Purpose
This essay is the major writing assignment to complete Project 2. The essay has several objectives:
- to continue practicing strong summary skills
- to formulate an analysis of a published argument
- to learn to integrate additional outside sources
- to take a position on the findings of an analysis
Writing prompt: You’ll be breaking down the chapter to consider the main claim or claims Denworth is forwarding in the chapter. You will summarize her claim, as well as the support she selects to illustrate her claim. Next, you’ll make an assessment: How persuasive is this chapter of the book? Is the claim sensible? Does the research back it up? Lastly, you will take a position based on support outside the book. Does your outside reading, class discussion, and life experience lead you to accept or feel skeptical of the chapter’s main idea?
Please make sure your analysis includes all bulleted elements below. Also, keep in mind as you work that a body paragraph should be at least 5 sentences, and usually 7 to 9 is more typical. Use the PIE method to ensure that your paragraphs are robust. And use the “frame a quote” method to integrate your quotations properly.
- Open Essay 2 with a general introduction of the book Friendship. Include the author’s name and the full title of the book. Give a couple sentences that summarize the overall gist of the book, and then introduce the chapter you will focus on with a summary of that. Then close with a thesis statement that reveals the main claim of the chapter and the degree to which you accept the claim.
- Your body paragraphs may be organized as you see fit. Make sure that you spend time breaking down the chapter into parts. What research studies does Denworth use? How effective are the studies? Where is her argument leading?
- You may find that some parts of the chapter are more persuasive than others, and that’s worth pointing out, too. For example, some readers like Denworth’s personal anecdotes; others find them unhelpful. Discussing the value of these can be one part of your analysis.
- When you turn to your assessment toward the end of the essay, you need to quote from one outside source (this can be an article or a video from our class or something else you find). And you also need to include quotes from two of your classmates. You’ll select from discussion posts, and you should give the date of the post. Here’s an example: English 1A student Jane Smith noted, “Denworth clearly favors secure attachment and assumes her reader will too” (Discussion post, 6/18/23).
- In addition to outside quotes, you are welcome to use personal experience or observation when discussing your assessment. This should not take up more than one paragraph or a part of a paragraph, however. Most of the analysis will be an academic assessment rather than a personal response.
- Finally, close with a brief conclusion of two or three sentences that leaves your reader with something about the chapter claim to consider.
- The essay should be about 5 pages, using 12 point font and one inch margins.
- CH. 3 Friendship under the Skin–This is a PDF of the entire chapter.
- Essay 2-Prompt Requirements–I have provided a majority of the prompt requirements.
- Essay 2-Personal discussion post response–I have provided three paragraphs that I had written for an online class discussion pertaining to chapter three, so please feel free to use them however you see fit.
- ENG 1A-Essay 2 Chapter Breakdown—I have provided what I believe is the author’s main claim (Please feel free to make changes) and a breakdown of the chapter in chronological order. Please note that most of the texts in the chapter breakdown are direct quotations from the book and are not in quotation marks.
- “Frame a Quote” Exercise–Please use this only a guide to “frame a quote,” as this is the standard my instructor is expecting.
- PIE Method–I have provided the PIE Method for your reference, as this is the standard my instructor is expecting for the body paragraphs.