Category: English

You will compose a piece of epideictic rhetoric, praising or blaming a person. YOU ARE TO PRAISE THE PERSON!!! That person can be anyonefamily member or friend, living or dead, famous or relatively unknown. You will probably find it easier to write an essay that praises your subject rather than blames him/her, but you are free to write a paper that does either. Just bear in mind that rhetoric that blames a person can make the speakers/ writers ethos (credibility) more difficult to establish.

For this first essay, I would like you to adopt a non-academic style that you would expect to hear from a speaker delivering a speech. Speeches generally are not read verbatim, so your essayshould read with the kind of ease that one expects in spoken discourse. The style of your rhetoric is, of course, going to be more inclined toward pathos than logos, stirring your audienceto a new degree of feeling for/against your subject. Seek to inspire deep feeling in your audience, but bear in mind that too much pathos, or unwarranted appeals to pathos, can have the opposite effect. Audiences know when the emotion is cheap.

When drafting this essay, keep in mind that praiseworthy or blameworthy deeds are those for which one is responsible. In other words, you cannot praise or blame someone for circumstances or experiences beyond their control. Was this person a victim? Victimization can free one from guilt, but a victims suffering is not necessarily praiseworthy. Was this person endowed with an exceptional nature? Giftedness is not deserving of praise; neither is its absence deserving of blame. Did this person have advantages we might associate with time or place? Good or bad fortune, by definition, are not within ones control. Your paper should focus on those things that we would consider to be the result of ones free choice, for only free people can exhibit virtue or vice. Finally, highlight the deeds or acts of the person being praised/blamed. Try not to speak directly of the persons character; instead, speak of those acts and deeds that embody it. Occasionally you will have to name a virtue/vice, but try to do that as little as possible.

Thesis Statement DiscussionDiscussion Prompt

After reviewing the instructions and topics for the upcoming

1. Post your thesis statement for the upcoming essay.
2. The thesis MUST make an interpretive claim about the literary work (answer the question in the posted topics).
3. The focus of the thesis will be what you believe to be the story’s message. Don’t just identify the theme (i.e. reality versus illusion). Instead, take a position on what the story says about that theme (i.e. the story suggests that illusions and material concerns keep Gatsby from meaningful relationships).
4. Do not include introductory remarks which would lead to the thesis. Write ONE sentence.
5. Post early and allow yourself time for the peer review!

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to develop an argumentative claim to be used in the researched literary analysis essay.

Initial Post Guidelines

• The thesis MUST make an arguable claim about one of the stories assigned so far this semester.
• Write in the third person, avoiding “I/we/us” and “you.”
• Edit carefully before posting.
• Please remember to reply to 2 classmates.
• Edit carefully before posting.

Reply Guidelines

• After posting your response, reply to two classmates.
• Your replies should offer constructive feedback for improving the thesis.
• Does the thesis make an arguable claim? A statement of fact is not a thesis.
• What suggestions can you offer to help the writer improve the thesis?
• Please remember to be courteous and respectful.

Grading Criteria

Discussions grades are based on content, grammar, and adherence to the instructions above. Students who fail to answer the prompt or choose to write a post about a different topic will not earn credit for their posts.

The initial post is worth a maximum of 35 points; the reply is worth a maximum of 15 points. The total possible points for the Discussion is 50 pts.

AI use (including Grammarly and other grammar checkers) is strictly prohibited. Any evidence of AI use will result in a 0/F on the assignment.

Next, write a reflection on your experience receiving feedback from the online tutor. FIRST, identify whether you met with a local Ivy Tech writing tutor or a writing tutor at brainfuse.com. Then, write a brief paragraph summarizing the session. After that, answer as many of the following questions as appropriate: What worked well? What could have worked better? Which specific writing issues did you ask for help with? Why did you pick those specific issues? Did the tutor address the specific concerns you asked about? Was the feedback helpful? Did the tutor provide any helpful feedback aside from the issues that concerned you? Overall, what did you learn? How do you intend to improve your final draft based on this session (provide specific examples of changes you will make based on your tutor’s advice)? Finally, briefly indicate 1) whether you have used a writing tutor previously and 2) whether and how you would do so again. Your reflection should be at least 150 words in total. Save your reflection in Microsoft Word. Then, on this assignment page, submit your written reflection AND the confirmation of your visit you collected (Don’t forget to revise your final draft incorporating the writing tutor feedback you received for submission at the end of Module 5! However, your revised draft is not due yet).

Prompt – Write a review of a specific film, book, TV series, podcast, play, or video game that you think contributes something significant to the genre and to the culture at large. Show how the subjectthe primary sourceof your review illustrates something compelling or exceptional about a particular idea or theme common to the genre. For example, the CW series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (20152019) is a romantic comedy that eschews and even satirizes traditional romantic comedy tropes such as the grand gesture, doing something out of love for someone. Use specific evidence from your primary source to support a central idea, or thesis. In an essay of about 600 to 750 words, provide an overall judgment about your subject and support it with evidence from the primary source and from secondary sources if applicable. In addition, explore how your specific source has contributed something significant to its genre. In other words, why is this subject interesting, different, or worthy of analysis? Be sure to demonstrate awareness of your sources cultural and historical context as well. For example, if your review is about a romantic comedy, provide relevant information about the history, conventions, or expectations of that genre. Think about and explain the ways your topic adheres to or breaks from audience expectations. What to Include in Your Review Essay The Introductory Paragraph will set up the topic as context for the introduction of your chosen work. It will introduce the film, book, TV series, podcast, play, or video game and the claim or main idea. The introduction will conclude with a thesis that sets up clear expectations for the direction of your essay and give your reader a sense of the points you want to develop and discuss. Your thesis will express your judgment about whether or not the work effectively conveys a timely issue or concern through salient criteria. The following body paragraphs specifically focus on writing a film or book review, but they may be used to structure your review of a video game, podcast, play or TV series. Plot Summary – While you want to provide some plot summary, keep this brief and avoid specific details that would spoil the viewing for others. Description – While the plot summary will give the reader a general sense of what the film is about, also include a more detailed description of your particular cinematic experience watching the film. This may include your personal impression of what the film looks, feels, and sounds like. In other words, what stands out in your mind when you think about this particular film? Analysis – In order to explain your impression of the film (or another work), consider how well the film utilizes formal techniques and thematic content. How do the films formal techniques (such as cinematography, editing, mise-en-scne, lighting, diegetic and non-diegetic sound, genre, or narrative) affect the way the film looks, feels, and sounds to you? How does the thematic content (such as history, race, gender, sexuality, class, or the environment) affect your experience and interpretation? Also, do the formal techniques work to forward the thematic content? The Conclusion should leave the reader with a clear understanding of your stance towards your selected film, book, TV series, podcast, play, or video game. Consider also pointing your reader toward ideas beyond your own response on the work for example, to its application, implication, or importance, or how this work represents (or fails to represent) the qualities of works in this category. Submission Requirements This essay should follow MLA style. Your essay should be typed, numbered, double spaced, have one-inch margins, a title, and all relevant personal information on the top of the page. The minimum word count of 600 to 750 words does not include the heading, the title, and the works cited entries. You may exceed the word count but not by much! Please provide a word count at the end of your essay. As part of your essay, you will use at least one (1) still shot or excerpt from the work. The image should be accompanied by a brief description or annotation to explain it. —————————– The Works Cited Section will give the citation information for your book, play, podcast, video game, movie or TV series. Also, you will include 1 to 2 published reviews in order to situate your evaluation in the larger conversation about said work.

1) Choose a lyric poem that is of great value to you — could be a ‘classical’ poem that’s been anthologized multiple times, like a Shakespearean sonnet; could be a poem from a particular poet that you really like; could be favorite song lyrics.

2) Explain why your chosen poem/lyric is of value/ consider perhaps, its message, emotion, truth, etc. — maybe consider its ‘place’/’importance’ in your life.

3) How might you teach such a poem? What do you want your student-reader-learner to come away with?

4) Choose either Horace or Longinus and speculate upon the ways that your chosen theorist might judge and evaluate your chosen poem.

1) Choose a lyric poem that is of great value to you — could be a ‘classical’ poem that’s been anthologized multiple times, like a Shakespearean sonnet; could be a poem from a particular poet that you really like; could be favorite song lyrics.

2) Explain why your chosen poem/lyric is of value/ consider perhaps, its message, emotion, truth, etc. — maybe consider its ‘place’/’importance’ in your life.

3) How might you teach such a poem? What do you want your student-reader-learner to come away with?

4) Choose either Horace or Longinus and speculate upon the ways that your chosen theorist might judge and evaluate your chosen poem.

For this essay, you will choose a scholarly writing from an academic journal (or, book, dissertation, etc.) and analyze the author’s thesis as well as their writing style. The writing should focus on mythical or magical beings in some capacity.

The following should be included in your essay: 1.) a summary of the author’s main points; 2.) who you believe to be their intended audience; 3.) what you believe to be their goal, if they achieved it, and an explanation of why/why not; and, 4.) your own point of view on the subject/research.

Overall, your argument (thesis) should hinge on how effectively the author persuades readers through their writing. So, you may wish to discuss their word choice, sentence fluency, organization, personal voice, tone, etc.

Example thesis:

Through the use of engaging and accessible language; frequent appeals to logos; and well-organized structure, Laura Sells successfully argues in her article, ‘”Where Do the Mermaids Stand,”‘ that Disney’s The Little Mermaid relays a troubling message to young women: the scope of their future is ultimately very limited due to their gender.

Thesis breakdown:

1.) Topic: Laura Sells’ article “Where Do the Mermaids Stand”?

2.) Your argument: Sells successfully argues that Disney’s The Little Mermaid sends a message to young women that the scope of their future is very limited due to their gender.

3.) The points/How you will support this argument:

• In body paragraph 1, you will analyze her engaging and accessible language and explain how that effectively helped persuade you of her point (ie. that The Little Mermaid sends that troubling message to young women).
• In body paragraph 2, you will analyze her appeals to logos, and how these moments effectively helped persuade you of her point.
• In body paragraph 3, you will analyze her well-organized structure, and how this helped persuade you of her point.

*No more than TWO quotations permitted in this essay; only one block quote (four lines or more).*

750-900 words, MLA format. The use of any form of AI is prohibited for this assignment.

20% of final grade.

Use and analyze this article

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/jung.2011.5.4.83?searchText=vampires&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dvampires%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Af71ce02fde913e4d9ca83504cccc3d9f&seq=8

Using Critical Reading Completion requirements Opened: Sunday, February 1, 2026, 12:00 AM Due: Sunday, February 15, 2026, 11:59 PM This assignment is designed to help you practice the strategies for responding to a text outlined in this module. Rather than writing a formal essay, you will complete a structured response that walks you through the steps of evaluating what an author has written and responding using the texts ideas, terms, and positions. You will work with a satirical article from The Onion and focus on how the text communicates its message and how you can respond thoughtfully using critical reading strategies. Instructions Carefully read the article from The Onion linked below. Then, respond to each section below in complete sentences. Label each section clearly. The Onion – Article Part 1: Evaluating the Text 1. Why should readers care about this text? In 35 sentences, explain what issue, behavior, or belief the article is commenting on or criticizing. Why does this issue matter, even though the article is satirical? 2. Where do you find the authors position compellingor not? In 35 sentences, identify one aspect of the articles implied argument that you find effective, limited, or open to further discussion. Explain why. Part 2: Responding Using the Texts Ideas Choose two of the response moves below and complete them using the article. Each response should be 35 sentences. 3. Illustrating Use a specific example, image, or moment from the article to help explain your response to the authors position. 4. Borrowing Identify an idea, concept, or implied term from the article that helps you think about the issue differently. Explain how this idea shapes your understanding. 5. Extending Apply the articles critique to a related situation or context that the author does not directly address. Explain how the articles ideas help you see this situation more clearly. (Authorizing is not required for this assignment.) Requirements Respond in complete sentences Label each section clearly (15) Use specific references to the article (quotation is optional) Tone should be thoughtful and analytical, not informal or reaction-based Submission Guidelines Your assignment is due by Sunday at 11:59 PM CT. Submit your work as a doc, docx, or PDF file. Save your assignment using the naming format: LastnameFirstname_M5Assgn1 Do not use any kind of generative AI for this (or any) assignment. If a tool suggests words for you, it is prohibited. MS Word’s basic spellcheck is fine. If your assignment flags as AI-generated, I will ask you to prove your authorship. If you cannot do so, you will receive a zero for this assignment. I strongly recommend that you compose your assignments in a single Word or Google document. Grading Criteria 30 Points Criteria Points Addresses all required sections with thoughtful responses 15 Demonstrates understanding of the texts position and purpose 7 Applies two response moves accurately and effectively 5 Writing clarity and basic mechanics 3 Total 30

Unit 1 Paper: Narrative Essay

Full and complete rough draft due by 11:55 p.m. on 2/13

Final paper due by 11:55 p.m. on 2/27

Page length: 4-5 pages, double-spaced

(Use of AI is NOT permitted)

In the readings for Unit 1, our authors discuss what exactly they enjoy about their field of study. Sacks narrates his early discovery of the joys and risks of chemical experimentation. Didion discusses her passion for writing or, more specifically, discovering how stories take shape in what she calls the pictures of her mind. McKellar describes how her love for math burgeoned in a way that allowed her to assert her individuality while shedding the burden of her identity as a child celebrity. In a sense, they each tell the story of how they fell in love with their discipline.

For this assignment, Id like you to write a narrative essay, in which you tell a similar story about your own experience: what led you to pursue your major? You may not have almost burned your house down in a chemical explosion like Sacks or dreamed a childhood dream of having a mathematical theorem named after you like McKellar, but you certainly have your own unique story to tell.

It would probably be best if you centered your narrative on a single significant event or experience that first revealed to you the joy, possibility, or challenge of pursuing the academic subject you enjoy most. I understand that life is messy, and big decisions (like choice of major) dont always readily emerge from a neat and tidy set of circumstances. That said, for the sake of this essaywhich is not life, but a personal narrative, a storyplease try to narrow your focus as much as possible. While experiences in the world might not be cleanly organized and tightly focused, your essay should be. As you engage in this assignment, take all of the advice offered by WikiHows How to Write a Narrative Essay to heart. I really cant stress this enough: click the hyperlink on Canvas or our course syllabus to access this webpage and use it to inform your writing.

Above all, your story should address the prompt; offer a clear focus, thesis, or theme; and contain a manageable plot appropriate for a 4-5 page assignment. You may draw from and cite sources if you feel this strategy would be appropriate for your narrative. However, you are not required to do so. You are, of course, required to use the first-person throughoutafter all, this is your story!

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I would like you to post the rough draft of your narrative essay to this forum as an attached document–ideally in Word, but .pdf is OK too. Please note that I’ve prearranged three-person groups for this discussion forum. After you’ve posted your rough draft (by 11:55 p.m. on 2/13), you’ll return here to complete two peer reviews–one for each of your other group members. Please see Week 5 on our homepage for the appropriate handout to complete; the peer reviews need to be finished and posted here by 11:55 p.m. on 2/20. Got it?! I realize Canvas makes this navigation a bit confusing, but let’s do our best to make the process as smooth as possible. Essentially, these are the steps: (1) Post your rough draft here on 2/13 as an attachment in Word or a .pdf. (2) After you’ve done so, go to Week 5 on our Canvas homepage; there, read the guidelines for peer review and download the peer-review handout. (3) Read and then reply to your group members’ drafts by posting the completed peer-review handout here by 2/20. Make sense?

• I pursued being a biology major because I wanted to go into PA school, which was my end goal of mine
• I loved science, always felt connected to chemistry and biology
• Anatomy and physio always interested me
• I wanted to make a difference in this world and knowledge is power so I decided to pursue a difficult degree
• A bio degree would set me up for what is to come in PA or med school. The debate between the two paths continues
• Ive known I wanted to be a doctor since I was 10 but in college is when I switched to PA

PLEASE DON’T GIVE ME A ROUGH DRAFT VERSION. GIVE ME THE FINAL BEST VERSION POSSIBLE! IF THERE ARE TINGS MY CLASSMATES FIND THAT NEED TO E ADDRESSED OR FIXED ILL DO IT BUT HOPEFULLY THERE ISNT ANY LOL!

Write a literary analysis paper on on either Hemingway’s

(Valencia Reader) OR Kafka’s

[Valencia Reader} – Alternative source:

Apply a new critical approach than the one you selected for your first comment paper (write your selection under your essays date on the upper left side). The minimum required word count is 700 words. Use the for documentation. Make sure you upload your paper via this link before the deadline. If you use scholarly sources, include proper MLA in-text credit and a Works Cited page [do not use Wikipedia, Sparknotes, or some other non-scholarly sources.] Plagiarized work will not earn credit. You will be uploading your paper via Canvas and its plagiarism tool Unicheck to check your work against all available texts on the internet; therefore, if you quote or paraphrase from a source, give the required in-text credit and list the source on the Work Cited page following the MLA 9 guidelines.