Media synthesis argument (09)

ENG3UI Unit 3 – Literature and the “Real World” March 2009

Ms Rice Media Synthesis Essay

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS have guided our study throughout the year:

Essential question for course overall –

What role does language play in the way humans relate to one another?

Questions for this year’s units:

Unit 1 – Find Your Voice – How do speakers and writers use different means to create their voices?

Unit 2 – Power and the Art of Discourse – How do speakers and writers use language to shape and manipulate opinions of others?

In this Unit, we ask, “How does literature and other writing reflect people’s relationships in personal and political spheres?”

In this assignment, you will demonstrate that you:

• • have established your own voice

  • can use it to shape the opinions of your readers

  • are able to evaluate the voices and ideas of others

  • are able to develop your own opinions about issues that matter to you

Using your issues-based non-fiction book, you have narrowed down your ideas and raw data to a single issue in the “real world” that interests you. You have been focusing your media journal on that issue and collecting additional material about it.

The final result will be a research-supported opinion piece (a “researched argument” or synthesis essay), in which you will synthesize your sources and develop your own opinion about that issue.

Final products to be submitted:

On April 7:

• • your journal containing all your collected source materials (ungraded – for reference only) – you will bring this material to class and leave it there, ready for the in-class writing

  • your full-length non-fiction book

  • a formative annotated bibliography on your full-length book and ONE refutation item from your journal (use the feedback on this for your upcoming assignment requiring an annotated bibliography).

On April 8:

• • an essay, written in class, based on a prompt provided on the day and the following:

    • • key information from your full-length non-fiction book

      • a minimum of 2 other source materials from your journal

      • one visual source (e.g.: chart, graph or cartoon) from your materials

      • appropriate citations of each source

  • the sources you selected from your journal and your non-fiction book

Evaluation

Your essay will be evaluated based on a modified AP scale for the synthesis essay. Note that essays that do not use the minimum number of sources as outlined by the assignment cannot earn above 4 on the scale. Note also the role of source citation in scoring. See footnote.

1 For the purpose of scoring, synthesis refers to combining the sources and the student’s position to form a cohesive, supported argument, and accurately citing sources.

IN-CLASS SYNTHESIS PROMPT (provided on the day of)

Suggested reading / source assembly time: 15 minutes

Time allotted for composition: 45 minutes to write; 5 minutes to proofread

Directions:

The following question allows you to respond based on the sources you have collected on your chosen topic. It requires you to synthesize these sources into a coherent, well-written essay. When you synthesize sources you refer to them to develop your position and cite them accurately. Your argument should be central; the sources should support this argument. Avoid merely summarizing sources.

Remember to attribute both direct and indirect citations.

Introduction

Governments at all levels develop policies (positions and/or plans of action) with regard to controversial issues by carefully considering a balance of information, and by identifying and assessing the needs of stakeholders – the people, organizations, and resources affected by policy decisions. Although a policy decision may not necessarily address every part of the issue at stake, a responsible government carefully considers the implications of its policy. Finally, governments often recognize that it may not be possible to appease every stakeholder, although they make efforts in developing a policy to compromise or to consider how to derive the greatest benefit from their decisions.

Assignment

Write an essay in which you explain what either a local, state/provincial, or federal government would need to consider before developing a policy on your issue, and then explain why at least one of those considerations should outweigh the others in the development of that policy.

From amongst your collection, select and label the following required sources. You may choose to refer to the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by the descriptions you provide in parentheses (author or short title).

Source A ( __________________ ) - your full-length non-fiction book

Source B ( __________________ ) - an item selected from your collection

Source C ( __________________ ) - a second item selected from your collection

Source D ( __________________ ) - a visual item selected from your collection

If you choose to use more than these minimum required sources, include the relevant source information below. Use the back of this page if you need more room.

Remember to submit your sources, clearly labeled, when you hand in your essay.

Source E ( __________________ )

Source F ( __________________ )