Purpose: The aim of this assignment is to develop a practical aptitude for summarizing and “deconstructing” argumentative writing in order to understand the author’s intent more fully.
Assignment: In a well-organized and clear paper, break down (summarize) ONE of the following essays: Stephen Hawking’s “Is There A God”
Use the examples we have in the text and the models discussed in the classroom for guidance. In addition to identifying and explaining the author’s claim (central assertion), you should examine his/her main ideas, key types of support, and underlying meanings. What is the author’s purpose and who is the audience? Pay attention to where and when the essay was originally published as well as any biographical information the text might include. Note: Your audience is educated, but unfamiliar with these essays. Second Note: This is a summary essay which means that quotes should be limited.
Caution: With this paper, the goal is not simply to say “his/her thesis statement is here.” In other words, don’t simply show your reader where things are. Nor is the purpose of this assignment to decide if the author’s argument is a “good” one or “ineffective.” Nor, is the purpose of the assignment to voice YOUR opinion on the issue. In fact, you should NOT give your position on the topic or try to convince or persuade your reader to your side. The goal of the assignment is to present an OBJECTIVE explanation of the elements of the argument and to show how they work together to prove a point. Your essay should have its own organizational pattern and should reflect your understanding of the key concepts presented in the essay.
Things to remember:
All critical information for the essay (Author, title, publication source and date) must be provided early in the paper.
Your opening/introduction CAN/SHOULD be engaging, creative, and interesting. This is the only place in this first paper where your voice/style will be on display.
Do not refer to the author by their FIRST name only. This is too informal for an academic paper.
Have your own interesting, captivating title.
Avoid first person I (although I’ll allow it for the creative introduction) in the paper.
Provide clear, logical and unified paragraphs.
Utilize transition words and phrases to fluidly connect ideas and paragraphs.
Provide proper citations for ALL quoted material (follow MLA guidelines).
Have a Works Cited Page following MLA guidelines at the end of your essay.
Criteria for evaluation: This paper should be about 3 pages, typed, double-spaced, and MLA formatted. Also, you should have a works cited page included with your paper (although it will not count toward the required page length.)
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