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RN
Rutendo Nyagwaya
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Essay #2 Task – Critical Essay
Essay #2 Task – Critical Essay
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Essay #2 – Critical Analysis Essay

Task: In this 600-800-word critical essay you will analyze, evaluate and respond to one of the Canadian Content essays listed below:

1. “Facebook in a Crowd” (39-41)                      6. “What Stays in the Family” (65-69) 

2. “What’s Wrong with Africa” (356-360)          7. “Google Never Forgets” (333-336)        

3. “Embraced by the Needle” (254-257)             8.  “Deficits” (71-76)

4. “Why I want a Wife” (189-191)                      9. “Scaring Us Senseless” (259-261)

5. “Being Canadian” (304-307)                          10. "The Happiness Project” (230-234)

What does it mean to critically analyze?

In the essay that you choose to evaluate, the author is making an assertion (a thesis). In your critical analysis of the essay you demonstrate that you understand the author’s assertion, provide some overall evaluation of the essay, and critique the “ways” that the author supports their assertion. To critically analyze means that you are evaluating the plausibility of the author’s assertions and looking at what you believe is done well and what may be done not so well (because these essays were chosen for college students, many are effectively written; however, many of the assertions are subjective and not beyond reproach).

 Essay #2 Task Criteria:

 I.  Include your own title and introduction where you do the following:

    A.  Introduce the essay chosen (title and author)

    B.  Create an effective introduction and apply an introductory technique studied

    C.  Provide your thesis statement (your position toward the author’s essay and assertions

          (agree/disagree/mix … chosen essay is effectively written/areas which could be improved)   

II. Evaluate the essay to include:

    A. Overall examination and analysis of the essay:

          For example,

            1. Is the essay persuasive?              3. Is the essay interesting?

  2. Is the essay easy to follow?        4. Is the writing impactful?

    B. Examination and evaluation of the “ways” that the author supports their assertion/thesis:

1. use of examples       4.  use of statistics       7. use of empirical support (research results)

2. use of anecdotes      5.  use of analogy         8. use of figurative language

3. use of logic              6.  use of appeal to emotion

 * Not all of these “ways” will appear in a given essay 

III.  a) Effective conclusion with a concluding technique studied.

IV.  Observe the following technical aspects in your writing:

       a)  Free of spelling errors and mostly free of grammatical errors

       b)  Organization (distinct topic per paragraph) and use of transitions

       c)  Clearly and effectively communicated ideas and points 

       d)   Correctly formatted according to MLA guidelines (first-page format, page header, and citations)

       e)   Accurate, appropriate and effective vocabulary use and style.

       f)   Writing is clear and flows well.

* Include one (minimum) quotation from chosen essay (in-text & full citation needed)

* It is fine to paraphrase some passages and give a brief overview; however, avoid strictly

    re-telling the essay.

Resources

Found in Essay Do’s and Don’ts:                                                              
          > Make your point and support it p. 6;        > Think critically p. 10                                   

          > Analyz