In a short essay of three to four pages, write a response to one of the readings from Digging In that we have done in Part Three of the class. Specify which reading you are responding to by naming the essay and the author. You may expand on the journal writes you have done, or your essay may be an outgrowth of the discussions we have had in class, but it must be your own personal response to one of the issues in the reading. You may disagree with the points the writer makes, but be sure to explain why. Do not just summarize the essay or explain what you think the author was trying to say, but take a stand on an issue that s/he raises.

1. Assume that your reader has not read the essay in our book. Write a brief summary of the main points.
2. Briefly explain any references you make to the reading.
3. Introduce quotations, quote them, and then comment on why they are important.
4. Organize your essay with an introduction and a main body of as many paragraphs as you need to make your point.
5. Finish with a conclusion of some kind.
6. Include in the folder a photocopy of the annotated original reading.

Purpose: To write an essay where you do the following:

• Formulate a thesis by analyzing an issue raised in the essay that interests you, and by taking a stand on one side or the other of that issue
• Support your thesis with convincing evidence from the essay and/or your own experiences
• Briefly consider the opposition to your stand, then tell us why your ideas are better
• Develop and organize your ideas logically through exploration and revision
• Demonstrate your understanding of essay structure
• Expand thoroughly in your examples through description, narration, illustration, compare/contrast, etc.
• Consider your audience, and remember, that while you may be writing to those that share your values (community, peers) you need to consider readers in other contexts.

• The first rough draft is due on November 17
• The second rough draft is due on November 20
• The final draft is due on November 29
• Format: 1" margins; 12 point type; double-spaced; approximately 250 words/page
• You MUST visit the Learning Resource Center at least once.
• Put your clean, revised essay in a folder, right-hand pocket. Put the copy of the annotated reading behind the essay. Place all rough drafts and peer workshop sheets, LRC sheets, email evaluations, etc in the left-hand pocket. Also place all homework sheets, quizzes, freewrites, and in-class exercises from Part 3, stapled, in the left-hand pocket.

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