Standards
11-12.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
11-12.W.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
11-12.RI.6 Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the effectiveness of the text.
11-12.RI.8 Delineate and evaluate the rhetorical effectiveness of the authors’ reasoning, premises, purpose, and argument in seminal U.S. and world texts.
Prompt
People often create works of nonfiction that reflect their values. As we’ve discussed in this unit, authors use their voice and research to convey meaningful messages and inform audiences in a respectful, effective manner. Select one of the works below to analyze. After studying the work, evaluate its effectiveness by writing an essay.
Instructions
Step 1: Read the Unit 4 PT Essay Summaries and select your focus. Using the links below, make a copy of your selected text.
Step 2: Read and annotate using your copy of your text
Step 3: Write an essay which fulfills the following criteria:
● Opening/Introduction: Introduce topic addressed by author/speaker. Provide a summary of text and context of the
situation. What is the argument?
● Body (2-3 paragraphs): What evidence is used to support the position on the topic? What appeals are used? Can you
identify some of the author’s choices (figurative language, repetition, sentence length, rhetorical questions, imagery, diction, allusions, symbolism)? How do the evidence, appeals, and author’s choices work together to support the overall meaning? How is the rhetorical situation conveyed?
● Conclusion: Was this argument effective? If yes, what evidence from the work leads you to this conclusion? Be specific. If not, how was the provided evidence ineffective? Is there critical information that is missing?
● Essay must be in MLA format.
The article I chose:
● “What’s Eating America” Michael Pollan
5 paragraphs max