Textual Comparison Essay
-Assignment Instructions
Read “Learning the Grammar of Animacy
” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
After reading Kimmerer’s work, think about one element of nature that is part of your everyday environment. The sky? A mountain? A particular tree or bush? (If you’ve never really noticed anything, now would be a good time to start.) Go to where you are close to the element you have identified and do as Kimmerer demonstrated: “turn off the voice in [your] head until [you] can hear the voices outside it”.
-Assignment Topic
After you have read Kimmerer’s work and tried the exercise, find two pieces of research that argue for and against the idea that Americans are reluctant to learn a foreign language.
As you write your essay, remember that you are not writing an argument essay. You are trying to present both sides using textual evidence, compare and contrast analysis, and a neutral voice. While it is hard not to include your opinion, you need to use evidence from your sources and avoid writing an opinion piece.
-Instructions
Next, you will be writing a compare and contrast essay. In your essay, make sure you meet the following criteria.
- You need to find two scholarly sources from the online EvCC’s Library Media Services or from online sources that are credible and reliable.
- Write this essay in MLA format using essay style meaning clear introduction, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion.
- At the end of the introduction paragraph, make sure you clearly state your purpose for the essay.
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- You don’t need a formal thesis statement as this is a compare/contrast essay; however, you do need to state what your essay is going to do for your readers.
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- Make sure you clearly introduced and summarize each source. This means article titles, author names, and a concise summary for each source is provided.
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- Don’t assume the reader knows your sources and what you are referring to without first providing a clear introduction and summary for your sources.
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- Try to identify the style of writing for each article (argument, persuasive, description, etc.).
- Analyze each article and identify how and why the authors influence the reader. For your analysis, you need to use one of the methods of analysis learned in the textbook or in a module. For example, you might use a part of “The Method” as your lens for analysis, or you might use “ethos, pathos, and logos”.
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- Make it clear which method of analysis you are using within your introduction paragraph.
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- Support your analysis by using textual evidence and reasoning.
- Avoiding writing your opinion. You need to provide a comparison based on the evidence found in the sources.
- Again, you should only have two sources for this essay. Both sources should come from EvCC’s Library Media Services.
- Visuals, charts, etc. are not allowed for this essay.
-Assignment Format
- MLA style
- Essay (paragraph style) format
- Complete sentences
- Accurate grammar and punctuation
- 3-pages in length
- Double-spaced
- Times New Roman
- 12 point font
- 3rd person pronoun