Writing Assignment #1 will be a critique essay.
Courses that fulfill the General Education Requirements (GERs) at UMUC all have a common theme-technological transformations. In following this theme this semester in WRTG391, you will be critiquing an author on her views on online writing courses.
The critique essay asks you to look at a source with a critical eye and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. It will incorporate source material summary into its discussion but will also evaluate that source material.
Please write your critique essay on the following article. This article is available to you in the ereserves section of our class.
Kiefer, K. (2007). Chapter 8: Do students lose more than they gain in online writing classes? In, Brave New Classrooms (pp. 141-151). Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.
Considerations for this Essay:
You are taking WRTG 391 online or in hybrid format. In either case, you are involved significantly in online instruction in your class.
Kiefer argues in her essay that writing courses may not work well online. She provides various reasons for making her argument.
You might agree with her. Or you might agree with her on some points but question her on other points. Or you might disagree with her entirely. In this essay, you will evaluate her arguments and critique them.
In this essay, you will do the following:
1. Introduce the topic and introduce the author and essay. Then state your thesis.
2. Summarize the author's argument or arguments. Your opinion is not included here. You simply summarize the author's points.
Critique the author.
· Evaluate the author's argument or arguments.
· Respond to the author. Note what you agree with and what you disagree with. You will incorporate at least two other sources into this evaluation and response.
3. Conclude the essay.