Module Five Analysis of a Written Work for a First Audience Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
In this assignment, you will use the preliminary introduction you wrote in the previous module as a starting point to create the first version of the paper you will submit for your project. As such, your draft will focus on your analysis of the article you have been working with throughout the course. Because you have already drafted an introduction, you will now revise that introduction as needed and write the body paragraphs and conclusion.
Directions
For this assignment, you will explain the writer’s choices in relation to genre, audience, purpose, and subject. You will also write about the core idea of the text as well as the details that support it and use at least one quote from the article to support your analysis. Completing this assignment will result in a draft of the first part of your project. Complete this assignment using either the APA or MLA template linked in the What to Submit section.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Identify the topic of the text.
Explain the writer’s choices in relation to the genre of the text.
Describe the writer’s purpose.
Explain the writer’s choices in relation to the audience, purpose, and/or subject of the text.
Determine the historical and/or cultural context of the text.
Articulate the core idea of the text.
Summarize details of the text that are relevant to the core idea.
Support your analysis of the core idea with evidence from the text.
Include at least one quote from the text.
Explain how this evidence supports the core idea.
What to Submit
Using either the APA template or the MLA template, submit a one- to two-page Microsoft Word document (with an additional title page and reference page in the case of APA or a works cited page in the case of MLA) with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Use evidence from the text to support your paper. Follow APA or MLA citation guidelines when citing the text both throughout and at the end of your analysis.
Supporting Materials
The following resources will support your work on this assignment:
Student APA Exemplar: Module Five Analysis of a Written Work for a First Audience APA Exemplar
This is an example of a completed assignment using the APA style template. You may want to use this as a guide when addressing the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Student MLA Exemplar: Module Five Analysis of a Written Work for a First Audience MLA Exemplar
This is an example of a completed assignment using the MLA style template. You may want to use this as a guide when addressing the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Developing a First Draft
A first draft will start with an introduction paragraph, which you worked on last week. As we learned, the introduction should provide an overview of the essay’s focus, indicate how you’ll develop the ideas, and include your thesis statement. Last week, you also wrote your thesis statement, so you already have the final sentence of your introductory paragraph.
With your introduction as the first paragraph, you’re ready for the body paragraphs. To develop the content, review your thesis statement, which is a summary of key points. Then you can map out one body paragraph per key point. In other words, the first body paragraph should focus on key point one, the second body paragraph on key point two, and the third body paragraph on key point three. Each body paragraph should also include supporting evidence from the article. Just keep in mind that the majority of each body paragraph should be in your own words. Quotes or paraphrases should support your ideas but not take the place of them.
What should your body paragraphs not do? Don’t include separate paragraphs for audience, writing choices, purpose, and context. Integrate awareness of these into the body paragraphs, but don’t call them out directly. Instead, develop the three key points identified in the thesis statement.
After your body paragraphs, you will draft a conclusion. The conclusion will tie everything together and leave your reader with a strong impression of your ideas. The conclusion is where you drive home the importance of your analysis.
The outline below can help you organize your ideas for each paragraph of the essay. The Roman numerals represent paragraphs, and the capital letters represent content within the paragraphs.
Introduction paragraph
Draw in the reader.
Provide an overview of the topic.
Present the core idea or thesis statement, which lists your three key points.
First body paragraph
Restate the first key point (this is the topic sentence of the paragraph).
Provide follow-up analysis of the key point.
Include supporting evidence.
Finish with a tie-back sentence, to connect with the topic sentence.
Second body paragraph
Restate the second key point (this is the topic sentence of the paragraph).
Provide follow-up analysis of the key point.
Include supporting evidence.
Finish with a tie-back sentence, to connect with the topic sentence.
Third body paragraph
Restate the third key point (this is the topic sentence of the paragraph).
Provide follow-up analysis of the key point.
Include supporting evidence.
Finish with a tie-back sentence, to connect with the topic sentence.
Concluding paragraph
Restate thesis statement.
Emphasize the importance of the analysis.
Provide your reader with a final reflective thought.
Remember: Don’t introduce new information in the conclusion!
Key Concepts
The following are the key concepts to consider as you work on this module:
An essay is composed of an introduction, multiple body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
How can you organize the ideas in your paper so that your audience can understand them?
Body paragraphs should focus on one point each. That point should be one reason why your thesis is true. Each body paragraph will state the point, use evidence to back up that point, and tie back to the thesis.
How can you develop each body paragraph so that by the end of the paper, your audience fully understands the claim you made in your thesis?
The conclusion will tie your essay together and state why your analysis is important.
How can you end your paper in a meaningful and memorable way?
