Critical Response Essay Directions
WR 122 Handout -  Winter 2008 - Prof. Cora Agatucci 

DEADLINES:  See WR 122 Course Plan.
GRADING WEIGHT:  See WR 122 Syllabus.
SUGGESTED LENGTH:  5 word-processed and double-spaced pages (1200-1500 words) including separate Works Cited page; however, note that your Critical Response Essay should be as long as it needs to be to meet assignment requirements and get the job done well!

TOPIC CHOICE:  Your Critical Response Essay (Analysis + Evaluation) must be written on one of the following AofA argument essays:

MANUSCRIPT FORM REQUIREMENTS:  See also WR 122 Syllabus.

MLA Style Heading & Title – Page 1 example:

Juanita Doe
WR 122, Prof. Cora Agatucci
Critical Response Essay – Final Draft
7 February 2008

Critical Response to Angi Grellhesl’s “Mediating the Speech Code Controversy” 

            In “Mediating the Speech Code Controversy,” first-year university student Angi Grellhesl presents a solution to the current controversy over whether or not campus speech codes should . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MLA Style Running Page Header (on subsequent pages) – Page 2 example:

Doe 2

after close examination of the ends and means advocated by proponents and opponents of university speech codes, Grellhesl reveals that the two groups have much more in common than . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CONTENT REQUIREMENTS: 

Part One: Introduction & Rhetorical Analysis of the Argument Essay  (1-to-3 paragraphs)

AofA Resources:
--”What Are the Aims of Argument?” and “Concept Close-Up: Comparing the Aims of Argument” (Crusius and Channel 14-17);
--For more detail on each type of argument, see AofA chs. 6–9.

·         Rhetorical Analysis: Identify two or three significant features of the argument essay’s Rhetorical Context (e.g. who, to whom, where, when, why), drawing upon relevant external and internal evidence; and explain why these features are relevant to understanding and critically analyzing the selected argument essay.  Be sure to cite all quotation, paraphrase, summary taken from Crusius and Channell and/or other sources in proper MLA style.

AofA Resources:
--“Best Practices: Guidelines for Determining Rhetorical Context” (Crusius and Channell 23)
--Bullets 13-15 of “Best Practices: Ways to Annotate” (Crusius and Channell 37)
--Opening paragraphs of Example Student Critical Response Essay/s
--Paragraph 1 of “Analysis of ‘The Decorated Body’” (Katie Lahey qtd. in Crusius and Channell 41-42)

·         Self-Analysis:  Explain why or why not you consider yourself to be a member of the author’s targeted/ideal audience, identifying any significant factors (e.g. your prior knowledge, experiences, opinions, interests relevant to the topic—or lack of same) that may have influenced your response to the author’s argument.  Taking any such acknowledged influences into account, conclude this section/paragraph with a self-assessment of your ability to conduct an open-minded analysis and fair evaluation of the author’s argument essay.

Part Two: Critical Analysis and Evaluation of the Argument Essay’s Main Strength/s and Weakness/es (At least 3 well-developed paragraphs)

Apply relevant methods of analysis and criteria for evaluation (that you have learned thus far in WR 122 from AofA reading assignments, class handouts, discussion, exercises and/or examples) to identify, analyze and evaluate the main strength/s and weakness/es of the argument essay – and be sure to cite quotation, paraphrase, and summary from the argument essay under discussion and from Crusius and Channel using proper MLA style.

AofA Resources:
--Previous AofA resources discussed in assigned readings, class handouts, discussions, exercises;  
--see also Bullets 1-11 of “Best Practices: Ways to Annotate” (Crusius and Channell 37); and Example Student Critical Response Essay/s.
--Part Two of “Analysis of ‘The Decorated Body,’” paragraphs 4-9 (Katie Lahey qtd. in Crusius and Channell 42-43) may also be helpful. 
--Review Chs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 for tools of analysis and evaluation.

While you may decide that your chosen argument essay has more strengths than weaknesses, or more weaknesses than strengths; this assignment requires that you address at least one strength, at least one weakness, and at least one additional strength or weakness (your choice):

1.      Devote at least one well-developed paragraph to a strength of the argument essay:

·        Identify one strength of the argument essay,

·        Present one or more cogent reasons to explain why you judge this aspect of the argument essay to be one of its strengths, and

·        Support your judgment with evidence—i.e. relevant illustration/s of this strength from the argument essay – and be sure to cite quotation, paraphrase, summary using MLA style.

2.      Devote at least one well-developed paragraph to a weakness of the argument essay.

·        Identify one weakness of the argument essay,

·        Present one or more cogent reasons to explain why you judge this aspect of the argument essay to be one of its weaknesses, and

·        Support your judgment with evidence—i.e. relevant illustration/s of this strength from the argument essay– and be sure to cite quotation, paraphrase, summary using MLA style.

3.      Devote at least one additional well-developed paragraph to a second strength or weakness (your choice) of the argument essay

·        Identify an additional strength OR weakness of the argument essay,

·        Present one or more cogent reasons to explain why you judge this aspect of the argument essay to be one of its strengths or weaknesses, and

·        Support your judgment with evidence—i.e. relevant illustration/s of this strength or weakness from the argument essay– and be sure to cite quotation, paraphrase, summary using MLA style.

The order in which you address the above Part Two requirements is your choice.

GRADING NOTE: Ability to adhere to conventions of standard written English (e.g. grammar, punctuation, mechanics) will also be considered in grading your Critical Response Essay!

See also:
 Example Student Critical Response Essays:
http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/wr122/ExampleCriticalResponseEssays.htm
 More MLA-Style Models for Citing AofA Sources
Plus Addendum: MLA Style Models for Citing WWWeb Sources
 http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/wr122/MoreMLAmodels.htm

Winter 2008 WR 122 Syllabus | Course Plan | WR 122 Course Home Page

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Last Updated: 02 February 2008

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Humanities Department, Central Oregon Community College
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