Information about Data Set 4

As a way to work with the analytic approach in Martin's essay, you will be working on essays with comments from 2 courses from our Writing Option Major, ENG 2020 and ENG 3005.  Below I have listed brief descriptions of the assignments that Samples 1-4 were written for,

Samples 1 & 4: Explain a writing construct that is misunderstood.
ENG 3005

Our textbook defines constructs as “mental frameworks that people build in order to make sense of the world around them” (35).  American culture contains many constructs related to writing.  Writing Studies has created their own versions of these constructs.  The two versions are rarely identical.  Your job in this project is to bridge the gap between perceptions.

Select a construct related to writing.  Some options include, but are not limited to: argument, audience, (good) writing, critical thinking, grammar, process, research, revision, rhetoric, plagiarism, literacy, voice, and style.  You can choose a different term if you wish.

Write a public document (like a newspaper column or blog post) in which you explain how that construct is misinterpreted by the general public.  Your essay should aim to show your reader why those misconceptions do not accurately represent the construct (at least from the perspective of Writing Studies’ scholars and teachers).

Sample 2: Process narrative.
ENG 2020
The criteria for the assignment are pasted in at the top of the paper.

Sample 3: Analysis of a Dicourse Community

ENG 3005

 Description of the assignment:  Choose a LITERACY Discourse community that you hope to enter for your career or for your personal goals as a writer.  Collect and analyze data on that community.  Then write an essay where you characterize the assumptions, values, patterns for communication, writing practices, and writing products of your discourse community.   Finally, use this characterization to describe what it takes to become  a successful member of this Discourse community.

 What your essay should include:

1. clear statement of the features that define your group as a Discourse community
2. an in-depth characterization of your Discourse community
3. presentation of evidence (specific examples from your data) that illustrate the characteristic features of your Discourse community
4. concluding discussion of what it will take for individuals to become a member of this Discourse community