English 102
Woodard
Short Essay on Chapter Six or Chapter Seven from Animals and Society
Topic: You can analyze any single topic of chapter six, “Display, Performance, and Sport” or chapter seven “The Making and Consumption of Meat.” Make sure you are analyzing one topic, not summarizing the chapter. See the end of this assignment sheet for a detailed explanation of the difference between summary and analysis. You need to take an analytical or argumentative approach in your essay.
Your topic does not need to be “deep” for this short paper, but your MLA formatting and your clarity of writing are very important. I want to make sure you know how to write a short, well-organized analytical essay with a thesis and topic sentences. I also need to see that you can format your essay in MLA style including in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Finally, I’ll be checking to see if your grammar and punctuation skills are at a passing level for this course.
It’s fine to use first person and personal experience in this essay.
Grading: 100 points that are in the same grading category as your research paper.
Length: 550 – 700 words plus a works cited page. Please do not write more than 700 words.
Format: You can follow the 5-paragraph essay format if you like (see handout in Canvas), but it’s not required.
Works Cited: At least 2 citations in the body of your paper. You must quote the chapter at least once, and you must quote at least one outside source (you can use an Internet source, another book, an interview, etc.). Note the “Suggested Additional Readings” at the end of the chapter, and the bibliography at the end of the book, and consider using a source from these lists as your outside source. Include parenthetical (in-text) citations and a separate Works Cited page. Note: you are expected to know how to use MLA before you enroll in Engl 102.
Layout: Use MLA format for the body of your essay and for your works cited page. Refer to the handouts in the MLA module in Canvas if you need a refresher. Failure to use MLA format for the body of your essay will severely impact your grade.
Purpose: As noted above, I want to assess your writing, your analytical skills, and your MLA formatting skills. The assignment also requires you to do minimal research so that you can quote one outside source.
WARNING: DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE CHAPTER IN THIS PAPER. You must analyze a certain detail (or details) that interest you. Focus on a narrow aspect of the chapter. If your essay is nothing but summary, you will receive a zero for the assignment. If you’re struggling to find a topic for this short paper, take another look at the Reading Response guidelines for suggestions.
What’s the Difference Between Analysis and Summary?
ANALYSIS is examination, evaluation, dissection, interpretation, original opinion, taking a position, reading between the lines, connecting to other knowledge, etc. It is the goal of most expository essays. You should have experience writing this type of essay from Engl&101.
SUMMARY is recapitulation, review, retelling a story or scene without original thoughts or interpretations. Summary is not the goal of expository essays. It is usually easier than analysis because it requires less thought. Assume that the reader of your essay has read our book and needs just the slightest reminder.
Strive for 90% interpretation and 10% summary in your expository writing.
