- Collaborative Essay--Political Rhetoric
- Listen and write down the names of the peers you will be working with on this assignment. I will tell you whom you are working with during class.
- Meet with partners in class and, if needed, in Google Chat, Google Meet, or Zoom. (Someone in your group would need to set up the meeting and convey the information to your peers.)
- Decide on the best facilitator for your group (the organizer, who will check in on everyone to make sure the essay is completed on time). The facilitator should then email Mr. Mulhern (james.mulhern@browardschools.com) the names of people in your group and identify him- or herself as the facilitator.
- Create a timeline of progress and decide how you will work together in writing this essay and who will create a Google Document and pass on the pertinent information, etc. The essay should have input from all of you.
- Create a Google Document that you all can work on together. Make sure everyone in your group has access to the Google Document. The document you submit to me should be an MLA-formatted Word Document (You will submit a printed-out copy in class on the due date. Late papers will not be accepted. Each of you should also have an electronic version of this essay on your laptop computer.) Each of you individually must submit your own printed-out copy of the same document. If you do not submit your own individual copy, you will earn a grade of zero. In the heading, list all your names (names will span across the page, separated by commas, not separate lines). Example--Samantha Smith, Jimmy Jones, Tommy Thompson. An example of the header on each page (upper right corner--last names with page number): Smith/Jones/Thompson 1.
Prompt
Choose two of the political texts we have read. Compare and contrast how the writers use rhetorical strategies--structure, devices, etc., to support a main argument/theme/purpose of their essays. Be sure to state in the opening paragraph the full names of the authors and the full titles of their texts. Include a clear, well-stated thesis statement about each author's main argument as well as the most effective rhetorical devices they use in conveying their messages. How are the texts similar and/or different in their rhetoric?
Brainstorm ideas first. Consider how you are going to organize your discussion and which rhetorical strategies you will elaborate on in your essay. Be sure your body paragraphs are coherent, substantive, and fluid with excellent topic sentences. Keep the main argument in mind as you elaborate. Include quotes (with in-text citations). Your essay should be at least two pages to the bottom. A Works Cited page is not needed. Introductory and concluding paragraphs should be short--no more than four or five sentences. Body paragraphs should be at least seven sentences. Quotes should be short--words and phrases, or one sentence long at the most. Watch all your grammar and punctuation. An essay with any mistakes in MLA format cannot receive a grade of A.
Do not go to any outside sources.
Proofreading Checklist (Must be stapled to the front of your essay.) For the Name line, list the last names of all essay writers. Then highlight your last name:
https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2020/02/proofreading-checklist-attach-to-front.html
Rubric for Compare and Contrast Essay (for reference; does not need to be stapled to the front of the essay):
https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2019/09/comparecontrast-essay-rubric.html#more
