Assignment
4:
Option 1: Explaining a Concept
Ø Write a 3-4 page essay about an abstract concept that interests you and that you want to study further. When you have a good understanding of the concept, explain it to your readers, considering carefully what they already know about it and how your essay might add to what they know.
Added glitch: your reader will be a 7-8 year old child. Psychological Research suggests childreb under the age of 13 to 14 are unable to grasp abstract concepts. Your job, then, is to teach the child what the concept means by using concrete metaphors and analogies the child might understand. We will discuss in class possible metaphors and analogies that may be useful for this assignment.
Read Guidelines on pages 235-254 for topic ideas.
The assignment will be graded in part on six elements:
Ø a focused concept
Ø an appeal to reader’s interests
Ø a logical plan
Ø a clear definition
Ø an appropriate writing strategy (see pages 232-233)
Ø and the careful use of sources, if applicable—as well as on documentation of sources using MLA format, incorporation of transitions and other devices to cue readers, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Read Love: The Right Chemistry (p. 205) and Indirect Aggression (p. 216) and come to this class prepared to discuss the essays.
Option 2: Proposing
a Solution:
Ø
Write
a 3-4 page essay proposing a solution to a problem. Choose a problem faced by a
community or group to which you belong, and address your proposal to one or more
members of the group or top outsiders who might help solve the problem.
See
pages 363-364 for topic ideas.
The
assignment will be graded in part on having 5 elements as well as on MLA
documentation of sources, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Ø
a
well-defined problem
Ø
a
clearly described solution
Ø
a
convincing argument in support fo the proposed solution
Ø
an
anticipation of readers’ objections and questions
Ø
an
evaluation of alternative solutions