Writing 101

Essay #2: Explanatory Synthesis  (15%)

“Knowledge is of two kinds.  We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information about it."
-Samuel Johnson

"Research is formalized curiosity.  It is poking and prying with a purpose."
-Zora Neale Hurston

In your first essay, you had an opportunity to summarize and critique a work.  In this assignment, you're going to build on those skills by working with several sources about the same topic.  Your task will be to synthesize this information in order to complete ONE of the following tasks in a 3-5 page paper:

From Chapter 8, "Cyberspace and Identity," pp. 295-296:

Option #1) Write an article for a newsmagazine exploring the various facets of the Internet revolution.  Use the selection by Leonard as a model for survey articles of this type, but avoid using more than one or two of Leonard's own examples.  Draw upon not only Leonard but also Lee, Dvorak, Snider, Parsons, Turkle, Pham, and Lewis as well as some of the brief selections on computer-mediated communication (CMC) in Chapter 4 (pages 97-108).  Focus in particular on how the Internet provides a means of exploring and defining aspects of our identity.  Keep the article relatively objective--that is, it should essentially take the form of an explanatory synthesis--but don't be afraid of venturing mildly argumentative assessments of the email phenomenon or the directions in which our Internet culture is headed."

Option 3: page 296: "How has the internet changed the way we think about identity?  Draw upon the selections in the latter part of the chapter--Daum, Dyson, Lee, Dvorak, Snider, Turkle, Pham, and Lewis--to explore this topic.  Consider such matters as (1) the identity or identities we create when we send messages; (2) the implied identities of those who send us messages; (3) the relationship or conflict between the actual identity and our implied identity or identities (see, especially, Turkle on this subject); (4) the relationship between our physical selves and our implied selves."

In addition to the articles in the text, you should include at least TWO outside sources in your synthesis.  You will need to turn in copies of the sources you have used.  You only need to include a copy of the pages you cite in your essay.  For example, if you work with a 10-page article from Time pp. 45-55, and you use information from p. 46, I only need a copy of page 46.  On the copy itself, highlight the information that you used and note whether or not you quoted, paraphrased, or summarized this source. 

Updated 9/26/06: In your final essay, you should pull from at least 4 articles in the book and 2 from the outside source for a minimum of 6 sources.

A rough draft of the essay will be due on Tuesday, October 10.

The FINAL DRAFT will be due both to me in class and to TURN IT IN on Thursday, October 12.
 

To help you prepare for this essay, we will be completing the following tasks:

-WRAC:
-Chapter 3 "Writing Introductions, Theses, and Conclusions"

-Chapter 4, "Explanatory Synthesis"
-Chapter 8, "Cyberspace and Identity"

PH:
-Chapter 14, Clarity

-Chapter PH, Chapter 51, “Finding a Topic,” Chapter 52, “Searching for Information,” Chapter 53 “Using Web Resources,” Chapter 54 “Evaluating Sources,” and Chapter 55 “Collecting Information”

PH Chapter 57, “Writing the Research Paper” and Chapter 58, “Documenting in MLA Style”

-Notebook Entry 5: Exercise 4.1 “Exploring the Topic” p. 96  

-Notebook Entry #6: Research Exercise

-Attending a Library Orientation Session
 

In terms of evaluation for the final paper, please see “The Rubric for Freshman Composition.”