By Monday, summarize and blog one of the essays assigned from Spatt's book (pp. 194 ff). The goal here is to create a summary paragraph you will be using to write a single-source essay later, so choose wisely.
In the first sentence, mention the author and the title of the essay. In addition, state the thesis, the main argument, of the essay. Then, in subsequent sentences, describe the main arguments that the author uses to develop his thesis.
Some advice:
1. Don't try to do too much here. The examples and details that support the author's argument may be the subject of later paragraphs. However, here you are trying to summarize those arguments, not develop them. In later paragraphs of YOUR essay, you may need to to develop details of the author's arguments to confirm or refute them. In this paragraph, summarize.
2. For now, be objective. In later paragraphs, you may choose to evaluate the author's argument. In this paragraph, you must establish the pose of objectivity.
3. Thus, quote brief passages of the text to show that you are letting the author speak for him/herself. Don't overdo it, though. Don't let the author do your writing for you.
4. Don't do too little. Search for the author's arguments. Summarize them completely.
5. Look for the principle of argumentative organization (more on this point in class). Finding it will help you to provide a complete argument.
P.S. This assignment should not be included in the paragraph portfolio. As always, I'm trying to get you to start the writing process on future assignments. You'll be using this paragraph to write WA#2.
