English 113A Misaghi 1 Progression 2: Super Freakonomics
English 113A/Misaghi 1 PROGRESSION 2: Super Freakonomics ï‚· Progression 2: SuperFreakonomics Analysis and Argument Exercise 1: Chapter Summaries Exercise 2: Analysis Exercise 3: Letter to Authors Essay 2 (in multiple drafts and peer-reviewed) All of the exercises are part of the “Homework†grade of Progression 2. Unlike Progression 1, there will be no rewrites allowed and absolutely no late homework accepted. Progression Overview: This progression will allow you to continue with the type of work you began in Progression 1, with more challenging skills to be used. The first step is for you to read all assigned chapters of Super Freakonomics. You cannot get by with just reading two chapters as we will be discussing a variety of chapters, and you may be quizzed on any of the assigned chapters.
This is an interesting and sometimes challenging book (both in the vocabulary and ideas), so you should practice the SQ3R strategy and take regular, clear notes. Also, make a note of words/phrases you don’t understand and find the definitions. These words will come up in class and on quizzes, so you need to learn them. Library Day: As part of this progression as a way to prepare for the essay, we will spend one class session in the library during week 7. Attendance is necessary, even if you have had a library session in the past as this class will be focused on preparing you for your essay, and you will have time to work while in the library.
It is important to stay on task with your work in this progression as each part will help lead you to your essay. ïµ Exercise #1: Chapter Summaries The purpose of this first exercise is to help you review and understand the material in Super Freakonomics. While you should read all assigned sections (you might be quizzed!), you will be focusing deeply on the two chapters that interest you the most. â–º Like you did in Progression 1, you will be summarizing parts of the assigned book, Super Freakonomics. This is a good way to highlight what the book is about and ensure you understand it. You will choose the 2 chapters you liked best from your reading of this book, and summarize each one on its own page.
Manuscript Notes: Each summary should be on its own page and cover one chapter only. Each summary should be one, full double-spaced page and in MLA format. Avoid quoting and evaluating; put the chapter in your own words, and only include material from the chapter – your opinion is not in the book so it should not be in your summary. turky Abu bunayyah ????? turky Abu bunayyah turky Abu bunayyah turky Abu bunayyah English 113A/Misaghi 2 ïµ Exercise #2: Analysis The purpose of this second exercise is to encourage you to practice an open-minded but cautious way of explaining and evaluating the claims of other scholars. â–º For this exercise you will use a curious and analytical view to learn what the authors are writing about.
What are the authors’ positions? What is the book about and why did they write it? What claims do they make, and do they make sense to you? Are they convincing, why or why not? Manuscript Notes: Your response should be 1 full double-spaced page and in MLA documentation.
Avoid large block quotations and use this exercise as an opportunity to practice using short quotations as well as brief summaries. Try to refer to both the book as well as the video clips you saw on Charlie Rose, the Freakonomics movie, or the information and videos on the authors’ website, ïµ Exercise #3: Letter to Authors The purpose of the final exercise is to once again, speak to the author of your current reading. However, unlike in progression 1 where you just talk about what you liked or related to, here you should get deeper into the content of the book as well as what it has encouraged you to write your own essay about. You have all begun to think about your essay where you make an argumentative statement connected to the book SuperFreakonomics by Levitt and Dubner.
In your letter to the authors of this book, you can decide what to say about the issues. However, don’t think of this as just “a letter my teacher is making me write,†but as your chance to voice what you got out of the book, directly to the authors. Use the bullet points below to guide you in writing your letter:  What did the book make you realize/learn?  How has the book affected the way you think about factors in your own life?  What does the book lead to you discuss and research in your own essay?  You may also bring up points from the interview on Charlie Rose, on the movie Freakonomics, or on the authors’ website ( but you are not required to.  Give detailed examples from the book; don’t just speak generally.
You need to prove you really read the book to the authors and your instructor!  Do not simply thank the authors for writing a nice book – get more involved with the book’s information. Note: Remember that a letter to an author is different than a summary, a personal letter, or an essay. Also, letters to the author are brief and to the point. Do not try writing a whole essay in your letter. Your letter should be 2-3 thorough paragraphs (or 1 – 1 ½ pages) at most.
Format: The letter must be typed, printed, and follow standard letter formatting. Please use 12-point Times New Roman font. And see this site about letter formatting: Extra Credit: For an additional 5 points, you will provide me with hardcopy proof that you submitted your letter to the authors. Proof = attaching a stapled copy of the complete email with a dated header that you submit to [email protected] . *You may wait until you get feedback on the letter before you send it to the authors (and I highly suggest this!), but I need the proof no later than your Essay #2 due date. You can put the proof in your two-pocket folder. mailto: [email protected] English 113A/Misaghi 3 Progression 2 Essay: Super Freakonomics!  Essay Proposal (Outline with Thesis) due ____________  First draft (at least 2 full pages with a Works Cited page) due ____________  FINAL draft due ____________ The purpose of this assignment is to formulate a clear, argumentative thesis statement, and develop support for it in an essay that analyzes others’ arguments and utilizes academic research.
You will learn and practice the following research skills: analyzing a text, applying the claims from the text into your own argument, finding and evaluating sources, and citing sources. Note: this is not a report-where you collect and then report information. Instead, you will develop and argue a debatable position on your selected topic. You will not turn in a paper that puts together other people’s ideas. Instead, you will support a thesis statement and use sources to back up your ideas.
After spending time in class discussing Levitt’s and Dubner’s work, you will combine what you have read along with a minimum of 2 other credible outside sources to develop a 3+ page typed, and double-spaced (MLA format) paper that addresses ONE of the following questions: 1. Does the recognition of differences (narrow your topic to something specific, like: ethnicity, religion, culture, politics, socioeconomic status, geography, gender, sexual preference, appearance, etc.) create an "us and them" mentality, or does it help maintain a fair society? You MUST use examples from SuperFreakonomics to support your position. 2. In the first book, Freakonomics, Levitt proclaims, "Humans respond to incentives" (7).
Write an essay to explore the power of incentives by: a. Analyzing one or two of the ideas/conclusions Levitt reaches in SuperFreakonomics, and b. Showing examples of how incentives work in your world. 3. If you want to formulate your own question, you may do so as long as it is related to SuperFreakonomics, you get my approval, and you can write an argumentative essay to answer it.
YOU MUST INCLUDE A “WORKS CITED†PAGE AT THE BACK OF YOUR PAPER (See chapter 29 of COMP if you need more help); THIS DOES NOT COUNT IN THE PAGE COUNT! WHILE YOU MAY USE WEBSITES AS SOURCES, YOU CANNOT CITE FROM WIKIPEDIA OR ANY DICTIONARY/QUOTATIONS WEBSITES. YOU MAY USE THEM IN YOUR RESEARCH, BUT THEY DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE 2 SOURCES REQUIRED. YOUR ESSAY FOLDER DUE ON ______ MUST INCLUDE: 1. Final draft (100 points) 2.
First drafts (all of them) 3. Outline 4. Optional: LRC slip (10 points extra credit) DON’T FORGET TO ATTACH THE ESSAY COVER SHEET (ON NEXT PAGE) TO YOUR FINAL ESSAY! turky Abu bunayyah turky Abu bunayyah