Critical Thinking Paper #1



Critical Thinking Paper with Research Support #1

Unit 5: Rhetoric: How Do the Media Represent Poverty? And

Unit 6: Unit 6: Solutions: What Should We Do About Poverty?

Library Orientation and Major Research Workshop Day: Wednesday, October 31

Formal Proposal – 5% of final grade – due Monday, November 5

Thesis due for in-class workshop: Monday, November 5

Thesis with Topic Sentence Outline and Draft of Works Cited List: Wednesday, November 7

Draft of essay for writing workshop: Wednesday, November 14

1200 word minimum – 10% of final grade – due Monday, November 19

One of the components of ALL English 1A classes is research-based writing, and learning and using the Modern Language Association (MLA) method for citation of sources. Our last two papers are the formal opportunity to do this, although to some degree most of you have already been doing this. What is different this time is that your research will be comprised of more sources, and they will extend beyond the readings that I have provided for you. You will seek academic and scholarly sources. This requires you to have some library proficiency and to use the skills that you will get an introduction to at your library orientation. (If you miss class on that day, you will need to go to the library and ask a research librarian for a brief orientation of the holdings of the library and how to search for sources.)

Directions for Formal Proposal – 5% of final grade – due Monday, Nov. 5

You will submit a typed formal proposal of your plan for the research paper. It will have the usual information in the top left corner, followed by CTR#1 and the prompt number you are choosing centered on the next line (once you have written the essay, you will add a colon, followed by your interesting title that gives an overview of the paper. Your proposal will have the following numbered sections:

1. Your restatement of the prompt in your own words, and how you want to go about answering it. (15 points)

2. Your starter thesis. This does not have to be the final version of your thesis, but it should answer the prompt directly and have some kind of statement of your position and a plan of development. (25 points)

3. The article or articles from Poverty/Privilege that you plan to use in the paper, listed in MLA Works Cited format style, followed by your annotation of the article and why you think it may be useful to your argument. (30 points)

4. The outside sources you have found that you think you will use in the paper, listed in MLA Works Cited format style, followed by your annotation of the article and why you think it may be useful to your argument. (30 points)

5. Any questions you have about the assignment that you’d like me to answer before it is due. (No points; optional resource)

Points 3 and 4 above are what is called an annotated bibliography. The point of this is to collect your sources, read or carefully skim them to get an overview and formulate an idea of what their usefulness to the essay may be. These overview statements MUST BE in your own words and your own ideas – you cannot copy or reword any summaries in the textbook or databases.

Here is a sample, correctly formatted, copied from Skyline College’s online resources. The sample includes the different kinds of annotation you can do; I am mostly interested in a brief summary and assessment for your paper. Yours do not have to be as long as this; 4-5 sentences is about right. The sample below has square brackets [ ] to point out the different annotation parts; do not include that in your annotation – it is included here only to be instructive. () :

Almond, Steve. Candy Freak. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc, 2014. [Summary/description -- what are the main findings or arguments of the source:] In Candy Freak, Almond presents a solid history of the candy industry in 20th century America. After describing his love of candy and chocolate in particular, Almond takes the reader on a tour of candy factories across America while discussing how three large corporations (Hershey, M&M/Mars, and Nestle) managed to squeeze out hundreds of candy brands that were produced regionally in this country. [Evaluation/assessment -- what is the quality of the source:] This source provides a basic understanding of the history of candy but doesn’t go much further than that. The author’s humorous tone makes it interesting to read and also provides some insight in the author’s perspective (he seems a bit biased against the big three candy corporations). The information seems reliable but Almond does not provide a bibliography for his book so the reader should take that into consideration while reading. Almond’s personal tours through candy factories and conversations with candy makers do lend reliability to his work. [Reflection -- relevance/usefulness/conclusion:] This source will work well for my basic understanding of corporate influence in the free market. I can use this source in my introduction but it doesn’t provide much beyond the general. However, Candy Freak does provide a possible model for an explanation of how “mom and pop” stores have been supplanted by large corporations in the United States. It may offer insight into how the drink industry and beer industry have evolved over the last 100 years.

Using this source material, here is a closer approximation of what I am looking for on each one of your entries for direction #3 and #4 above:

Almond, Steve. Candy Freak. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc, 2014. Almond presents a solid history of the candy industry in 20th century America. Almond takes the reader on a tour of candy factories across America while discussing how three large corporations (Hershey, M&M/Mars, and Nestle) managed to squeeze out hundreds of candy brands that were produced regionally in this country. Almond’s personal tours through candy factories and conversations with candy makers do lend reliability to his work. This source will work well for my basic understanding of corporate influence in the free market. I can use this source in my introduction but it doesn’t provide much beyond the general. However, Candy Freak does provide a possible model for an explanation of how “mom and pop” stores have been supplanted by large corporations in the United States.

Directions for 1200 word minimum essay

10% of final grade – due Monday, November 19

In addition to the 1200 word minimum, this paper has the following requirements:

← 2-4 sources in addition to any sources used from readings on our syllabus that are required by the specific prompt.

← You must have perfectly executed MLA style in-text citations and a perfectly executed MLA style works cited list.

← You will also turn in a Note Packet. This Note Packet should have a Xeroxed page from the original source for any quote, paraphrase, or idea reference that is cited in your paper (excluding those from the readings on our syllabus). Each of these copied pages will highlight the quoted, paraphrased, or summarized text and list the page # from your paper on which it is referenced. It will also include the author’s name at the top of that Xeroxed page so that I can easily tell which source it is from.

These additional requirements are very important; to that end, there is a separate rubric that I will use to grade this part of the paper – it is a points-deduction rubric. So, once the papers are graded and given a holistic grade on their argumentative and writing merit (the usual way your grade is determined) I will then apply the research sources points deduction rubric, and take off any points from your grade based on any errors in executing this part of the assignment. (See the attached rubric for more information.)

Also, you are strongly encouraged to rely on scholarly journal or academic writing sources whenever possible for your outside sources. Avoid relying solely on un-researched media reports if your topic allows.

The Writing Prompt Options

(not all topics relate directly to Unit 5, but all relate to readings so far this semester):

1. (Adapted from Explore #3 on page 170): Watch the full CBS Broadcast Harvest of Shame from 1960 and read the full report of “Injustice on Our Plates: Immigrant Women in the U.S. Food Industry” both available online. Research conditions of migrant farmworkers in the 1960s and compare them to conditions today. What does your research show has changed and has not changed; use at least your conclusion to advocate for specific changes. Given the length of this paper and the magnitude of this issue, I am not expecting a comprehensive view so look for either data-supported broad strokes or a very narrow specific portion of the migrant community’s lives in order to keep the project doable as a researched but not thorough starting conversation on this issue. (Minimum source requirements: At least one article from Unit 3 besides Bauer and Ramirez, Harvest of Shame, “Injustice on Our Plates” full report, and at least one additional outside source.)

2. (Adapted from Explore #3 on page 213): If after reading Crystal Gammon’s article “Pollution, Poverty, and People of Color,” you agree that poor health conditions like asthma might be a consequence of poverty, research another health issue closely associated with poverty in the United States or abroad. Make an argument about the connection between poverty and poor health in the specific context you are looking at and discuss any broader cultural connections you see in play. You must have a clear claim (perhaps related to ways to address it?); this cannot just be a report. (Minimum source requirements: Crystal Gammon article from Unit 3 and at least two additional outside sources, one of which must be a scholarly journal article.)

3. (Adapted from Explore 2 on page 390): What do place, race, and gender have to do with persistent poverty according to Peter Edelman’s “The State of Poverty in America”? (November 26 reading) Research one aspect of his claim (one or more way(s) that place, race, OR gender impact poverty) and write an argument either explaining or challenging Edelman’s observation. (Minimum source requirements: the Edelman article and one other article from any section in P/P; at least two outside sources.)

4. Is there something you want to research related to Poverty and Privilege? Let me know right away. If you can formulate it as a research questions, you may be able to write on an expansion of an idea sparked by one of our readings. If there is an idea you want to write about, make a proposal and submit it, but you must make a proposal via email BY TUESDAY OCTOBER 30 at 7pm so that you know BEFORE our library visit. Your required sources will be the article from P/P that sparked the idea and two additional sources of what category we will determine at the library. YOU CANNOT DO THIS PROMPT WITHOUT MY WRITTEN APPROVAL VIA EMAIL.

Requirements Rubric – Read & Use

This is a checklist that you must use as a guideline and then attach to your paper when you turn it in. You will not gain any percentage points for including these materials, but you can lose up to 15% on the paper grade if you don’t have these required parts.

_____ Correct MLA format: correctly formatted in-text citations and correct paper formatting (3%)

_____ Correct MLA format: correctly formatted works cited list (5%)

_____ Note Packet: xerox copies of all quotes, paraphrases, summaries that appear in the paper (all citations) organized according to the source requirement instructions. (2%)

_____ Number and type of sources: two-four sources minimum beyond any sources from the class syllabus specifically required in the prompt. (5%) (Note that complete failure to follow this point on the rubric could actually just result in summary failure for the assignment – this is a research paper. If you don’t do research, you have not followed the assignment which is a failing grade.)

General Grading Rubric for Formal Paper Assignments

This rubric provides a general description of papers that fall in each of the five grade categories. You should use it to prepare your papers, and to understand your grades once papers have been returned.

A level paper (Final Grade Range: 100-90%) (Actual Paper Grades: A+ 100-98; A 95; A- 92)

This paper is outstanding; that is, it “stands out” as a response to the assignment. It is clear, original, and insightful and effectively addresses all parts of the prompt with insightful development. The thesis is compelling and distinctive, and the essay features purposeful organization and a thoughtful line of reasoning with graceful transitions. The essay uses sources thoughtfully and clearly, analyzing sources and integrating them into the discussion. It is generally free from errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure, and there is evidence of the student's stylistic use of language. In all regards, this paper is an excellent response to the assignment and has a consistent, authoritative "voice."

B level paper (Final Grade Range: 89-80%) (Actual Paper Grades: B+ 88; B 85; B- 82)

In a (B) paper, the writer has in some way moved beyond the basics of the assignment expectations, offering some thoughtful observations and insights. The writer clearly addresses all parts of the prompt and shows thoughtful development of ideas. Although the paper may have minor weaknesses in paragraphing, it will contain evidence of the writer's ability to organize information into coherent and unified paragraphs that display specific and detailed development. The paper will have competent analysis and integration of sources. This essay may have minor errors in grammar and mechanics, but points will still be clear, and it will have a clear, supported thesis.

C level paper (Final Grade Range: 79-70%) (Actual Paper Grades: C+ 78; C 75; C- 72)

A paper in this category will have a discernible plan with a beginning, middle, and end and will complete at least the basic tasks of the assignment – it is competent, adequate, and satisfactory. It does address the prompt, but it may neglect some parts of it. There may be somewhat ambiguous and imperfect reasoning and ideas may be repeated rather than developed, but it does show adequate analysis and basic integration of sources. Thesis may be only vaguely stated, though it is clearly implied throughout. It will be organized and paragraphed well enough to allow the reader to understand the point of the discussion, despite some inconsistencies and weak transitions. It may have a pattern of errors, but they do not interfere with the meaning.

You must satisfactorily complete the basic requirements of the assignment (word count; source requirement; adherence to prompt topic) to be eligible for a C grade on your papers

D level paper (Final Grade Range: 69-60%) (Actual Paper Grades: D 65)

A paper will fall into this category if it shows serious difficulty completing or satisfying the tasks of the assignment -- it may not sufficiently address the prompt; it may lack an overall plan with a beginning, middle, and end; key ideas in paragraphs may lack development or illustration; it may use sources illogically or simplistically as if just to satisfy the requirement; or errors in word choice, sentence structure, and mechanics may seriously interfere with readability. It may fail to clearly introduce or define its central thesis. Transitions between points are awkward or non-existent. The writer's control of language may be uncertain and there may be many unsupported generalizations. The paper may only summarize the sources and make no argument or analysis about them. The paper may struggle with clarity or have an accumulation of errors that interfere with meaning. The paper may be just a bit (10% or less) short on required length.

F level paper and no credit grades (59-0%)

An F (usually 55%-50%) would be assigned to a paper if it simply does not exhibit any of the basic requirements of composition writing: it has no clear thesis, or thesis does not respond to question asked in prompt; the organization is unclear or non-existent to the point that the logic and/or argument of the paper are unknowable or seriously underdeveloped. Serious and frequent errors in word choice, sentence structure, or mechanics interfere with basic readability. Papers that are well-written, but of incomplete length or that do not use any required sources will also receive this grade.

A O% F is given for any paper not turned in, turned in but plagiarized in any amount, or if it is an unapproved essay on entirely other subject matter than what was assigned. (July 2017 revision)

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