Instructions
This essay is a comparison and contrast assignment that will compare two essays on a similar theme. Essays to analyze must be chosen from the list below. Your essay will let your reader (the class in this case) see the points that both essays are trying to make and your perspective on the topic.
You will submit a rough draft of your essay to the Writer's Workshop 2 for peer review feedback by Wednesday of Week 5. The feedback will help inform your revision process.
At the end of the essay, on a separate page, describe your revision process with the following worksheet
WORKSHEET:
• What did you do in your revision that made your thesis stronger?
• Did you use additional examples to develop your points in the body of the essay? List them.
• List at two additional specific points made in the peer review. What did you do to address those issues in your revision?
• What specifically did you say in each of the responses you made to others to help them revise their work?
Essay List
The essays you choose to analyze must come from the following paired list. Select the category that interests you the most. You cannot mix and match essays from different categories.
Environment
Jensen, "Forget Shorter Showers," p. 564 and McKibben, "Waste Not, Want Not," p. 557
Myth and Legend
del Toro and Hogan, "Vampyres Never Die," p. 335 and Parker, "Our Zombies, Ourselves," p.342
Politics
Colson, "Gay ‘Marriage'; Societal Suicide," p. 534 and Pollitt, "What's Wrong with Gay Marriage?" p. 529
Popular Culture
Alexie, "Superman and Me," p. 582 and Lipsyte, "Jock Culture," p. 349
Reading and Writing
Diaz, "The Dreamer," p. 129 and Cofer, "The Cruel Country," p. 595
Writing Tips
Look at how the authors present this topic. Does it add to your understanding or make you think of something related to the topic?
Remember your essay must have a reader and a purpose in mind. In planning this essay, you must answer these questions:
• Why is this matter of interest to the individual to whom you are writing?
• What is your position on this topic?
• What are the key points you will use in developing your topic?
• What examples can you use from each text to develop your analysis? (Hint: you will have already done this in Discussion 9.)
Use these answers in writing your essay. Your essay will compare and contrast the two essays according to whatever criteria you set. Focus your essay on your purpose and provide examples and details from both essays in developing your points.