PREQUISITE
Go to Circulation Desk at the library and ask for the Popular Culture
books under my name.
ASSIGNMENT
STEP ONE: READING A VARIETY OF
MAGAZINES/ JOURNALS
Look over 2-3 possible articles.
The articles should be 2-4 pages long.
Write a index card (or on a separate piece of paper for each article (see example).
How do you find an article?
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Skim and sample
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Peruse article title, abstract, first two and last two paragraphs
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Look for meaty pieces
***ON INDEX CARDS OR A PIECE OF PAPER*** EXAMPLE
FRONT OF CARD
DOCUMENT YOUR SOURCES
Note the sources you used for your paper.
You can use index cards or a separate piece of paper/:
| Author |
| Title of article |
| Book title |
| Starting and ending page numbers |
BACK OF CARD
| Write a brief response to the reading |
| Subject |
| Point of view |
| Significant ideas |
STEP TWO: CHOOSING A PROMISING PIECE
Review the articles you have chosen.
Choose a piece that you would like to consider further.
Make a copy of the article.
Considerations
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Look for something that interests you.
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Think about what would interest your possible readers, classmates and instructor.
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Which entry most clearly says something?
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Which article arrives at/or points to a conclusion?
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Which article stirs ideas of your own? (Do you agree, disagree?)
***MAKE A COPY OF THE
ARTICLE.***
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Highlight significant points
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Make notes in the margins
NOTE: For assistance on writing notes, see pages
384-385.
STEP THREE: RIPPING IT APART
***Write up the following on a separate piece of paper****
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Locate the author’s thesis, or main point, and state it in your own words, in a sentence or two.
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Go through the article, paragraph by paragraph, and summarize or "nutshell" the main point made in each paragraph in a sentence or two, leaving several lines of blank space after each of your summaries.
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Locate the author’s conclusion and summarize it.
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In the blank space after your summary of the main point made in each paragraph, note any evidence the author provides to support that point.
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Write out your own response to each main point, clarifying whether you agree or disagree with the author’s interpretation.
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Write a paragraph describing why you chose this particular article/topic.
STEP FOUR: THE ESSAY
In order to complete the process you must write an essay based upon the article:
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Mention the author's thesis and subject in paragraph two.
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Mentioned why you chose it in the last paragraph.
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For paragraphs 2-4 (or 2-6)
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If your author is advancing a particular argument, take three of the points (from your notes) and discuss them. Remember to quote from the author's work.
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If your author is not really advancing an argument, it's more personal or humorous, look at the questions in the beginning or end of the article and answer a few of them. Remember to quote from the author's work.
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All materials and notes related to this assignment.
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ESPECIALLY NOTE ASTERISKED *** PORTIONS OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.
NOTE: IF ANY OF THE ABOVE STEPS ARE NOT DOCUMENTED, THE ASSIGNMENT IS CONSIDERED
INCOMPLETE, AND YOUR GRADE WILL BE AFFECTED.
Prior to submitting the assignment, please use your dictionary to verify spelling and make sure you review your papers for errors.
