Assignment Part A: 700 Words
Introduction:
For this assignment, you will compose either a script or a blog in response to another article. Be sure to read the instructions and pay attention to the resources as they will help you format your assignment correctly.
Assignment:
Choose one of the topics and pre-existing texts below to respond to in a text drafted for new media. You are not required to film a video or edit a TikTok. Instead, you will be demonstrating an understanding of the rhetorical context of new media through drafting either a script for a video that would be posted to YouTube or some other video aggregate site or a blog post that could be submitted to a digital publisher specializing in reader-generated content.
Texts for Response (choose one)
o "Editorial: How Can Kids Learn Without Homework and Rigid Deadlines? Quite Well, It Turns Out" by Los Angeles Times Editorial Board for the Los Angeles Times (opens in new window): Frame your response around whether or not you agree with the editorial board's stance on homework and deadlines. Would it be better if we relaxed homework expectations for kids? Should this be implemented across all levels of education? Or is this dangerous?
o "The Case for Lowering the Drinking Age to 18" by Shayna Herszage for The Yeshiva University Observer (opens in new window): Frame your response around whether you agree with the points made by Herszage. Why do you agree? Why do you disagree? What do you think the drinking age should be?
o "I'm an Influencer and I think Social Media is Toxic," by Lydia Keating for Slate (opens in new window): Frame your response around whether or not you agree with Keating's take. Can you understand why she feels the way she feels? Can you understand why she continues to do the work even while feeling this way? How do you feel about the toxicity of social media in general?
o "AI Could Threaten Creators, But Only If Humans Let It" by The Washington Post Editorial Board (opens in new window): Frame your response around whether you agree with issues of copyright and ownership in the age of AI.
o You must refer to your chosen text in your response. You're responding to it. Choose a handful of specific points made in the original text you wish to respond to. Quote the original and offer your take.
o Think about how texts written for new media acknowledge sources. You must acknowledge any sources you use in your writing according to expectations for new media. This includes your chosen text and any other source material you incorporate.
Resources:
o "How to Write a Text Response" from Literacy Ideas (opens in new tab): A detailed look at how to draft a piece of response writing
o "How to Write a Script for a YouTube Video (5 Step Template)" from PrimalVideo (opens in new tab): A template and step-by-step guide for drafting a script for a video project to be posted for online engagement
o "How to Write a Blog Post" from MasterClass (opens in new tab): A guide for writing compelling blog posts
Assignment Part B: Should be written in MLA style with a works cited page
Introduction:
It is common to have conversations about our favorite and least favorite movies and restaurants which makes evaluation one of the most common arguments that we employ, often using the technique on a daily basis. You convince your friends which movies or tv series they should watch, which albums they should stream, and which video games they should download. This is all part of a review process in which you have previously experienced what you are describing, and now, you are making reasoned quality judgments.
Compose a critical evaluation of some piece of media or some experience or product. Take the prewriting that you do on your own and expand it into a full-length film/ restaurant/ album/ TV review using techniques learned in class. Your review can be positive or negative, but your opinion must be grounded in experience and logic. Additionally, your review must be evaluative and analytical and not exclusively summative. Remember readings from last week about establishing criteria. Your review should be written in a professional voice for traditional media.
o Your review must be specific and name the media/ product/ experience you are reviewing. Essentially, anything you can spend time or money on can be reviewed.
o Think about how texts written for traditional media acknowledge sources. You must acknowledge any sources you use in your writing according to expectations for traditional media. This includes your chosen text and any other source material you incorporate.
Resources:
o "Evaluation" by Liza Long (opens in new tab): A detailed look at evaluative writing including how to establish criteria and more.
o "Thesis Statements" from UNC (opens in new window): An instructional text that looks at drafting strong thesis statements
o "Introductions and Conclusions" from the University of Arizona Global Campus (opens in a new window): pay close attention especially to the academic introductions and conclusions sections of this reading
o "The Anatomy of a Paragraph" by Zachary Schrag (opens in a new window): an overview of the different types of sentences that make up a paragraph
o "Citing Sources" from Sacred Heart University (opens in a new window): an overview of citation to include rationale and execution