Essay Assignment #2: Argument Critique/Response Essay

FYS Winter 2015

Assignment: Imagine that one of your goals as a student is to read widely and to think critically
about the arguments you encounter in books and online. You may have read essays, plays,
poems, stories, letters, and other genres before, but now you want to take the next step toward
a college-level experience with critical approaches to ideas and issues in writing.
You are going to critically read and annotate a textan essaythat takes an unpopular stance
on an issue in culture and technology. Modern electronic technology features prominently in
Western beliefs about healing and healthas evidenced by our emphasis on biomedical
technology and as Ritter and Hoffman note the notion of the body as a machine (Multicultural
Health 47). Should we look more closely at the implications of such beliefs? What are the
consequences? Are there alternatives to dependency on electronic technologies in the process
of healing? Is there a middle ground? When working your way through these questions and the
assigned text, focus on your job as a student writer and reader: to explore, explain, assess, and
respond critically to the text you will read.
Consider yourself a reader in a long line of readers who have similarly approached the assigned
text, and imagine you will find yourself in a room with many of those readers who have their own
responses to the text. Some will disagree with the texts argument; others will agree with it. Still
others will both agree and disagree. All eyes will be on you. It will be your turn to convey what
you think. What do you say? How do you say it? Why does this text matter, and more
importantly, what do you think it says about culture, technology, societyand you?
This assignment builds on the skills of critical reading, thinking, and analysis developed in
Essay Assignment #1. Now that you have summarized and analyzed an argument, you will
critically read, summarize, and analyze another: Wendell Berrys essay, Why I Am Not Going to
Buy a Computer. Then, you will critique and respond critically to his argument.
The purpose of the assignment is not merely to react to an essays ideas but to analyze its
reasoning closely, noting where and how that reasoning is sound or flawed, questionable or
supportable, exaggerated or needing qualification. Do not gush praise or heap ridicule; instead,
you may largely agree/disagree with Berry, but still acknowledge individual strengths or
weaknesses in his work.
Audience: Think of the audience for the paper as a community of thinkers (like our class), some
of whom will agree with the papers position and some of whom will not. (That community of
thinkers, by the way, would include the author of the original article, all those who have read the
text, and those who havent read the text but consider the issue important.)
Where to Begin: 1) Write out a working thesis statement. Your claim supporting or opposing an
idea proposed by the author may serve as the working thesis statement, but the overall
argument must be built on logic, analysis, and evidenceopinions are neither logic nor
evidence in themselves.
2) Write an introduction that provides a brief but fair overview of the articles main points on
which the paper plans to focus; this explanation provides the groundwork and context for the
argument-response/critique. Dont forget to return to your thesis in the conclusion with fuller
insight to Berrys essay, leaving your readers with comments about how you situate Berrys

views in the lager world of the issues surrounding technology, conservation, and unconventional
approaches to modern living.
3) Compose sections of many paragraphs that each summarize Berrys argumentative points;
analyze the points primary claims, grounds, warrants, and kinds of evidence; and then offer
your carefully, reasonably crafted response to the point. This part of your section can focus on
Berrys use of certain evidence, choice of evidence, specific claims, grounds (reasons), or
warrants (assumptions). Keep in mind that you are not responding to everything Berry says.
Remember, too, that your essay should respond both to what Berry says (his ideas) and to how
he says it (his reasoning). Is Berrys logic flawed? Are examples less than relevant? If so, does
that lead to insupportable conclusions? Also keep in mind as well that your essay may largely
agree with the position of a writer, in which case they will employ the strategies of defense. If
you largely disagree with Berrys position, you want to employ the strategies of refutation. You
can also use a combination of refutation and defense. You might largely disagree with Berrys
claims, for instance, but agree with certain key parts of his argument.
4) Strike a tone that is fair and reasonable; respond to opposing views respectfully. Remember
that writing this kind of essay is not a quest for glorious, crushing victory over an argument with
which you may disagree, but a way of demonstrating to your readers that you can summarize
accurately and thoughtfully; analyze deeply and thoroughly; and respond or critique completely
and respectfully.
Writing Process: SWAs #4-7 are crucial to your drafting process for this assignment. Make
sure to complete all of them fully and on time.
Attend your small writing group session. Without completing this session, you cannot earn full
credit for the assignment. These sessions are a chance for you to read and learn from your
classmates work and to get essential feedback for your revision of the essay.
Im always available for optional conferences. Talk to me about meeting in my office to discuss
your work! You can also visit the Writing Center as part of your entire drafting process. The
consultants can help you with your SWAs, brainstorming ideas, revision, and
grammar/mechanics. The Writing Center is located in Haupt Humanities 12 and 15. Please
schedule an appointment by contacting Becky Mills by email at bmills@transy.edu, or consider
visiting her at the Center to schedule your appointment. You may also arrive without an
appointment for a walk-in session, but remember the Center is a busy place. So, always
schedule an appointment to secure time with a writing consultant. If you have any questions,
please call (859) 281-3594, visit Becky, or see the Writing Centers
webpage: http://transy.edu/academics/writing.htm.
Format: Be sure to introduce all direct quotations, to make sure they are absolutely true to the
original, and to punctuate them correctly. (See pages 261-265 and 529-530 of A Writers
Resource for a discussion of proper handling of quotations, paraphrase, and summary, as well
as the use of signal phrases.) The font must be 12-point, Times New Roman. All page margins
must be one inch. Include your last name and the page number at top and right of every page.
At the top and left of the first page, include all required information, including your name, the
class title, the term, the name of the assignment, and the date. Length must be 5-6 pages
Deadline: Your argument critique/response essay is due on Friday, February 27. You will
submit your draft in the appropriate folder in Google Drive.