Does the author present a logical and well-constructed argument on the issue, why or why not?

Description: Students will practice using the “They Say/I Say” method by summarizing and analyzing an academic argument.
Assignment Objectives
Summarize an academic argument objectively and accurately
Analyze the construction and content of an academic argument
Develop a thesis-driven essay that uses sound support from the article, reasoning, and personal experience
Organize essay in introduction, body, and conclusion, and effectively transitioning between summary and analysis sections
Develop clear and concise sentences, applying grammar and usage rules correctly
Prompt:
Read “On the Mac-and-Cheese Continuum,” by Paula Uriarte: (I inclueded the article in the uploaded files)
1. Summarize the main points of the article (“they say”), including the thesis of the piece
2. Respond to the article (“I say”), answering the following questions:
a. Does the author present a logical and well-constructed argument on the issue, why or why not?
b. Do you agree or disagree with the author’s position and strategies presented, why or why not?
Audience: First-year college students who are interested in the topic but have not read the article
Outside Sources: Not required. Focus primarily on the assigned article
Point of View: First-person is acceptable, as you can discuss your own writing processes and habits. However, there are places where first-person “I” is not always necessary. For example, you could say, “The author’s argument is persuasive,” as opposed to “I think that the author’s argument is persuasive.”
Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font with 1-inch margins. The heading of your essay should be placed at the top, left-hand side and include: your name, instructor’s name, the course name and number, and the date (this is standard MLA format).
Length: 3-4 Double-Spaced pages, plus a works cited page citation for the article
Essay Parts and Requirements:
Title: Include an original title, as opposed to “Summary & Analysis”
I.Introduction
a. Use an attention-grabbing lead that pulls your readers into the topic
b. Introduce the author and title of the article (you may also introduce the main idea, but the bulk of the essay should be summarized in the summary section)
c. Conclude the introduction with your thesis, a 1-3 sentence argument that addresses the two questions above
II.Body
a. Summarize the article in 1-2 paragraphs. This short summary should be objective and accurate; it should summarize the author’s ideas without your analysis or opinion.
b. Analyze the effectiveness of the article. The questions above are two distinct questions. The first one is asking you to analyze the validity and persuasiveness of the argument and evaluate how it is put together, while the second question is asking you to state your position on the issue in relation to the author’s position.
c. Focus on the author’s argument. To assess the validity of the argument and to state whether or not you agree with the author you could: highlight any gaps or oversights in the essay, connect your experiences to the issue, or compare and contrast the ideas presented to similar concepts or situations. Whichever way you choose to respond keep in mind that you are responding to the author and not to the issue itself. In other words, be careful not to digress on a tangent and leave the article behind.
d. Support your argument, using examples and ideas from the text, reasoning, and your own personal experiences. This means that you can use first-person “I” at certain points. However, your analysis should be more rigorous than personal preferences (“I liked this essay,” “The essay was boring!”).
III.Conclusion
a. Restate your thesis
b. Sum up the overall assessment of the article/argument

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