Assignment 1: Text Summary and Analysis
Value
This assignment is worth 10% of your total course grade.
Purpose
This assignment checks whether you have a good handle on basic academic writing skills: quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, and analyzing evidence. It also is your first opportunity to get feedback on your APA citation skills.
Allowable Sources & Resources
Pick one of the following articles and use it for the entire assignment.
- “Disease and the Undead”
- “The Disabled Villain”
- “ChatGPT is Bullshit”
- “University students recruit AI to write essays for them”
You may use spelling and grammar check tools, library writing tutors, and the library’s APA guide.
You may not do any additional research on the article topic or consult or cite any other sources whatsoever.
You may not use AI tools to summarize, generate text, or alter the tone or style of your writing.
Instructions
Complete all questions in the “Student Template for Assignment #1” file. Type your answers directly into that document, then upload a copy to the Moodle dropbox.
ENGL2550:Introduction to Composition
Marking Guide for Assignment 1
| Part A | |
| Evidence: three separate supporting points are correctly identified; quotes are highly | /10 |
| relevant | |
| Writing Strategy: strategy is correctly identified, quotes are highly relevant | /10 |
| Quotations are in quotation marks, integrated smoothly into full sentences, and | /10 |
| followed by correct in-text citations | |
| Part B | |
| Summary covers all essential content from article fairly and accurately. | /15 |
| Paraphrases are effective, fully re-worded from original, and cited when needed. | /10 |
| Content of summary matches content of quotations from Part A | /5 |
| Tone is neutral and objective. | /5 |
| Evaluation of the article is thoughtful, based in evidence, and shows engagement | /10 |
| with the content of the article. | |
| References entry is complete and correct. | /10 |
| Practical details: answers are appropriate length, lines are double-spaced | /5 |
| Total | /100 |
Marking Guide Notes (double the numerical values for categories marked out of 10)
0 = does not meet expectations/missing
1 = meets minimum expectations
2 = needs improvement
3 = satisfactory
4 = good
5 = excellent
Related: (Solution) ENGL 2550 Research Record
Solution
Student Template for Assignment 1: Summary and Analysis
Please type your answers directly into this document, then save a .docx or .pdf copy of this file to submit to moodle.
Section A: Quotations & Evidence
For questions 1-3, provide a direct quotation from the article you have chosen.
Each quotation must be:
- one sentence or shorter in the original article
- integrated into a full, grammatically correct sentence using at least some of your own words
- inside quotation marks
- followed by a correct APA-style in-text citation.
Example
Incorrect: The existence of autistic people like me is not a tragedy
Correct: The article’s main point is that “The existence of autistic people like [the author] is not a tragedy” (Kurchak, 2015).
1. What is the main point or thesis statement of the article?
2. What evidence does the author provide to support that point? Provide three different examples of key supporting points or pieces of evidence.
Evidence #1:
Evidence #2:
Evidence #3:
3. Identify one rhetorical tool or writing strategy the author uses (ex: tone, word choice, pathos) and provide three quotes that demonstrate that strategy.
Writing Strategy:
Why it Matters:
Example #1:
Example #2:
Example #3:
Section B: Summary and Analysis
1. In ~250 words, summarize the article. Use neutral, objective language. Make sure all content from Part A is paraphrased within your summary. Do not use any quotations. Double-space your lines. Use in-text citations.
2. In 3-5 sentences, explain whether or not you think the article is convincing and credible. Is the evidence clear and relevant? Is the writing style effective? Are there any weak points or confusing areas?
3. Write a full References entry for this article in APA format.
Example: Kuder, S. J., & Accardo, A. (2018). What works for college students with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 48(3), 722–731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3434-4ines did you use? What keywords did you use? Did you hit any obstacles? What strategies worked?
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