ESSAY APPRECIATION GROUP STUDY
For this assignment, you will be working first in ‘expert’ groups. In these groups, you will work together to analyze the elements of the essay you have been assigned. For homework, each group member will then individually write up a report, 1-2 pages, double-spaced, about the assigned essay. Each student’s written analysis must contain all the necessary information and end with a statement about the effectiveness of the essay. The following day, everyone will be placed in new groups, consisting of people who have read different essays. Each person in the class will then present his/her assigned essay to this new group who will then evaluate them using a formative rubric.
We will be looking at the following essays:
Stevie Cameron, “Our Daughters, Ourselves” pg. 354(Argumentation & Persuasion)
Karen Connelly, “August 4” pg. 107 (Descriptive)
Paul D’Angelo, “The Step Not Taken” pg. 140 (Cause and Effect)
Sylvia Fraser, “My Other Self” pg. 38 (Narrative)
Brian Maracle, “Out of Touch and Loving It” pg. 200 (Comparison and Contrast)
Day One:
On the first day, you will be working in your expert groups. Do the following together and put the answers on your essay work sheet.
1) Read over the essay carefully and summarize it. Draw conclusions as to the effectiveness of the essay and make note of those conclusions.
2) Decide on the subject of the essay.
3) Determine the thesis of the essay.
4) Decide on the essay’s tone.
5) Discuss the intended audience.
6) Decide on the method of development and the purpose of the essay.
7) Decide how unity and coherence are achieved in the essay.
8) Note all of the rhetorical devices used by the author.
Day Two:
On the second day, you will be placed in a new group. You will present your written analysis of your assigned essay to this new group. Make sure you have included all the necessary information in your written analysis. No written analysis, no presentation!