Writing in Response to Source Material
From what we talked about in class today, I hope you'll remember the basics of your next essay assignment, the Compare or Contrast essay you'll write for MON FEB 22, using "What's Wrong With Schools?" as your primary source.
How you organize your essay is up to you. You might want to compare how Ellen Glanz felt about teaching before she "went to school" as a student, with how she felt afterwards. Or you could compare what students think teachers do wrong in the classroom with what teachers think students do wrong.
Don't be afraid to be sophisticated in your approach, combining both Comparison and Contrast in a complex way, as we discussed in class. You could detail the many ways students and teachers appear to be in conflict, but conclude that they really just have different approaches to achieving shared goals.
( I have given Sara an example of this type of approach in the comments below).
I do insist that you not just choose three differences or similarities at random. Such essays are trivial and not very interesting. Make your choices based on a theme that will provide your essay with unity. I'll be glad to answer questions about unity and theme in the Comments section of this page. Ask your questions early, please. Don't wait until Sunday night.
ASSIGNMENT: 5 Paragraph Comparison or Contrast Essay
TOPIC: Teacher attitudes toward education, compared to or contrasted with student attitudes toward education. Your essay must reference and be based largely on material in "What's Wrong with Schools?"
ALLOWABLE VARIATIONS: Mohamed asked in class if he could write a Compare or Contrast essay about "A Hanging." I told him he could, and so can you. You might also choose a different pair of items to compare or contrast from "What's Wrong with Schools?" such as how students might feel about education if they reversed Glanz's experiment and tried to teach for a few weeks. However you organize your material, it must be drawn directly from the readings.
If you have any doubt that your topic is acceptable, email me in advance. I will not forgive you for writing off-topic because you misunderstood.
PERSPECTIVE: Be opinionated. Do not ride the fence. Do not be ambiguous. Be unfair if you must, but be strong in your convictions. You may write from a student perspective, a teacher perspective, or as an outside observer, as long as your point of view is clear and clearly expressed.
AUDIENCE: Your audience is an equally opinionated reader who disagrees with your thesis. Convince your reader of something.
EXTRA HELP: I've produced a Sample Compare or Contrast essay to demonstrate the sort of approach you might take. I will provide additional model material Friday.
DEADLINE: Submit your First Draft on MON FEB 22.
Comments (9)
ND Nguyen said
at 10:04 pm on Feb 17, 2010
Pretty challenging. I like it. :D
David Hodges said
at 6:40 pm on Feb 18, 2010
Fatimazahra asked me a question on the Front Page. I'm pasting a copy here for anyone else with a similar question.
Hello Professor Hodges, I still have one question, how i can use comparison and contrast in one essay? .I know you explained to me that last monday, but I'm still confused about it; what the good strategy i can go through, if i'm planing to use comparison and contrast essay. thank you
Sara, let me give you an example. Say you trade in your old car for a new car because the old car was breaking down too often, using too much gas, and costing too much to operate. Your new car is different in every way. It runs reliably (except that the sophisticated computer navigation system always need to be repaired); it gets much better gas mileage (except that you drive it so much more, you always need to fill up); and it is economical to operate (except that now you almost live in it so you can barely afford it!).
In other words, although the details of the cars are very different (contrasts), you've basically traded one set of problems for another (comparison).
Does that help?
--David Hodges
fatimazahra said
at 9:01 pm on Feb 18, 2010
Thank you Profeesor Hodges for your answer .I understand the idea now
rokya alao-fary said
at 4:14 pm on Feb 21, 2010
hi David, about the hanging, can can we argue about being for or against the capital punishment???
David Hodges said
at 5:32 pm on Feb 21, 2010
Rokya, your question makes me very nervous. I do not want a Compare or Contrast essay about the merits of capital punishment. I did tell Mohamed he could write about "The Hanging," but I made it clear to him (and I hope it will be clear to you) that anything you write must be responsive to the original essay. You can't just write about capital punishment, but you could discuss the several attitudes toward capital punishment expressed in "The Hanging." OK? I don't want to stifle you, but I do want you to learn to write responsive essays.
rokya alao-fary said
at 7:48 pm on Feb 24, 2010
David can i changed my topic the hanging and do the other one? because i still confused about what you are waiting from me.
David Hodges said
at 1:31 am on Feb 25, 2010
Sure, Rokya. If you want to do your rewrite about "What's Wrong with Schools?" you certainly may.
Be sure to make a bold, clear, arguable statement about teacher attitudes toward education, and compare that to student attitudes toward education. Your essay must reference and be based largely on material in "What's Wrong with Schools?"
Quote the essay once or twice, paraphrase other points or ideas if they help your argument, and be sure to cite your quotes and paraphrases correctly. If you have any questions about what I mean, please email me in advance, or leave me a specific question here.
David Hodges said
at 1:57 pm on Feb 27, 2010
Rokya, on Thursday, you asked me if you could change your topic from "The Hanging" to the "Schools" and I said (in the comment just above here) you certainly could. Read the rest of my advice too, though. It gives you clear instructions on what I want.
Now I see you've left a question about changing your topic on the page for "The Monster." Is it the same question, or do you now want to change back to the hanging essay? I can't help you if I don't understand your question.
rokya alao-fary said
at 4:09 pm on Feb 27, 2010
no to the school i just wanted to be sure that there was not problem by doig that
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