Category: English and Literature : English

 How and why have certain Americans tended to view themselves and their nation as “exceptional”?  How has this notion shaped American culture, politics and economics?

Directions
In this writer’s journal entry, begin drafting your MWA1: Writing In My _____ report. First, review this unit’s readings on IMRaD structure. Then, use these tips to write a 1-3 paragraph draft of your “Methods” section:
Describe your research questions:
What are you hoping to learn from your research?
Why do the answers to your questions matter?
Who else cares about your research, besides you, and why?
What motivated you to conduct this research?
Describe your research methods:
How will you go about gathering information to explore your research question?
Why did you select this approach?
What search strategies will you use?
Do you plan to consult primary sources, secondary sources, or both? Why?
Besides collecting sources, how will you explore your research questions? What other methods will you use, and why?
Describe your predictions:
What do you plan to learn from your research?
What new questions do you expect to have after conducting your research?
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words for credit. You can (and should!) “re-use” this journal entry as the Methods section of your MWA1: Writing In My _____ report.

At end of annotated bibliography, please answer reflection questions.
Make sure to:
❒ Alphabetize the entries, according to APA Style.
❒ Include the required bibliographic information in APA format for each entry.
❒ Include 5-6 sentences for each entry that provide a short summary of the source (with page or paragraph-numbered citations) and how you plan to use it to support your argument.
❒ Include at least seven entries in your annotated bibliography, all of which must be credible (i.e., authentic, reputable, authoritative), reliable (e.g., contains current and valid data collection and analysis), and relevant academic sources.(Use Google Scholar if you do not have access to an academic search database through your institution).
❒ Choose your own sources, but use no more than three websites (there is no limit on the number of online scholarly journals used).
❒ Thoroughly check the formatting requirements for the different source types
❒ After each relevant entry indicate the source type in parentheses (book, peer-reviewed journal, newspaper/magazine, and credible website) by including the source type in parentheses after the relevant entry.
Reflection questions
Accurately recording bibliographic information is essential and saves you time, as you can transfer this information to the References page of your drafted essay. Each source entry should include a brief summary of the source as well as 3-4 sentences describing how you intend to use that source to build or support your argument. Discuss how your annotated bibliography meets these criteria. (2-3 sentences)
Which strategies were most helpful for you when searching for credible sources? (2-3 sentences)
What difficulties did you face while searching for credible sources? How did you overcome these difficulties? (2-3 sentences)

Using the attached outline.
Evaluate and write about the credibility and usefulness of a source.
Credibility (at least one full paragraph):  Evaluate the source’s authenticity and reliability. Look at all the information that you can find about the source to establish the author’s trustworthiness.
Usefulness (at least one full paragraph): Using a combination of summary and analysis, examine the source on a critical level. Determine what the source’s purpose (thesis) is, and how it arrives at that goal. Examine its value to you and the project you are working on. How will it help you prove your own points? How might it come in handy to back up a claim (or address a counter-claim)?
Include a conclusion which shows your final assessments on both counts.
Answer the following questions at the end.
Reflection Questions
What types of questions did you ask yourself when evaluating the credibility and usefulness of your source? (2-3 sentences)
How do you feel this evaluation practice will help you as you continue to move through the research process? (2-3 sentences)

1. “There will Come Soft Rains” by Ray BradburyLinks to an external site.
What will happen to the world if all humans stop existing? 
2. “The Poor and Burning Arab” by William SaroyanLinks to an external site.
What does it truly mean to leave behind one’s own home country?
Why is the uncle so attached to his friend? 
What connects Armenians with Arabs?
3. “Girls at War” by Chinua AchebeLinks to an external site. 
What restrictions do societies place on women and how do women create their own strengths during time of war? 
Check In
Based on the assignment, in a sentence or two, what should your peers keep in mind so they can succeed.
Annotate
Underline important sentences from the short story, annotate the margins or use post its, and take photos from at least two to three different sections and share them here. 
Reflect
 In a 100 to 200 minimum word post, please do the following:
Discuss what caught your attention the most. 
Explain why these sentences and or sections you highlighted caught your attention.
Explain what your research topic or question might be. 
Include the word count.
Remember, you might end up using your annotations and observations when you write your second essay. 
 
Respond 
In a 50 to 70 minimum word response, tell a peer why their observations are insightful. Please include the word count.
 
 

Compose two Introductions for your Researched Argumentative Essay. The introductions should demonstrate different approaches, using different word: phrasing. Only the thesis statement will remain similar. Then, in a third paragraph, share your thoughts about which introduction you are most likely to use and why.
Paragraph 1 will be your first possible introduction.
Paragraph 2 will be your second possible introduction.
Paragraph 3 will be your commentary on both introductions.
Write only in 3rd person point of view (No direct address – “You would be shocked at the waste of edible foods!”).
Do not announce the topic (Example: This paper will discuss the importance of donkey farming to nomad societies in Nörthern Africa; In this essay, or, In this essay, I will…).
If you use a source in your introduction, such as for a statistic, you should cite it and reference the material.

From the short stories listed below, choose the one that speaks to you the most, read it and annotate it. Share your thoughts about its deeper meaning. 
“A Hedge of Rosemary” by Elizabeth Jolley (http://seas3.elte.hu/coursematerial/GallCecilia/jolley.pdf)
Pages 14 to 18
“The Chair” by Yusef Idris (https://www.scribd.com/document/146274257/The-Chair-Carrier)
 
La Pulchra Nota by Molly McNett (https://imagejournal.org/article/la-pulchra-nota/)
 

How have its geopolitical, geographical, and cultural parameters shifted? What do these shifting assignations signify? How are they useful for historians? How do they illuminate or obscure important themes in European development?

How have its geopolitical, geographical, and cultural parameters shifted? What do these shifting assignations signify? How are they useful for historians? How do they illuminate or obscure important themes in European development?

For the last assignment of the semester, please review both your team’s work in the collaborative project and your own work in this class over the semester.
This final assignment models a very specific type of workplace practice: performance evaluations. A performance evaluation or performance review is a formal evaluation process in which an employee’s work performance is discussed with their supervisor. Performance reviews are important in the workplace as they identify strengths and areas for improvement, discuss the achievement of objectives, and promote employee growth. In many workplaces (big and small), you will be evaluated at least once a year.  
Part of the evaluation process often involves writing a self-evaluation that aligns your performance with your job responsibilities. This self-evaluation allows you to reflect on what you have done and what you’re going to do. Reflection plays a crucial role in performance evaluations. It allows employees and managers to step back, assess past performance, and gain insights for improvement. By encouraging introspection and self-awareness, reflection enables individuals to identify strengths, areas for growth, and strategies to enhance their future performance.
Submission (USF Writes)
Please submit your responses to the FINAL–Performance Evaluation assignment in USF Writes.
I. Evaluate your team’s performance
In general, how do you feel the team worked together? How does this compare to other teams you’ve worked in? What specifically did you learn about collaborating productively?
Were there any specific obstacles your team had to overcome? How well do you feel your team handled this situation? What skills did your team use to overcome obstacles?
For each team member, what do you feel their biggest contribution to the project was?
Would you work with this team again?
II. Evaluate your own performance this semester
Where do you feel you did your best work in this class? You might talk about a specific assignment of exercise, or discuss a skill you think you demonstrated well (like teamwork or concision).
Were any of the projects, assignments, or exercises more difficult than others? What about that assignment gave you trouble?
What was your biggest contribution to the collaborative proposal project?
Were there any technologies, concepts, or types of writing you were hoping this course would cover that we didn’t?