Question: Essay #1
Unit 2: Multiwriting Project/Essay #1: Making an Interpretation
Although we are all familiar with the essay form, we may not be comfortable analyzing essays as arguments. However, essays, like all forms of writing, implicitly or explicitly take a stand, make an argument. To grow as critical readers - and thinkers - we must be able to analyze and make our own interpretations of what a given piece of writing is trying to teach us, to persuade us.
For this reason, your first essay in ENGL101 asks you to develop an interpretation of the following essay: Reza Nourbakhsh's, Robot Futures, specifically, his New Mediocracy: New Mediocracy_Pages from Illah Reza Nourbakhsh Robot Futures 2013 copy.pdf
Your interpretations, then, will not be a summary of your selected essay; instead, it will be your argument as to a primary meaning and persuasive purpose of the essay. Like any piece of writing, an essay can have multiple interpretations; thus, your interpretations should be arguable, debatable, forcing you to support it with enough analysis of the text and important media connections (movies, songs, TV shows, etc.) to reveal to your own readers the validity of your interpretation.
Like all of your essays in 101, your essay will need a clear focus (a thesis statement expressing your interpretation), supported by well-developed arguments, a clear organization, and a writing style that is professional and free from error.
Length: 5 pages, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, Times New Roman font.
Style/Format: This, as all essays in ENGL101, should be formatted according to MLA style guidelines.
Use of essays for future courses: Please understand that your essay may be used-anonymously-as a sample for future ENGL101 students and instructors unless you expressly request that it not be used. Your work, of course, will only be used for educational purposes.
Grading: See the "Grading and Assessment" content item under Course Information.