Overview:
Throughout this unit, we will analyze five scholarly articles. Your job is to choose three of these articles and synthesize their content. See page 2 of this document for more details on synthesis. Class time will be dedicated to developing critical reading skills, discussing the articles’ content, and practicing the academic skills necessary for you to write a scholarly essay.
Some of the key concepts to keep in mind throughout the unit are: conflict, literacy, language, education/academic institutions, identity (cultural, individual, etc.), community, social status, social class, and power.
Throughout this unit, we will analyze five scholarly articles. Your job is to choose three of these articles and synthesize their content. See page 2 of this document for more details on synthesis. Class time will be dedicated to developing critical reading skills, discussing the articles’ content, and practicing the academic skills necessary for you to write a scholarly essay.
Some of the key concepts to keep in mind throughout the unit are: conflict, literacy, language, education/academic institutions, identity (cultural, individual, etc.), community, social status, social class, and power.
Prompt:
For this assignment, you will synthesize three (3) readings from the Scholarly Discourse Unit, putting the authors’ ideas in conversation with one another in order to set forth your own contribution to the conversation. You will develop a thesis that reflects the significance of this conversation.
For this assignment, you will synthesize three (3) readings from the Scholarly Discourse Unit, putting the authors’ ideas in conversation with one another in order to set forth your own contribution to the conversation. You will develop a thesis that reflects the significance of this conversation.
Criteria:
• Use 3 assigned articles
• 1200-1500 words (approx. 4-5 pages), Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced
• All sources properly cited in-text and on Works Cited page (WC page does not count towards total pages)
• Citations properly formatted in MLA style (refer to Norton Field Guide if necessary)
• Use 3 assigned articles
• 1200-1500 words (approx. 4-5 pages), Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced
• All sources properly cited in-text and on Works Cited page (WC page does not count towards total pages)
• Citations properly formatted in MLA style (refer to Norton Field Guide if necessary)
Essays:
You will read and discuss the following articles, and choose three for your essay:
• Robert MacNeil, “Do You Speak American?”
• John Simon, “Why Good English is Good for You”
• C.H. Knoblauch, “Literacy and the Politics of Education”
• Deborah Tannen, “The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue”
• Allan Bloom, “The Student and the University”
You will read and discuss the following articles, and choose three for your essay:
• Robert MacNeil, “Do You Speak American?”
• John Simon, “Why Good English is Good for You”
• C.H. Knoblauch, “Literacy and the Politics of Education”
• Deborah Tannen, “The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue”
• Allan Bloom, “The Student and the University”
Purpose:
The essays that we will read in the scholarly discourse unit represent people who are not merely writing in a vacuum; rather, they are responding to the ideas of other people. More than that, these authors are building on prior conversations and debates by contributing their own responses and ideas — responses and ideas which, rather than reiterating what others are already saying, seek to say something new. ‘Synthesis’ is a fancy word for just that: adding something new to the conversation. To put it another way, according to Alan Bloom, ‘synthesis’ means “combining information to form a unique product; [it] requires creativity and originality.” The “product,” in your case, will be your thesis statement, which should be creative and original, and will structure your entire essay.
The essays that we will read in the scholarly discourse unit represent people who are not merely writing in a vacuum; rather, they are responding to the ideas of other people. More than that, these authors are building on prior conversations and debates by contributing their own responses and ideas — responses and ideas which, rather than reiterating what others are already saying, seek to say something new. ‘Synthesis’ is a fancy word for just that: adding something new to the conversation. To put it another way, according to Alan Bloom, ‘synthesis’ means “combining information to form a unique product; [it] requires creativity and originality.” The “product,” in your case, will be your thesis statement, which should be creative and original, and will structure your entire essay.
Expectations:
For this assignment, you will synthesize three (3) readings from the Scholarly Discourse Unit, putting the authors’ ideas in conversation with one another in order to set forth your own contribution to the conversation. (These authors include MacNeil, Simon, Tannen, Knoblauch, and Bloom). To be clear, accurate summaries of what the authors are saying with some vague connection to a theme they all speak about is not synthesis. To accomplish synthesis, you need to be creative. You will have to engage critically and intellectually with the ideas in the articles, and generate your own contribution to the conversation.
For this assignment, you will synthesize three (3) readings from the Scholarly Discourse Unit, putting the authors’ ideas in conversation with one another in order to set forth your own contribution to the conversation. (These authors include MacNeil, Simon, Tannen, Knoblauch, and Bloom). To be clear, accurate summaries of what the authors are saying with some vague connection to a theme they all speak about is not synthesis. To accomplish synthesis, you need to be creative. You will have to engage critically and intellectually with the ideas in the articles, and generate your own contribution to the conversation.
Advice:
Synthesis is not easy. It requires you to understand the ideas of these authors — and let’s be honest, these ideas are complex. It’s also important to realize that these authors don’t all perfectly agree with one another. How can you contribute to a conversation you don’t really understand? Comprehending what the authors you’re working with are saying is the first crucial step; and, active reading and the annotated bibliography will help you see what you understand and what you don’t.
The next step is to develop a thesis statement that reflects your own contribution (synthesis). A strong thesis is absolutely critical to achieving success in this assignment. So, be creative. Think outside the box. Be specific rather than vague in your inquiries. I don’t want to read 19 papers that tell me obvious, commonplace observations about the readings. I’m interested to see your ideas, to learn what smart things you can add to these conversations.
At the same time, you need to demonstrate through analysis how your thesis claim is viable. It’s not enough to say “I think these authors are all wrong!” You’ll need to anticipate what objections the authors have with your thesis (not to mention what objections they might have with one another), and you’ll have to think about what your readers will need in order to be convinced that your argument is plausible.
Finally, I not only encourage, but expect you to work with one another outside of class or to visit me during office hours to work through elements of the readings you don’t quite understand. Use the resources available to you
Synthesis is not easy. It requires you to understand the ideas of these authors — and let’s be honest, these ideas are complex. It’s also important to realize that these authors don’t all perfectly agree with one another. How can you contribute to a conversation you don’t really understand? Comprehending what the authors you’re working with are saying is the first crucial step; and, active reading and the annotated bibliography will help you see what you understand and what you don’t.
The next step is to develop a thesis statement that reflects your own contribution (synthesis). A strong thesis is absolutely critical to achieving success in this assignment. So, be creative. Think outside the box. Be specific rather than vague in your inquiries. I don’t want to read 19 papers that tell me obvious, commonplace observations about the readings. I’m interested to see your ideas, to learn what smart things you can add to these conversations.
At the same time, you need to demonstrate through analysis how your thesis claim is viable. It’s not enough to say “I think these authors are all wrong!” You’ll need to anticipate what objections the authors have with your thesis (not to mention what objections they might have with one another), and you’ll have to think about what your readers will need in order to be convinced that your argument is plausible.
Finally, I not only encourage, but expect you to work with one another outside of class or to visit me during office hours to work through elements of the readings you don’t quite understand. Use the resources available to you
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