Reading Response Essay #1 (2 pages)

Core Text: “How Students Define Success in College” by Jennings et al.

Prompt: In a thesis-driven, argumentative essay,  answer the following question:

Given your own experience in college so far, what are the two most important “thematic categories” for your college career? Why do you favor these over the other two?

Introduction: Summarize the main idea and most important supporting points of the text. End your introduction with a thesis that answers the question in the prompt while keeping in mind: what do you want to influence your audience to think about your college experience?

Body Paragraphs: Convince your audience of your thesis by presenting logically ordered paragraphs that focus on one main idea each. Follow the TEAR structure outlined in class. Most importantly, provide detailed examples from your personal life/observations that someone who doesn’t know you could understand, then connect those examples, in detail, back to a specific part in the text. Explain how they connect for you audience.

Conclusion: No conclusion for this writing assignment

Audience:

You must decide who your audience is for this assignment. You will tell me who you decided upon when you turn in the essay, and it cannot be “anyone who reads it.” Be creative.

Goals:

• A title that clues your reader into what you are arguing
• An introduction that sets up the issue and provides ample background information
• A concise thesis statement that states your specific position on the issue
• Body paragraphs that build upon one another and always support your thesis statement
• A firm yet persuasive tone appropriate for your audience
• A well-organized structure with logical and smooth transitions
• Integrated source material with signal phrases indicating where quotes, paraphrases, and summaries begin
• Clear sentence with proper application of grammatical concepts
• 2 full pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman