Rubric details for MAJORSMAJOR One –Discussion

Discussion Board-Analysis of Images

Journal Three: EssaysMAJOR Two:

WEEK FIVE

MAJOR Assignment Rubric

Content The paper...

Addresses the topic or question

Accurately presents facts and issues

Provides sufficient textual evidence to support

the argument

Structure The introduction...

Is present in the paper

Includes a clearly stated thesis

Indicates how the paper is organized

The body...

Contains a complete discussion and support

Each paragraph...

Includes a topic sentence

Develops one main idea

Has a transition sentence linking it to the next

paragraph

The conclusion...

Recaps the thesis statement and the essay's main

points

Presents a closing statement of the facts

Organization and Development The entire composition

Is logically organized

Has a solid argument with supporting

evidence

Main points

Are relevant to the thesis statement

Are discussed without too much

repetition

Style

Is concise and precise

Is free of misspellings

Is free of grammatical mistakes

Lacks incomplete sentences

Uses correct punctuation

Includes subject/verb agreement

Uses pronouns correctly

Is free of jargon and clichés

Cites references correctly

MLA Works Cited page is correct

MAJOR One: Structure = Paragraphs

What three elements do paragraphs

have?

Answer: Topic Sentence

Main Idea(s)

Transition Sentence

Body Paragraphs: Moving from General to Specific InformationYour paper should be organized in a manner that moves from general to specific information. Every time you begin a new subject, think of an inverted pyramid - the broadest range of information sits at the top, and as the paragraph or paper progresses, the author becomes more and more focused on the argument ending with specific, detailed evidence supporting a claim. Lastly, the author explains how and why the information she has just provided connects to and supports her thesis (a brief wrap up or warrant).

Moving from General to Specific Information

The four elements of a good paragraph (TTEB)A good paragraph should contain at least the following four elements: Transition, Topic sentence, specific Evidence and analysis, and a Brief wrap-up sentence (also known as a warrant) – TTEB!

1.A Transition sentence leading in from a previous paragraph to assure smooth reading. This acts as a hand off from one idea to the next.2.A Topic sentence that tells the reader what you will be discussing in the paragraph.3.Specific Evidence and analysis that supports one of your claims and that provides a deeper level of detail than your topic sentence.4.A Brief wrap-up sentence that tells the reader how and why this information supports the paper’s thesis. The brief wrap-up is also known as the warrant. The warrant is important to your argument because it connects your reasoning and support to your thesis, and it shows that the information in the paragraph is related to your thesis and helps defend it.

Induction

Induction is the type of reasoning that moves from specific facts to a general conclusion. When you use induction in your paper, you will state your thesis (which is actually the conclusion you have come to after looking at all the facts) and then support your thesis with the facts. The following is an example of induction taken from Dorothy U. Seyler’s Understanding Argument:

Facts:

There is the dead body of Smith. Smith was shot in his bedroom between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., according to the coroner. Smith was shot with a .32 caliber pistol. The pistol left in the bedroom contains Jones’s fingerprints. Jones was seen, by a neighbor, entering the Smith home at around 11:00 p.m. the night of Smith’s death. A coworker heard Smith and Jones arguing in Smith’s office the morning of the day Smith died.

Conclusion: Jones killed Smith.

DeductionWhen you use deduction in an argument, you begin with general premises and move to a specific conclusion. There is a precise pattern you must use when you reason deductively. This pattern is called syllogistic reasoning (the syllogism). Syllogistic reasoning (deduction) is organized in three steps:A. Major premiseB. Minor premise C. Conclusion

Socrates1.Major premise: All men are mortal.2.Minor premise: Socrates is a man.3.Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.Lincoln1.Major premise: People who perform with courage and clear purpose in a crisis are great leaders. 2.Minor premise: Lincoln was a person who performed with courage and a clear purpose in a crisis.3.Conclusion: Lincoln was a great leader.

So in order for deduction to work in the example involving Socrates, you must agree that 1) all men are mortal (they all die); and 2) Socrates is a man. If you disagree with either of these premises, the conclusion is invalid. The example using Socrates isn’t so difficult to validate. But when you move into more murky water (when you use terms such as courage, clear purpose, and great), the connections get tenuous.For example, some historians might argue that Lincoln didn’t really shine until a few years into the Civil War, after many Union losses to Southern leaders such as Robert E. Lee.The following is a more clear example of deduction gone awry:1.Major premise: All dogs make good pets.2.Minor premise: Doogle is a dog.3.Conclusion: Doogle will make a good pet.

On to Images: (page 176)

Content: Main objects? Which are more prominent, which less?

Framing: How is it framed? Within boundaries? Omitted? How is focus Influenced?

Composition: Arrangement? Symmetry or asymmetry? Close, far apart, above, below, right, left?

Background? Relationship implies..? Focus: Sharp? Soft? Clear? Fuzzy? How does focus

affect attention, relationships in pic? Lighting: Well lit? Dark? Shadows? Harsh light, or

soft? Contrast in tones? What’s darkest, lightest? Might different lighting change the pic?

Texture: How might the image “feel”, if you could touch it? Relationship to content?

Angle and Vantage Point: What is angle? Straight on, above, below? How is composition affected? What

is in foreground, background? What’s more prominent?

Significance is the final product of analysis: it is what the totality of the image connotes, and is the summation of all the elements that have been discussed before it.

While this final product is still an element that can be argued, the best analysis is one that has taken all the other elements into consideration for this conclusion.

Read Jean Kilbourne’s essay “Addiction As A Relationship”, page 540—548 in Composition of

Everyday Life. Answer all “Writing Strategies” and “Exploring Ideas” questions, in full

sentences, (approximately 3-7 should be good), identifying each question by number, only.

NEXT: Go to Chapters 5 and 6, and choose one (1) essay: do “Writing Strategies”, “Exploring

Ideas”, and choose an “Ideas For Writing” exercise to create a 250 word essay. Remember, this

essay can be any size: 250 words is an estimated count that ensures you explore the idea in a

full, and meaningful way.

WORDS OF CAUTION: Full assignment points means you do the full assignment. Points

will be lost if you are missing either full sentences, answer the questions in a single sentence (or

less), or are simply missing whole sections and/or questions. Please be conscientious about

fulfilling each facet of any given assignment. Thank you, John A Butler

For MAJOR Two, we are going to choose a topic through two means: concepts, and

images. Taking a broad topic, we will begin to whittle the concept down to a workable size: for

instance: take the concept of “INJUSTICE”. Through clustering, a general image search, and

scouring general news sources (Huffington Post, Fox News, Mlive, etc.) begin to gather

information on more specific facets that represent, in a concrete and direct way, your broader

theme. Below will be a list of general themes: you can choose one of these, or one approved by

me. Through both the Discussion Board, and reading articles that illustrate this theme in an

anecdotal way, (i.e. personal stories), you are assigned to develop a paper that uses these

examples, after addressing your topic in a general way.

TOPICS

Activism Privilege v. Rights Success Responsibility Humility

Righteousness Failure Kindness Leadership Generosity

Creativity Despair Hatred Love Selfishness