Category: English

analyzes essay : “Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer” by Robert B. Reich Essay Length: 3 to 5 typed/word processed and double-spaced pages long—about 750 to 1000 words. 12-point Times New Roman One-inch margins at top, bottom, and both sides. Essay format: Formal 1st person or 3rd person or combination APA Format or MLA format [NOTE: The References or Works Cited page does not count as part of the 3 to 5 pages.] The paper must be documented according to MLA or APA format. The format must be consistent with the guidelines for MLA or APA format. There are links to the Purdue Owl documentation center in the Reaction Paper Module to assist students with MLA and APA format. Topic Scope: Keep the above essay length recommendation in mind as you focus on the topic and draft the paper. Tips: If you can’t achieve at least 3 typed/word processed & double-spaced pages, you need to either provide more specific development of your topic sentences, or expand the scope of your topic. On the other hand, if you have reached page 5 in drafting your essay and you still have much more you want to write to make your thesis point, you need to narrow down the scope of your topic. WRTING THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS PAPER The following outline provides a breakdown of what should be in the paper: I. Background information to help your readers understand the nature of the work (Introduction paragraph/paragraphs) Information about the work Title Author Statement of topic and purpose. Definition of key terms Historical information Thesis statement indicating writer’s main reaction to the work III. Summary or description of the work (Body paragraph) IV. Interpretation and/or evaluation (Multiple body paragraphs to address main points and your analysis) Discussion of 3 of the work’s primary tenets (main points). Discussion of the work’s style: Writing style is the way in which the narrative of a piece of writing comes across to other readers, including the writer’s sentence structure, syntax, and overall voice in order to provide writing with an overall tone or mood. Analyze and explain. Effectiveness: Are the writers effective in getting their points across to the reader? How so? Analyze and explain. Use examples from the text. Discussion of the topic’s treatment: From your reading, how do you feel the topic of the essay is covered? Do you see how it is relevant to today’s discussion of the topic? Analyze and explain. Use examples from the text. Discussion of appeal to a particular audience: Thinking about what group of people do you think will find the topic most appealing or likely to apply any of the lessons in the essay? Analyze and explain. What group of people will find the topic less appealing? Analyze and explain. IV. Conclusion (One complete paragraph) Teacher Expectations revise and edit the Critical Analysis Paper. It is the expectation of the professor that students will use this entire time to compose a comprehensive paper that is detailed, descriptive, well-organized, coherent, concise, and interesting. The paper is expected to be 3 pages in length; papers less than 3 pages will have 11 points deducted off the top and an additional 11 points (more or less depending on the length) per missing pages. Students are expected to follow the formatting directions for the paper provided at the top of the prompt (MLA or APA). Failure to follow formatting directions will result in the loss of 11 points off the top of the paper. It is the expectation of the professor that students in an Advanced Composition class will rise to challenges that come with being in an upper-level writing course. It is also the expectation of the professor that students will take each assignment seriously and work diligently to complete their work in a timely manner, use the resources of The Writing Center, the library, refereed websites (.gov, .edu, .org), the articles on Blackboard, and the professor. Finally, students are expected to submit original work to the professor for each assignment. Plagiarism will result in an automatic grade of F in the class. Good writing to you!