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Definition Essay

Before we dive further into our travel theme, we need to first understand what travel means to us. From there, we can explore the term further and analyze different elements of travel. The central question you will be answering in this paper is, “What is travel?” You are not simply giving a definition, however. I want you to use this paper to explain to me what travel means to you and why. Use illustrations and examples to support your definition. Start by explaining – defining – the concept of travel. Avoid using the dictionary. Papers that offer dictionary definitions are not only boring, they lack originality and creative zeal.

For the rest of the paper, you will elaborate on how you defined travel. Start by giving an illustration of travel from your own experience. Your illustration will be a story that you think helps to clarify what you mean by travel. This is the “reflection” section of the essay and is the bulk of the support you will provide for your definition. Do not ramble about the time your family traveled to Florida to go to Disney World. Your illustration needs to have a point that helps support your definition. If you get stuck, you may want to consider elaborating on the following ideas if necessary.

1. Explain how others might define travel and how your definition is perhaps different from how others view it.

2. Classify your definition of travel. How does it compare to how others might define it based on the readings?

3. Contrast your definition of travel. How does your definition differ from how others see it?

Remember that travel does not always have to mean going to exotic places and

exploring unknown parts of the world, although it may mean this to you. Perhaps you grew up traveling by bus everywhere you went. Or, maybe the only time you left home for “vacation” was to go visit your grandparents on their farm. How do these experiences help shape your definition of travel? What did you learn from them?

We will read the following essays as we work on the definition essay:

“I Blame the Boy Scouts” by Boyd Mason (BB)

“Chiang Mai” by Carl Hoffman (BB)

The following reading is recommended, but not required. If we have time, we may read some of these in or outside of class:

“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan (MH p. 76)

“Once Upon a Quinceañera” by Julia Alvarez (MH p. 328)

“Globalization: The Super-Story” by Thomas Friedman (MH p. 472).

Important Dates:

Rough Draft & Peer Review: 09/08

Final Draft: 09/13

Page Requirements: Write at least two full pages, but no more than three. I will stop reading at the bottom of the third page, even if you are not done writing.

Travel Narrative

For this essay, I want you to write about an experience you have had with travel. Again, I want to emphasize that you do not need to impress me with a story about an exotic vacation to North Africa. Your travel experience can be as simple as a car ride or a walk across the street. However, keep in mind that your narrative must have a point. Do not simply tell a story. I want you to develop a thesis and support it with examples throughout your paper. Strong narratives have vivid details. We will discuss writing solid descriptions and details in class. Paint a picture for the reader. Remember, you are the only one who has had this experience, so detailed descriptions are important for your readers!

To begin, be specific about one experience. Do not ramble on about several different things that happened to you on a vacation. Describe the particular experience in precise detail. Use sensory details (things readers can see, feel, touch, taste, smell), and write in first person. You may use dialogue, but do not overdo it. Keep in mind the narrative needs to include some type of analysis or self-reflection. What did you learn from this experience? What sort of meaning can readers draw from your essay? Did this experience leave you wondering or questioning something? Consider the aforementioned questions as you write.

We will read the following essays as we work on the personal narrative:

“My Lobotomy” by Howard Dully (BB)

“Genetic Engineering” by David Sedaris (BB)

The following essays are recommended, but not required. We may read some of them in or outside of class if we have time:

“An American Childhood” by Annie Dillard (MH p. 312)

“The Myth of the Latin Woman: I just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer (MH p. 365).

“Children in the Woods” by Barry Lopez (MH p. 734)

Important Dates:

Rough Draft/Peer Review: 09/22

Conferences: 09/27

Conferences: 09/29

Final Draft: 10/4

Page Requirements: Write at least two FULL pages, but no more than four. I will stop reading at the bottom of the fourth page, even if you are not done writing.

Advertisement Analysis

For this essay, I want you to critically analyze a print advertisement. Since many, if not all of you, have probably not done an assignment like this before, we will discuss different approaches and techniques in class. The key here is to turn on your thinking caps. I do not want you to pull out random thoughts and put them down on paper. This essay will take a lot of hard work and effort. Don’t be surprised. You are, after all, in college. (

First, pick an advertisement. The better the advertisement, the more fun you will have writing this paper. If you choose something boring, chances are, your paper will be boring. If you are concerned about the advertisement you chose, come talk it over with me during my office hours. Once you’ve chosen your advertisement, your task will be to make a claim about what the advertisement says by looking at its patterns, assumptions, and visual cues. The first step is to observe the advertisement closely, picking out as many distinct details as you can. Once you have started to see patterns in the details, you will be ready to ask some questions about your “text.” To begin, start with these steps.

1. Use the detailed description techniques we worked on with the definition and narrative essays. Clearly describe the ad in as much detail as possible so readers can visualize it.

2. Analyze your advertisement and discuss how it targets a specific audience. Explore ideas such as how the ad appeals to different values of an audience, how it visually appeals to a specific audience, and how the ad works to mold an audience’s view.

3. Look at how the ad is trying to persuade a specific audience. What techniques are the advertisers using?

Your essay should include:

1. A strong claim (thesis) about the ad. We will discuss this more in class, but your thesis needs to be well supported by your analysis of the ad.

2. Strong body paragraphs that support your thesis using examples, definitions, rhetorical strategies, etc.

3. A solid introduction that engages readers and piques their interest.

4. A satisfying conclusion that brings the essay to a close without repeating what was already said in the paper.

While working on this essay, we will read:

“Rise of the Image Culture: Re-Imagining the American Dream” by Elizabeth Thoman (CEL p. 172)

“An Imperfect Reality” by Rebecca Hollingsworth (CEL p. 181)

Excerpts from “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall (BB)

The following essays are recommended, but not required. If we have time, we may read some in or outside of class.

“When Bright Girls Decide that Math is a ‘Waste of Time’” by Susan Jacoby (MH p. 282)

“Red, White, and Beer” by Dave Barry (MH p. 534)

“Why I Hunt” by Rick Bass (MH p. 742)

Important Dates:

Rough Draft & Peer Review: 10/20

Conferences: 10/25 & 10/27

Final Draft: 11/01

**While it is not required, I would encourage you to utilize our theme of travel as you write this essay. Think about our discussions of travel thus far and how they can be incorporated in your analysis of a travel-related advertisement (think cars, vacation spots, stores, etc.)

Page Requirements: Write at least three full pages, but no more than five. I will stop reading at the bottom of the fifth page, even if you are not done writing. Keep in mind you must have 10-15 pages for your final portfolio.

Argumentative Essay

Your final essay in English 101 is an argumentative essay. In addition to helping you improve your writing, this essay is also designed to prepare you for English 102. Follow the instructions below as you begin writing.

1. Choose a topic with varied opinions. Explain the issue.

2. Take a point of view - make a claim (a clear statement of position on the issue. Construct a thesis).

3. Back up your claim with reasons. Support your reasons with evidence including statistics, examples, and the opinions of experts.

4. Include at least brief reference to opposing points of view (counterargument).

5. Come to a strong conclusion that persuades the reader that your position on this issue is a strong and reasonable one based on the evidence and reasons you have given.

The key here is to think critically and argue logically. Convince the reader that your position is reasonable based on the evidence you find. Use the analytical skills that you practiced in your last essay. Structure here is important. Make sure that you arrange your evidence logically so that your conclusion makes sense. Write in third person. You want to pick a position that is debatable and allows you to convince the reader. Do not argue for a commonly accepted belief. While I am not forbidding you to write on the topics mentioned below, I would strongly encourage you to explore something else. Arguments for these topics are overused and outdated.

• Why drugs should be legalized, why the drinking age should be lowered, abortion, gay marriage, conceal and carry, death penalty, vivisection, stem cell research, immigration

Although it is not required, you might consider our theme of travel and how you could incorporate that into your argumentative essay. If you get stuck, see me during my office hours.

As you work on the argumentative essay, we will read:

“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift (MH p. 498)

“Too Young to Wed: The secret world of child brides” by Cynthia Gorney (BB)

The following essays are recommended, but not required. If we have time, we may read some of them in or outside of class.

“Social Sites are Becoming too Much of a Good Thing” by Ellen Lee (MH p. 152)

“America: The Multinational Society” by Ishmael Reed (MH p. 356)

“” by David Sedaris (MH p. 800)

Important Dates:

Rough Draft & Peer Review: 11/15

Conferences: 11/17 & 11/29

Final Draft: 12/01

Page Requirements: Write at least three full pages, but no more than five. I will stop reading at the bottom of the fifth page, even if you are not done writing. Keep in mind you must have 10-15 pages for your final portfolio.

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