Kaely Horton / WR 115

Summary/Response Assignment #2

For this assignment, you will write two well-developed paragraphs (10-12 sentences each)—one summary and one response. You may choose to write about either “Putting Action Back in Activism” by Gabriella Corvese, or “No, I Do Not Want to Pet Your Dog” by Farhad Manjoo. You should consider your audience to be someone who has not read the essay, but who is interested in its ideas.

Summary Paragraph: Write a well-developed paragraph (10-12 sentences). Structure your paragraph in the following way:  Your first sentence should state the title, the author, and the essay’s main idea in your own words. o For example: In his essay “Superman and Me,” Sherman Alexie illustrates the importance of reading in all our lives.  State the essay’s main supporting points.  Show how the writer supports the main points (here you may want to include quotations from the text).  Include a strong conclusion sentence

Response Paragraph: Write a well-developed paragraph (10-12 sentences) in response to the essay you’ve summarized. Structure your paragraph in the following way:  Your first sentence in this paragraph should do two things. First, it should provide a smooth transition between the summary paragraph and your response. Second, it should provide focus for the paragraph by letting your reader know immediately where you are going. o For example: Like Alexie, I have also felt a very strong connection to reading from a young age.  Choose one of the prompts below to focus your response.  Develop your response in the body of the paragraph using specific details.  Include a strong conclusion sentence.

Response Prompts: Choose one of the following prompts to focus your response. 1. “Putting Action Back in Activism”: What political or social issues have you gotten involved in or would you like to get involved in? Choose one of these issues and explain why it is important to you. (A few examples . . . feminism, gay marriage, political campaigns, ALS/HIV/cancer awareness, poverty relief, animal rights . . . the list goes on.) What do you think are the best ways for college students with busy lives to get involved in political or social issues? 2. “No, I Do Not Want To Pet Your Dog”: Write about a pet peeve or an irritation you encounter in everyday life. Describe in detail why this pet peeve is irritating to you. Though your complaint might be serious, you can choose to take a humorous tone to gain your reader’s sympathy, like Manjoo does.

Due: Thursday, March 10 (email as Microsoft Word or PDF attachment)