PURPOSE:

For this final assignment, you will consider concepts you have written about in the previous writing assignment (Rhetorical Analysis essay). Your final essay will address a synthesis-analysis question about the meaning and purpose of writing in our lives.

INSTRUCTIONS:

For this assignment, you will critically address the following essay prompt:

What is writing and how does it work in the world? In what ways do the assigned readings for the Synthesis-Analysis assignment open up discussions on expanding our current perceptions about the meaning of writing and the ways we learn about writing in school and beyond school?

While this question seems simple, the approach you take in answering it should do the following:

integrate the assigned readings;
explore the connections across these texts;
illustrate the significance of your literacy history and perception of writing; and
clarify bad associations about writing.
It is important to reread carefully your chosen readings to come up with thoughtful answers to the question above. Your answers will help guide your synthesis-analysis essay.

To prepare your synthesis essay, you will need to follow similar steps from the previous assignment (Rhetorical Analysis). As a reminder, you will need to engage in rereading and annotating the assigned readings. Doing so means you need to identify the authors’ theses and understanding the context of their arguments. Consider how they support their points with well-researched evidence. Are there any missing facts, viewpoints, or interpretations? Do you agree or disagree with the thesis (central argument) of one of more of the above essays? Why or why not? Do some freewriting about your reaction to the assigned readings.

Keep in mind the synthesis question (essay prompt) as you bring together the authors’ views along with yours—What is writing and how does it work in the world? In what ways do the assigned readings for the Synthesis-Analysis assignment open up discussions on expanding our current perceptions about the meaning of writing and the ways we learn about writing in school and beyond school?

Recall significant experiences about your literacy history. What connections from your literacy history provide insights into the role of writing in school and beyond school? Compare your own views about writing with those of the authors’ views from the assigned readings. What commonalities and differences exist among views of how writing works and what makes writing “academic”? What should the general public know about these views?

ASSIGNED READINGS: You will quote from ALL the assigned readings.

Reading #1: Hannah J. Rule, “Good Writers Must Know Grammatical Terminology” (from Bad Ideas About WritingLinks to an external site., pp. 150-154); NOTE: use the Table of Contents to search for article titles and page numbers
Reading #2: Laura Giovanelli, “Strong Writing and Writers Don’t Need Revision” (from Bad Ideas About WritingLinks to an external site., pp. 104-108); NOTE: use the Table of Contents to search for article titles and page numbers
Reading #3: Christopher Justice, “Texting Ruins Literacy Skills” (from Bad Ideas About WritingLinks to an external site., pp. 308-314); NOTE: use the Table of Contents to search for article titles and page numbers