Category: Creative Writing

Worth 10% of Final Grade

This assignment asks you to reflect on a current event/issue/topic in sport today and describe the event/issue/topic in the form of a written letter to someone in the past. Be creative in who you write to. It can be a famous athlete (e.g., Muhammad Ali), a grandparent, or even a younger version of yourself. You should incorporate your own personal experiences with course readings (if possible), class discussions, primary/secondary sources, and if possible, statements from the media. There should be some personal narrative in this paper. 1st person is A-OK to use! Have fun with this assignment. Write informally if needed!

Here are some questions that you can try to answer and help navigate your thinking:

• What is the event/issue/topic?
• Who is participating in the event/issue/topic?
• What is the significance?
• What is the history? What is the timeline of events?
• What major event(s) led to this issue coming about
• Why is this moment significant?
• What is the public saying about the event? What are your friends saying? Family?
• Reflect on the event/issue/topic with your own thoughts
• MOST IMPORTANTLY, TRY TO CONNECT THIS EVENT/ISSUE/TOPIC TO SOMETHING IN THE PAST THAT THE READER MAY BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE

Formatting and submission guidelines:

• Literally, try to write this paper like a letter such as Dear Muhammad….
• Never written a letter? Youve written an email, right?
• PLEASE USE CORRECT AND PROPER GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, AND SPELLING
• Make sure to put your name on it
• The letter should be 2-4 pages double spaces (3 pages should def suffice though), size 12 font, 1-inch margins
• References should be cited in proper APA style
• Why do we need to cite sources? Because this is still an academic practice.
• You should submit your paper through Canva

Below students find how they will be marked. Please note that the instructor will mark accordingly so 4s (4/5) and 2s (2/5) may be given depending on the quality of the work.

Grading Rubric for the Letter to the Past Assignment

Introduction:

• 5 = Introduction sentence or introductory portion of the letter clearly outlines the event/topic/issue
• 3 = There is a vague attempt at an introduction, but it is confusing.
• 1 = No clear introduction or statement of event/topic/issue

Description

• 5 = Description sporting event/topic/issue and how it has changed over time (if possible)
• 3 = Description incompletely, vaguely, or unclearly addresses how it has changed over time
• 1 = Description about sporting event/topic/issue are unclear or not present.

Personal Reflection (interpretation and own opinion)

• 5 = Personal reflection of sporting event/topic/issue is clearly articulated and showcases personal narrative
• 3 = Personal reflection incompletely, vaguely, or unclearly addresses your personal thoughts on the issue
• 1 = Personal reflection about sporting event/topic/issue are unclear or not present

Connection to the past

• 5 = Connection of sporting event/topic/issue to a similar historical experience in which the person you are writing to is living in is clearly articulated (i.e., athlete activism now and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s)…this may be difficult depending on the topic, but TRY an BE CREATIVE
• 3 = Connection of sporting event/topic/issue to a similar historical experience in which the person you are writing to is living in is incomplete, vague or unclear
• 1 = Connection of sporting event/topic/issue to a similar historical experience in which the person you are writing to is living in is not present

Conclusion:

• 5 = Conclusion clearly summarizes your thoughts regarding sporting event/topic/issue to the reader
• 2 = There is a vague attempt to conclude the letter, but it is confusing.
• 0 = No conclusion paragraph

References:

• 2= References are provided for all sources and generally conform to APA style. 2 sources (1 primary and 1 secondary) are used. Full references for scholarly articles are provided at the end of your paper and generally conform to APA style.
• 0 = No attempt was made to cite sources.

Proofreading

• 3 = Good effort at proof-reading your paper.
• 0 = Spell-check was not used. Furthermore, the grammar is so problematic that it is difficult to understand what you are trying to say.

Rubric

Letter to the Past

Letter to the Past

CriteriaRatingsPtsThis criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Introduction

5 to >3.0 pts

Full Marks

Introduction sentence or introductory portion of the letter clearly outlines the event/topic/issue

3 to >1.0 pts

Partial Marks

There is a vague attempt at an introduction, but it is confusing.

1 to >0 pts

Lowest Mark

No clear introduction or statement of event/topic/issue

5 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Description

5 to >3.0 pts

Full Marks

Description sporting event/topic/issue and how it has changed over time (if possible)

3 to >1.0 pts

Partial Marks

Description incompletely, vaguely, or unclearly addresses how it has changed over time

1 to >0 pts

Lowest

Description about sporting event/topic/issue are unclear or not present.

5 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Personal Reflection (interpretation and own opinion)

5 to >3.0 pts

Full Marks

Personal reflection of sporting event/topic/issue is clearly articulated and showcases personal narrative

3 to >1.0 pts

Partial marks

Personal reflection incompletely, vaguely, or unclearly addresses your personal thoughts on the issue

1 to >0 pts

Lowest Marks

Personal reflection about sporting event/topic/issue are unclear or not present

5 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Connection to the past

5 to >3.0 pts

Full Marks

Connection of sporting event/topic/issue to a similar historical experience in which the person you are writing to is living in is clearly articulated (i.e., athlete activism now and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s)…this may be difficult depending on the topic, but TRY an BE CREATIVE

3 to >1.0 pts

Partial Marks

Connection of sporting event/topic/issue to a similar historical experience in which the person you are writing to is living in is incomplete, vague or unclear

1 to >0 pts

Lowest Marks

Connection of sporting event/topic/issue to a similar historical experience in which the person you are writing to is living in is not present

5 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Conclusion

5 to >3.0 pts

Full Marks

Conclusion clearly summarizes your thoughts regarding sporting event/topic/issue to the reader

3 to >1.0 pts

Partial Marks

There is a vague attempt to conclude the letter, but it is confusing.

1 to >0 pts

No Marks

No conclusion paragraph

5 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

References

2 to >0.0 pts

Full Marks

References are provided for all sources and generally conform to APA style. 2 sources (1 primary and 1 secondary) are used. Full references for scholarly articles are provided at the end of your paper and generally conform to APA style.

0 pts

No Marks

No attempt was made to cite sources.

2 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Proofreading

3 pts

Full Marks

Good effort at proof-reading your paper.

0 pts

No Marks

Spell-check was not used. Furthermore, the grammar is so problematic that it is difficult to understand what you are trying to say.

3 pts

Total Points: 30

Writing Project #1: Academic DiscourseOpinion Editorial Analysis

Draft Due Feb 6

Final Feb 13

Format Requirements: Paper must be 3-5 pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, with one-inch margins in standard MLA format with a works cited page.

Texts:

You are responsible for finding an opinion editorial and making it available to me. You may use one of the opinion editorials found on the link on Canvas, or you can choose any other one you would like. Please submit a link to the op ed when you turn in the rough draft and the final draft of the essay.

Essay: What appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos) are used in the opinion editorial?

Your task is to consider the texts rhetorical situation and demonstrate an accurate reading of the claim, the main supports, and the appeals used in that argument.

You should give a brief overview of the text but focus your essay on showing an understanding of the argument being made and how it is supported. You will need to identify any appeals that are being used as support to the claim. This paper is not simply a summary of an argument. It is an analysis of the argument put forth by the text.

Structure:

The essay should follow an academic structure with an introduction and thesis, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The body paragraphs should bring in significant details from the text as evidence to support the paragraph. The goal is to show an understanding of how the op ed uses rhetorical appeals to support its claim.

Here are some questions that might help you think about the rhetorical situation:

What is the argument?

Who is the audience?

What contextual elements influenced the production of the text?

What appeal(s) does the author employ to persuade the audience?

In what ways are these appeals significant?

Are there other elements that clearly lend support to the claim?

In what ways are these significant?

How do the appeals or other elements build to support the claim?

Grading Criteria:

I will use a holistic scoring rubric to evaluate your paper that takes into account your mastery of such facets of writing as organization, development, grammar, mechanics, and usage.

A successful essay must accomplish the following (though not necessarily in this order):

a) Introduce the rhetorical situation of the text

b) Give an overview of the text

c) Identify the argument

d) Analyze the argument and rhetorical appeals to show how the argument/main claim is being supported

Key RWS 305W Learning Objectives Met with This Assignment

Understand the concept of rhetorical situations: the relationship among writer-audience-subject-context

Apply critical reading strategies to a variety of publicly and individually produced texts

Work with demanding readings and learn to interpret, incorporate, and evaluate these readings

Use writing as a way to learnto think about, question, and communicate ideas

Develop successful, flexible strategies for generating, revising, and editing texts

Understand the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process

Critique your own and others texts

Show initiative in problem solving situations

This is a discussion post about the essay I am going to write that I did a week ago.

In the article “Has social media ruined romance?”, Luis Zavala uses pathos to appeal to the readers’ emotions by showing that romance has been destroyed by social media. Zavala opens his argument by describing romance as once being filled with meaningful moments, “…the anticipation of seeing each other,” sparks, and butterflies, which creates a sense of emotional loss and nostalgia. This lifts the reader emotionally and creates excitement, then he slowly brings the reader down by claiming that those moments are fading and no longer exist. He says, “…the time of comparing, setting up expectations, and possibly ruining our relationships is here with the evolution of social media.” It feels like an intentional emotional shift from happiness to disappointment. Zavala is making the loss of those special moments feel personal. Zavala makes the reader feel happiness, then creates sadness and anger towards social media. This use of pathos strengthens his argument by making readers not only understand but also feel the loss. This article forces readers to reflect on their own romantic relationships and question the role of social media in their lives.

https://thedailyaztec.com/120947/opinion/has-social-media-ruined-romance/