For this assignment, create a Critical Reading of an essay about a text from one of the contemporary authors listed below.
Directions
- Review the grading rubric as listed on this page.
- Select ONE essay from the contemporary author sites linked here:
- Toure (video essays)
- Elif Batuman
- Ira Chernus
- bell hooks
- Susan Orlean
- Malcolm Gladwell
- Review the strategies listed on the Reading Critically page.
- Create a Critical Reading of the essay of your choice in 500–700 words in a new Google Doc.
- Cite the author and the text in your paper
- Pay close attention to the author’s argument, meaning, evidence, logic, and assumptions.
- Compose a critical reading response of the essay and be sure to answer: What is the author doing?
- Also, be sure to answer: How well is he or she doing it?
- Copy and paste your Critical Reading of an essay in a new post on your WordPress blog.
- Submit the URL of your WordPress blog post to your instructor.
Grading
Points: 100
Submitting: a website URL
| Critical Reading of an Essay KEEP | |||||||
| Criteria | Ratings | Points | |||||
| Identifies author and work | Identifies 5 pts |
Does not identify 0 pts |
5 pts | ||||
| Answers “what is the author doing?” | Proficient 15 pts |
Developing 11 pts |
Lacks answer 0 pts |
15 pts | |||
| Answers “how well is the author doing it?” | Proficient 15 pts |
Developing 11 pts |
Lacks answer 0 pts |
15 pts | |||
| Examines the author’s claims | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No examination 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Examines the author’s evidence | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No examination 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Examines the author’s assumptions | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No examination 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Reviews the argument from different angles | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No review 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Examines the effectiveness of the introduction/conclusion | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No examination 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Examines how the piece is organized | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No examination 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Demonstrates an understanding of the author’s purpose | Proficient 8 pts |
Developing 6 pts |
No examination 0 pts |
8 pts | |||
| Standard Edited English/Writing conventions | Proficient 5 pts |
Developing 4 pts |
Errors detract from meaning/no post
0 pts |
5 pts | |||
| Finished piece easy to read, polished, posted in WordPress blog site | Proficient 4 pts |
Developing 3 pts |
Needs more work 0 pts |
4 pts | |||
| Describe the main point, evidence, and assumptions of a text. | Exceeds expectations 0 pts |
Meets expectations 0 pts |
Does not meet expectations 0 pts |
0 pts | |||
| Make inferences to comprehend a text’s meaning. | Exceeds expectations 0 pts |
Meets expectations 0 pts |
Does not meet expectations 0 pts |
0 pts | |||
| Compose a critical reading paper of a contemporary work. | Exceeds expectations 0 pts |
Meets expectations 0 pts |
Does not meet expectations 0 pts |
0 pts | |||
| TOTAL POINTS | 100 | ||||||