—Adaptation of a Poem: Consider the “Richard Cory” case study. Discuss Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem, as well as the provided adaptations/appropriations of the poem, in terms of tone, critical thinking, and visual expression. What are some of the differences between the original work and these adaptations/appropriations? Are these differences improvements or deteriorations? Why do you think so? Be sure to make use of the following in your essay (paraphrases or quotes, followed by in-text citations):

    1. Robinson’s poem
    2. at least two of the video recorded adaptations/appropriations
    3. Alice Walker’s “In Search of our Mothers’ Gardens”
    4. Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”
    5. at least three other critical sources²

TOPIC OPTION #2—Adaptation of a Song: Consider the “Richard Cory” case study. Discuss Paul Simon’s song, as well as the provided adaptations/appropriations of the poem, in terms of tone, critical thinking, and visual expression (performance, for example). (Nevermind that it was adapted from Robinson’s poem.) What are some of the differences between the original work and these adaptations/appropriations? Are these differences improvements or deteriorations? Why do you think so? Be sure to make use of the following in your essay (paraphrases or quotes, followed by in-text citations):

    1. Simon’s lyrics
    2. at least two versions of the song, performed
    3. Alice Walker’s “In Search of our Mothers’ Gardens”
    4. Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”
    5. at least three other critical sources²

TOPIC OPTION #3—Adaptation of an Idea: Consider the “Richard Cory” case study (at the bottom of the page). Compare/contrast Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem, Paul Simon’s song, and the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in terms of perspectives on life. How does Simon’s song comment upon Robinson’s poem? How does the Rolling Stones’  song comment upon both Robinson’s poem and Simon’s song? Discuss your response in terms of tone, critical thinking, and visual expression. Be sure to make use of the following in your essay (paraphrases or quotes, followed by in-text citations):

    1. Robinson’s poem
    2. Simon’s lyrics
    3. the lyrics to the Rolling Stones’ song
    4. Alice Walker’s “In Search of our Mothers’ Gardens”
    5. Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”
    6. at least two other critical sources²

TOPIC OPTION #4—Hyperboles, Fiction, Facts, and Fakery: Consider the “RNC & ‘Migrant Crime'” piece from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver; it is a report of the 2024 Republican Convention in Milwaukee. What is the bias of this report? How do you know? Does it contain elements of fake news, and if so, is this news relayed in all seriousness or for the sake of humor? How do you know? Discuss your response in terms of tone, critical thinking, and visual expression. Be sure to make use of the following in your essay (paraphrases or quotes, followed by in-text citations):

    1. Lazer, et. al, “The Science of Fake News”
    2. “RNC & ‘Migrant Crime’ (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver)
    3. Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”
    4. at least five other critical sources²

TOPIC OPTION #5: IDENTICAL TO TOPIC OPTION #4 (Sorry!) Consider the “RNC & ‘Migrant Crime'” piece from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver; it is a report of the 2024 Republican Convention in Milwaukee. What is the bias of this report? How do you know? Does it contain elements of manipulated news, and if so, is this news relayed in all seriousness or for the sake of humor? How do you know? Discuss your response in terms of tone, critical thinking, and visual expression. Be sure to make use of the following in your essay (paraphrases or quotes, followed by in-text citations):

    1. Lazer, et. al, “The Science of Fake News”
    2. “RNC & ‘Migrant Crime’ (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver)
    3. Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”
    4. at least five other critical sources²

TOPIC OPTION #5: Consider the two Fox News coverages of each the Republican National Convention (Milwaukee, 2024) and the Democratic National Convention (Chicago, 2024).  What is the bias of these coverages? How do you know? Do they contain elements of manipulated news, and if so, is this news relayed in all seriousness or for the sake of humor? How do you know? Discuss your response in terms of tone, critical thinking, and visual expression. Be sure to make use of the following in your essay (paraphrases or quotes, followed by in-text citations):

    1. Lazer, et. al, “The Science of Fake News”
    2. “”The Five’ reacts to bandaged Trump getting roaring welcome at RNC” (Fox News)
    3. “‘The Five’ reacts to a ‘Democratic mutiny’ as the DNC begins” (Fox News)
    4. Mary Louise Pratt’s “Arts of the Contact Zone”
    5. at least four other critical sources²

NOTES
¹ One page is roughly 315 words (Times Roman, 12pt. font, 1 inch margins).
² A critical source is a work that somehow analyzes the subject matter, or else indirectly (or incidentally) contributes to a point being made. You may use sources that you find yourself; however, you must share the source with me at least 72 hours prior to the due date of this essay, in order to gain my permission to use it.

Grading Rubric

A paper may fall between the below described levels of quality—it may, for example, have a clearly stated central claim (thesis) but lack sufficient support, or it may be tightly organized and well supported, but full of grammatical and/or mechanical errors. In such instances, the paper will be evaluated in terms of its strongest qualities as set against its weakest qualities. Feedback will always be provided.

A Level Work
The paper demonstrates a full understanding and respect for the directions and stays on the chosen topic. The paper is properly formatted (APA Style) and was obviously composed using KSU Google Docs.  The paper’s thesis (main point) is clearly stated. The paper is tightly organized, well developed, and coherent. The paper is well supported by reasoning and documented sources (cited quotes, facts, and/or paraphrases). The paper has a professional tone, avoiding second person (“you” or “we”) completely. The paper is virtually free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

B Level Work
The paper demonstrates a full understanding and respect for the directions and stays on the chosen topic. The paper is properly formatted (APA Style) and was obviously composed using KSU Google Docs.  The paper’s thesis (main point) is clearly stated. The paper is mostly organized, sufficiently developed, and mostly coherent. The paper is sufficiently supported by reasoning and documented sources (cited quotes, facts, and/or paraphrases). The paper has a mostly professional tone, avoiding second person (“you” or “we”) completely. The paper is mostly free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

C Level Work
The paper demonstrates some understanding and respect for the directions and stays on the chosen topic. The paper demonstrates an attempt to be properly formatted (APA Style) and was obviously composed using KSU Google Docs. The paper’s thesis (main point) is stated, but not very clearly. The paper is somewhat organized, loosely developed, and vaguely coherent. The paper is marginally supported by reasoning and documented sources (cited quotes, facts, and/or paraphrases). The paper has a barely professional tone, failing to avoid second person (“you” or “we”) completely. The paper is mostly free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

D Level Work
The paper does not demonstrate a full understanding or respect for the directions, and/or the paper fails to stay on the chosen topic. The paper does not demonstrate an attempt to be properly formatted (APA Style), and it is not clear that it was composed using KSU Google Docs. The paper’s thesis (main point) may or may not be stated, but if it is stated, it has not been done so very clearly. The paper is barely organized, under- developed, and/or barely coherent. The paper is weakly supported by reasoning and documented sources (cited quotes, facts, and/or paraphrases). The paper has an unprofessional tone, significantly failing to avoid second person (“you” or “we”) completely. The paper contains several grammatical and mechanical errors.

F Level Work
The paper does not demonstrate a full understanding or respect for the directions, and/or the paper fails to stay on the chosen topic. The paper does not demonstrate an attempt to be properly formatted (APA Style) and was obviously not composed using KSU Google Docs. The paper’s thesis (main point) may or may not be stated, but if it is stated, it has not been done so very clearly. The paper is unorganized, under- developed, and/or incoherent. The paper is weakly supported by reasoning and documented sources (cited quotes, facts, and/or paraphrases), if supported at all. The paper has an unprofessional tone, significantly failing to avoid second person (“you” or “we”) completely. The paper is cluttered by grammatical and mechanical errors.

Sample Point Deductions:
Submitted late: 3% grade point subtraction for each day late
Vague or missing thesis statement: 5% grade point subtraction
Unprofessional tone: 5% grade point subtraction
Improperly formatted: 5% grade point subtraction
Unprofessional use and citation of references: 5% grade point subtraction
Sentence coherence: 5-10% grade point subtraction
Weak essay organization and/or essay unity: 10% grade point subtraction
Not composed using KSU Google Docs: 10% grade point subtraction

1% of a 100 point essay = 1 point
1% of a 200 point essay = 2 points

Sample Point Additions:
Excellent thesis statement (clear and well written): 3% grade point addition
Professional tone: 5% grade point addition
Professionally cited references: 5% grade point addition
Well stated and supported points: 5-10% grade point addition
Very strong essay organization and/or essay unity: 10% grade point addition

Example
An essay worth 100 points that is: not be properly formatted (-5 points), submitted three days late (-9 points), has a very weak thesis (-5 points), has numerous incoherent sentences (-10 points), but has very strong organization and/or unity (+10 points) would likely earn a grade of 81 points (B-).

Rule
No grade for submitted work ever goes above an A; likewise, no graded work ever goes below an F; however, if an assignment is never submitted, or if it is submitted too late to be graded, it will receive ZERO points.