“How to Write a Detailed Film Shot Analysis: A Guide for House of Usher”

The most basic element of filmmaking is the shot, an uninterrupted run of the camera or an uninterrupted image on film. Though a scene might be made up of many shots, even an individual shot involves mise-en-scène, and the composition of a single shot can convey meaning. Writing about film involves translating the content of images into words. This week’s short writing assignment will allow you to start to develop your film vocabulary with a simple exercise, a detailed breakdown of a single shot from Roger Corman’s House of Usher.
Below you will find four individual shots taken from the film (Figures A-D). Begin by selecting one of these shots. Consider its visual elements as well as the composition of the image. What is the setting of the scene? How has the set been decorated? How has the scene been lit? How are the actors positioned in relation to each other, or in relation to the camera? How do costumes, props, colors, or space contribute to your impression of the image? In a short essay, present a detailed description of the shot that you have selected. Be as descriptive as possible with regard to specific elements. In addition to describing composition, the essay should indicate the way in which these visual elements contribute to the overall impression or meaning of the shot.
The finished essay must be two-pages in length, double spaced, and typed in 12-point Times New Roman font. The writing must be objective and adopt an academic tone. Be sure to establish the title of the film in the introduction and to refer to specific actors or characters by name. All assignments are to be cited and formatted in APA format.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Choose Your Shot

  • Start by reviewing the four shots provided from House of Usher. Choose the shot that you feel has the most visual elements that you can describe and analyze.
    • Tip: Select a shot that speaks to you visually, whether due to its composition, lighting, or the actors’ positioning.

Step 2: Understand the Assignment

  • The goal is to break down the composition of a single shot in House of Usher and explore how visual elements contribute to the overall meaning or tone of the scene.
  • You will need to describe specific elements in detail (lighting, set design, costumes, props, actors’ positioning) and analyze how they contribute to the shot’s impact.

How to Structure Your Film Shot Analysis

Step 3: Write the Introduction

  • Start by introducing the film, House of Usher, and providing context for the shot you’ve chosen.
    • Example: “In the 1960s gothic horror film House of Usher, director Roger Corman employs specific visual elements to convey tension and unease. One shot in particular demonstrates the powerful use of mise-en-scène to evoke a sense of dread and isolation.”

Step 4: Detailed Description of the Shot

  • Describe the setting:
    • What is the physical environment? Is it indoors or outdoors? What is the mood of the setting?
    • Example: “The shot takes place inside the decaying mansion of the Usher family. The room is dimly lit, with heavy drapery and a dark color palette that suggests age and neglect.”
  • Analyze the lighting:
    • Is the shot brightly lit or dark? How does the lighting affect the tone?
    • Example: “The low-key lighting casts long shadows, heightening the sense of mystery and foreboding.”
  • Describe the actors’ positions:
    • Are the actors in close proximity to each other or apart? What is the body language or facial expression?
    • Example: “The protagonist, Roderick Usher, is positioned near the center of the frame, his face partially obscured in shadows. His posture is tense, suggesting both physical and emotional restraint.”
  • Analyze props, costumes, and colors:
    • What is the significance of props or costumes in the shot? Do the colors evoke certain feelings or ideas?
    • Example: “The dark, heavy furniture in the room creates a sense of confinement. Usher’s dark, tattered clothing further emphasizes his deteriorating mental state, mirroring the decaying surroundings.”

Step 5: Analyze the Overall Meaning of the Shot

  • Reflect on how the visual elements you’ve described contribute to the meaning or impression of the shot.
    • Example: “This shot emphasizes the isolation and madness of Roderick Usher. The dark lighting, the oppressive environment, and his tense body language all point to the psychological and emotional unraveling of the character. It visually conveys the theme of entrapment that runs throughout the film.”

Step 6: Writing the Conclusion

  • Wrap up by summarizing how the shot contributes to the overall narrative or themes of the film.
    • Example: “Through this shot, Corman uses composition and visual cues to enhance the horror elements of the film, portraying a character trapped both physically and mentally in his own deteriorating world.”

Step 7: Formatting Your Paper

  • Be sure your paper is double-spaced, written in 12-point Times New Roman, and follows APA formatting.
    • Include a title page with the film’s title, your name, and course information.
    • Cite any sources or references used for your analysis in APA format.

Final Tip:

  • Stay objective and analytical in your tone. Focus on describing the visual elements in detail and explaining their significance to the story or the themes of the film. The more specific you are in your description, the stronger your analysis will be!

“Mastering Concise Writing: Revising Your Sentences for Clarity and Precision”

Week 4 Topic 2: Writing Concise Sentences
In this discussion, you will work on writing concise sentences.
Initial Post (due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday)
Select a sentence from any of your own prior writing that could be made more concise. This could be writing you have submitted or posted in discussions in this class or it could be from another context.
Post the original sentence.
Revise the sentence to make it more concise. Be sure to indicate your revisions in bold type.
Using what you have learned about sentences, demonstrate informed and deliberate choices about sentence structure in your revised sentence.
Demonstrate the grammar and writing skills covered in previous week

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!


Step-by-Step Guide:


1. Understand the Assignment Overview

  • Recognize that your task is to analyze data using SPSS and create a descriptive statistics report.
  • Focus on:
    • Eight demographic variables (frequency tables).
    • Ten questions (frequency tables, means, medians, standard deviations).
    • Interpreting results and formatting them in APA style.

2. Prepare Your Resources

  • Ensure SPSS is installed and functioning on your computer.
  • Download the dataset: Federal Employee Survey 2018.sav to your computer’s hard drive.
  • Review APA formatting guidelines for tables, figures, and citations.

3. Open and Explore the Dataset in SPSS

  • Open SPSS and locate the dataset:
    • Go to File > Open > Data and select Federal Employee Survey 2018.sav.
  • Familiarize yourself with the dataset structure:
    • Identify the eight demographic variables.
    • Explore questions Q1–Q71 to choose ten for analysis.

4. Conduct Analysis in SPSS

  • Step 1: Analyze Demographic Variables
    • Run frequency tables for the first eight variables:
      • Navigate to Analyze > Descriptive Statistics > Frequencies.
      • Select the demographic variables and click “OK.”
    • Save the output by copying the tables into a Word document.
  • Step 2: Analyze Questions Q1–Q71
    • Choose ten questions for analysis.
    • Run descriptive statistics for each question:
      • Go to Analyze > Descriptive Statistics > Frequencies.
      • Check options for mean, median, and standard deviation.
      • Copy and paste all tables and figures into your Word document.

5. Format Tables and Figures in APA Style

  • Adjust table titles and formatting to match APA guidelines.
    • Example table title: Table 1. Frequency Analysis for [Question Text]
  • Ensure figures are clear and labeled correctly.

6. Write the Report

  • Title Page
    • Include a title, your name, course title, instructor name, and date.
  • Introduction
    • Briefly describe the dataset and the purpose of the analysis.
    • State the objectives: analyzing demographic variables and descriptive statistics for survey questions.
  • Methods Section
    • Explain how the data was selected and analyzed.
    • Mention SPSS as the software used for statistical analysis.
  • Results Section
    • Present each table or figure with a brief interpretation.
      • Example: “Table 1 shows the frequency distribution for Question 1, indicating that 37.6% of respondents agreed with the statement, while 12% strongly agreed.”
    • Highlight key findings for each variable/question.
  • Discussion Section
    • Analyze trends or patterns in the data.
    • Discuss the implications of the findings in relation to public administration.
  • Conclusion
    • Summarize key insights from the analysis.
    • Propose how these findings could guide future research or policy.
  • References
    • Include at least ten citations from course readings and presentations.

7. Proofread and Finalize

  • Ensure your report adheres to the APA format.
  • Double-check grammar, spelling, and table consistency.
  • Confirm that the manuscript meets the 12–20 double-spaced page requirement (excluding the title page and references).

Final Tips:

  • Stay concise and avoid jargon or overly technical language.
  • Spell out acronyms the first time they appear.
  • Use the provided example tables as a reference for formatting.

Now, you’re equipped to create a professional and thorough descriptive statistics report!

4o
You said:
Week 4 Topic 2: Writing Concise Sentences In this discussion, you will work on writing concise sentences. Initial Post (due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday) Select a sentence from any of your own prior writing that could be made more concise. This could be writing you have submitted or posted in discussions in this class or it could be from another context. Post the original sentence. Revise the sentence to make it more concise. Be sure to indicate your revisions in bold type. Using what you have learned about sentences, demonstrate informed and deliberate choices about sentence structure in your revised sentence. Demonstrate the grammar and writing skills covered in previous weeks.
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!


Step-by-Step Guide:


1. Understand the Assignment

  • Your task is to choose a sentence from your prior writing and revise it to make it more concise.
  • Your post must include:
    • The original sentence.
    • The revised sentence, with changes marked in bold.
    • An explanation of your deliberate choices in revising the sentence.
  • Remember to demonstrate grammar and writing skills learned in earlier weeks.

2. Select an Original Sentence

  • Look through your past writing, such as discussion posts, assignments, or notes.
  • Choose a sentence that is too wordy, unclear, or repetitive.

Example:
Original sentence:
“The project that I have been working on for several months now is something that has been a challenge to complete due to the overwhelming number of tasks that had to be accomplished within a very short time frame.”


3. Revise the Sentence

  • Eliminate unnecessary words.
  • Simplify complex phrases without losing meaning.
  • Use active voice when appropriate.

Revised sentence with changes in bold:
“The project I’ve worked on for months was challenging due to many tasks and a tight deadline.”


4. Explain Your Revisions

  • Clearly outline the choices you made to improve the sentence.
  • Mention any grammar principles or techniques applied.

Example Explanation:
“In the revised sentence, I replaced ‘that I have been working on for several months now’ with ‘I’ve worked on for months’ to make the sentence more concise and active. I also condensed ‘overwhelming number of tasks that had to be accomplished within a very short time frame’ to ‘many tasks and a tight deadline,’ which retains the original meaning while removing redundancy.”


5. Format Your Post

  • Clearly label each section: Original Sentence, Revised Sentence, Explanation.
  • Use bold text for revisions to make them easily identifiable.

6. Proofread and Submit

  • Double-check for grammar, spelling, and formatting issues.
  • Ensure your post aligns with the assignment instructions and showcases the skills you’ve learned.

Final Tips:

  • Choose a sentence with enough complexity to demonstrate thoughtful revision.
  • Aim for clarity and simplicity in your revisions.

s.

 

Tips for Communicating in Your Field of Study

Item 1 of the Portfolio: Tips for Communicating in My Field of Study (due in week 3)
Please wait until the Monday of Week 3 to submit your assignment.
*If you have extenuating circumstances requiring you to submit early, please email me ahead of time to let me know.
Double-Space all assignments.
For Item 1 of the Portfolio, you simply look at the portion of your initial post in the week 2 discussion in which you reflected about the AI-generated observations about how people in your field write and your own observations. Then you do these things:
Copy your reflections from your initial post (these reflections are what you did in response to part 3 of the discussion).
*This should be a thorough response consisting of at least two well-developed paragraphs of 5 or more sentences each.
Open the template for the assignment and save it as a Word file with the title “(Your last name) Tips for Communicating.”
Paste your reflections into the template.
Add any additional thoughts based on feedback you received in the discussion at the end of the reflections.
Save your file and submit it before Sunday midnight of week 3.
Since you have already received a grade for this work (in the week 2 discussion), you will only receive a mark in the gradebook that you have submitted the work as per the instructions.
For your final portfolio, you may want to make some revisions to these communication tips, based on what you have learned in the process of working on the portfolio. Your instructor will review Item 1 as part of the portfolio grading process and may look to see if you have addressed concerns shared with you in the week 2 discussion.
Remember that this item is very important as it is giving you instructions on how to write your final paper for the target audience of people in your field of study. It’s like a road map for you to follow.

Attachments
TEMPLATE Tips for Communicating in My Field.dotx
(22.02 KB)

SAMPLE Tips on Communicating Item 1 of the Portfolio.pdf
(125.52 KB)

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!


Step-by-Step Guide to Completing “Tips for Communicating in My Field of Study”

Step 1: Understand the Assignment Objectives

  • This assignment builds on the reflections you wrote in Week 2 about how professionals in your field communicate.
  • Your goal is to transfer those reflections into a provided template, add any feedback-based revisions, and submit it.

Step 2: Locate and Review Your Week 2 Discussion Post

  • Open your Week 2 discussion post and find the section where you reflected on:
    1. AI-generated observations about writing in your field.
    2. Your own observations about professional communication in your field.
  • Ensure that your reflections are at least two well-developed paragraphs with a minimum of five sentences each.

Step 3: Open and Save the Template

  • Download the TEMPLATE Tips for Communicating in My Field.dotx from the attachments.
  • Save it as a Word file titled: “(Your Last Name) Tips for Communicating.”

Step 4: Copy and Paste Your Reflections

  • Copy the relevant section from your Week 2 discussion post (your two paragraphs of reflections).
  • Paste it into the saved Word template under the designated section.

Step 5: Revise and Add Feedback-Based Thoughts

  • Reflect on any feedback you received in the Week 2 discussion.
    • Did a peer or instructor suggest additional insights?
    • Were there points to clarify or expand on?
  • Add any new ideas or revisions to enhance your initial reflections.

Step 6: Save and Review

  • Save the document and double-check the following:
    • The text is double-spaced as required.
    • The title includes your last name.
    • Your reflections and feedback additions are clear and well-organized.

Step 7: Submit Before Sunday of Week 3

  • Submit your completed Word document to the Week 3 assignment portal before the Sunday midnight deadline.
  • If you have extenuating circumstances requiring early submission, email your instructor ahead of time to get approval.

Step 8: Prepare for Final Portfolio Revisions

  • Keep in mind that this assignment will be part of your final portfolio.
  • Be ready to revise this document further based on what you learn while working on the portfolio.

Helpful Tips for Success:

  • Use the SAMPLE Tips on Communicating Item 1 of the Portfolio.pdf for guidance on formatting and tone.
  • Ensure your writing remains focused on how to effectively communicate in your specific field of study.
  • Think of this document as a “road map” for your final paper’s audience and purpose.

 

Identify Common Themes: Begin by identifying the common themes or motifs across these texts. Many of them deal with the concept of horror, fear, and the human imagination

4-5 pages/ five sources minimum
“Why We Crave horror Movies”, By steven King, Page 16.
“Monsters and the Moral Imagination”, Stephen T, Asma, page 59
“Conception”, Susan, Tyler Hitchcock, page, 23
“Why Vampires Never Die” Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, page 35
“Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare: How the Bomb Became a Beast Called Godzilla, Peter H. Brothers, page45
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

1. Identify Common Themes: Begin by identifying the common themes or motifs across these texts. Many of them deal with the concept of horror, fear, and the human imagination. For example:

  • Stephen King’s essay might discuss the human need for fear through horror movies.
  • Asma’s work could delve into the moral and psychological aspects of monsters.
  • Del Toro and Hogan’s work might explore the endurance of vampire myths.
  • Brothers’ piece could address the cultural and symbolic meaning of Godzilla.
  • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein deals with the creation of monstrous beings and the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition.

2. Group the Texts: You could organize your paper around several key ideas or perspectives that emerge from these works:

  • Horror as Catharsis: Discuss King’s argument about why we enjoy horror movies and how this could relate to a cultural fascination with monsters and fear.
  • The Moral Imagination: Use Asma’s essay to examine the philosophical and moral dimensions of monster creation and how these creatures embody our societal anxieties.
  • Cultural Significance of Monsters: Del Toro and Hogan’s discussion of vampires can be used to explore how monsters reflect and shape our cultural narratives, while Brothers’ piece on Godzilla offers a specific lens into how monsters respond to historical events, such as the nuclear age.
  • Literary Monsters: Bring in Frankenstein as a classic example of how monsters serve as metaphors for human creation, destruction, and moral responsibility.

3. Develop a Thesis Statement: Your thesis could focus on the role that horror and monstrous figures play in human culture, morality, and psychological release. For example:

  • “Through the lens of horror movies, literature, and myth, monstrous figures act as reflections of our deepest fears, moral dilemmas, and cultural anxieties, offering both catharsis and a deeper understanding of the human condition.”

4. Integrate the Texts: As you discuss each theme or section, make sure to reference and integrate your sources. For example:

  • When discussing the psychological need for fear (King), use examples from Frankenstein to show how horror literature has historically served as a means to explore the human psyche.
  • Reference Monsters and the Moral Imagination to explain how our fascination with monsters reflects societal norms and values.
  • Use Why Vampires Never Die and Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare to delve into the historical and cultural symbolism behind iconic monsters like vampires and Godzilla.

5. Conclusion: Wrap up your paper by reinforcing the idea that monsters are not only creatures of fear but also serve as vehicles for cultural and moral reflection. They endure because they allow us to confront, analyze, and question our deepest fears, desires, and societal values.

By following these steps, you can create a cohesive paper that draws on these diverse texts while maintaining a focused, critical argument. Would you like further assistance on how to cite these sources or more guidance on structuring the sections of your paper?

Style: MLA Page Length: 4 pages minimum. No maximum. Works Cited pages never cou

Style: MLA Page Length: 4 pages minimum. No maximum. Works Cited pages never count towards a page count. Works Cited: Cite at least two secondary sources related to the short story. Also cite the short story. That means there should be at least 3 citations in your works cited page. Thesis: Write a well thought out thesis that has specifics, a general idea, and answers the why is this important question. For this essay pick one or two short stories to write about. You may make it a comparison essay or an analysis of one text. A textual analysis essay should pick several major mechanics within the story to examine with great depth. Warning: Your natural instinct will be to summarize the story or stories. Do not summarize. This essay is not a book report.

Touchstone 2.1: Comparison/Contrast Essay before you start Consider revisiting

Touchstone 2.1: Comparison/Contrast Essay
before you start
Consider revisiting the Writing Effective Comparison/Contrast Essays tutorial about brainstorming and organizing comparison/contrast writing. You might find it helpful to outline your topic choice using one of the two organization options for this Touchstone to kick-start writing this comparison/contrast essay.
ASSIGNMENT: Write a 3-4 page (approximately 700-1000 words) comparison/contrast essay in the informative mode. In addition, you must answer the “Think About Your Writing” questions, described below, beneath your essay.
Sample Comparison/Contrast Essay
In order to foster learning and growth, all work you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any plagiarized or recycled work will result in a Plagiarism Detected alert. Review Touchstones: Academic Integrity Guidelines for more about plagiarism and the Plagiarism Detected alert. For guidance on the use of generative AI technology, review Ethical Standards and Appropriate Use of AI.
CopyLeaks Originality Checker: All writing will be checked for originality. Do not use any outside text from third party sources to complete Touchstone 2.1. Focus on showcasing your ability to rely on common knowledge to compare two things.
A. Directions
Step 1: Choose a Topic
Begin by choosing a topic for your comparison/contrast essay. You are free to select your own topic, or you may use one of the sample topics listed below. However, you should choose a topic that you have some personal knowledge of so that you have sufficient points of comparison or contrast to discuss in your essay. Avoid choosing subjects that require extensive outside research that require citation (you will learn how to properly cite in a later unit). Consider subjects and points that fall under “common knowledge”: information that the average educated reader would accept without needing a source citation to back it up.
You will need to compare or contrast two or three primary points about the two subjects you choose to write about, resulting in an essay with either four or six body paragraphs, an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion. The writing for this assignment should be informative and objective, avoiding the first-person voice or any personal details that may inform bias or personal opinion.
The following are some ideas that can help you to select a topic for your essay:
Compare or contrast two cities you’ve visited or that you’ve lived in
Compare or contrast two sources of news
Compare or contrast two singers in different music genres
Compare or contrast two historical figures
Compare or contrast two artists (e.g. two painters or two photographers)
Compare or contrast two television series
Compare or contrast two types of technologies (for example, two smartphone brands or two gaming consoles)
Remember that the two subjects you choose should have a meaningful connection so that you can draw comparisons or contrasts between the two.
hint
Topic Choice Guidance: We encourage you to choose two subjects to compare that allow you to draw from your understanding and common knowledge about the topic. Your thesis should convey the main idea of the essay and clearly articulate what two topics you are comparing/contrasting. Because you are writing in the informative mode for this essay, you should use objective language. Remember that for this essay, you are not trying to persuade or convince the audience that one thing is better or worse than the other; you are instead informing the reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects in an objective manner.
Keep in mind that no outside research is required for the writing of this essay. If you do conduct research and use what you learn to make comparisons, make sure to avoid plagiarism concerns by citing all sources. The following resources will be helpful to you if you need to cite any sources:
Purdue Online Writing Lab’s APA Formatting and Style Guide
This site includes a comprehensive overview of APA style, as well as individual pages with guidelines for specific citation types.
Frequently Asked Questions About APA Style
This page on the official APA website addresses common questions related to APA formatting. The “References,” “Punctuation,” and “Grammar and Writing Style” sections will be the most useful to your work in this course.
APA Style: Quick Answers—References
This page on the official APA Style website provides numerous examples of reference list formatting for various source types.
Step 2. Write a Comparison/Contrast Essay
Write a comparison/contrast essay that meets the following criteria:
Properly applies elements of a comparison/contrast essay using personal or common knowledge of the subjects: Makes a clear and meaningful connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts; effectively organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and consistently uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas. Relies on personal or common knowledge.
States the focused central claim of the essay with the clear purpose of comparing/contrasting two subjects: Has a clear, focused, and detailed thesis expressed in a single sentence that states the central claim of the essay; the thesis statement effectively communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast.
Exhibits competent organization, flow, and writing techniques: Includes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a strong thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with an effective topic sentence and a conclusion with an effective concluding statement; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.
Establishes an informative tone and makes thoughtful choices: Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices and uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay.
Demonstrate command of standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage: There are few, if any, negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.
Step 3. Think About Your Writing
Below your completed comparison/contrast essay, include answers to all of the following reflection questions:
Did you use the point-by-point or block method to organize your body paragraphs? What made you decide to organize your essay in this way (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Consider the ways a comparison/contrast essay can be organized. Which organization did you choose and why?
In what ways did writing a comparison/contrast essay differ from the Narrative essay you wrote in Touchstone 1? Give specific examples (3-4 sentences). Sophia says: Consider how the structure, point of view, and purpose of the two essays differ.
Remember that the writing process is a recursive process, and your first draft of an essay is rarely your last. What part of the draft did you struggle with (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Think about how you could improve the draft if you continued the writing process with revision and editing.
Step 4. Review Rubric and Checklist
Your essay will be scored according to the Touchstone 2.1 Rubric, which considers required elements for a comparison/contrast essay, the thesis statement, focus, organization, style and tone, conventions, and answers to the “Think About your Writing” questions above.
Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
Elements of a Comparison/Contrast Essay
❒ Are there significant points of comparison or contrast between the two subjects you have selected?
❒ Do you make clear comparisons or contrasts between the two subjects within the body paragraphs of the essay?
❒ Are the body paragraphs organized either by point or by subject?
❒ Have you used transitional words or phrases to indicate points being compared or contrasted?
❒ Does the essay have a clear and consistent focus of comparing and contrasting two subjects?
❒ Does the essay maintain an informative/objective tone throughout to avoid persuading the reader or arguing a point about the subjects compared?
❒ Does the essay rely on personal knowledge and/or common knowledge (information that the average educated reader would accept without needing a source citation to back it up)?
Thesis Statement
❒ Have you included a clear, focused, and detailed thesis statement?
❒ Does your thesis state the subjects to be compared or contrasted and include the two or three points of comparison or contrast?
❒ Is your thesis a single sentence located towards the end of the introductory paragraph?
Organization
❒ Is there an introductory paragraph that contains your thesis statement?
❒ Are there four or six total body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence restating the subject(s) and point of comparison/contrast?
❒ Is there a conclusion paragraph with a concluding statement?
❒ Have you used transitions to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs?
Style and Tone
❒ Is the tone of the essay objective and informative?
❒ Have you carefully considered your word choices?
❒ Is the purpose of your essay clearly to inform rather than persuade the reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects?
Conventions
❒ Have you checked your essay for grammatical and mechanical errors?
❒ Have you used spell check or another method to check spelling?
Before you Submit
❒ Have you included your name, date, and course at the top left of the page?
❒ Have you completed the “Think About Your Writing” questions?
❒ Is your essay between 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words)?
B. Rubric
Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)
Comparison/Contrast Essay Elements
Properly apply elements of a comparison/contrast essay using personal or common knowledge of the subjects. (30%)
Makes a clear and meaningful connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts; effectively organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and consistently uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas. Relies on personal or common knowledge. Makes a clear connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts; organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and often uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas. Relies on personal or common knowledge. Makes a predominately clear connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts; organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and occasionally uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas. Ideas may be outside the realm of personal or common knowledge without attempted citation. Makes a connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts, but the connection is not very clear or lacks meaning; attempts to organize body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways, but organization could use some work. May occasionally use transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas. Ideas are likely outside the realm of personal or common knowledge without attempted citation. Does not make a connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts; the essay lacks organization and words or phrases characteristic of a comparison/contrast essay. Contains ideas outside the realm of personal or common knowledge without attempted citation.
Thesis Statement
State the focused central claim of the essay with the clear purpose of comparing/contrasting two subjects. (20%)
Has a clear, focused, and detailed thesis expressed in a single sentence that states the central claim of the essay; the thesis statement effectively communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast. Has a clear and focused thesis expressed in a single sentence that states the central claim of the essay; the thesis statement communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast. Has an acceptable working thesis that states a claim, but it may be somewhat unclear or unfocused or composed of more than one sentence; the thesis statement somewhat communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast. Has a working thesis, but it is not clear and/or focused and/or it does not state a claim; the two subjects being compared or contrasted and points of comparison/contrast may not be clearly articulated. Does not have an identifiable working thesis and/or the thesis is extremely unclear or unfocused; there are no subjects being compared or contrasted.
Organization
Exhibit competent organization, flow, and writing techniques. (20%)
Includes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a strong thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with an effective topic sentence and a conclusion with an effective concluding statement; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical. Includes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with a topic sentence and a conclusion with a concluding statement; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is predominantly logical. Includes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with a topic sentence and a conclusion with a concluding statement, but some components may be ineffective; the sequence of sentences and paragraphs is somewhat logical. Is missing one of the required components of an essay or most of the components are ineffective; the sequence of sentences and/or paragraphs is frequently illogical. Is missing multiple required components of an essay or all of the components are ineffective; the sequence of sentences and/or paragraphs is consistently illogical.
Style and Tone
Establish an informative tone and make thoughtful choices. (10%)
Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices and uses a wide variety of sentence structures; establishes a consistently objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay. Demonstrates effective word choices and uses a variety of sentence structures; establishes an objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay, with occasional minor exceptions. Demonstrates generally-effective style choices, but may include poor word choice and/or repetitive sentence structures; primarily establishes an objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay; however, some sections express bias or include personal observations. Frequently includes poor word choices and/or repetitive sentence structures; primarily establishes a tone that is subjective and personal observations and opinions are expressed frequently. Consistently demonstrates poor word choices and/or repetitive sentence structures; tone is consistently subjective and the essay is dominated by personal observations and opinions.
Conventions
Demonstrate command of standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usage. (10%)
There are few, if any, negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are some significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are frequent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage. There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.
Think About Your Writing
Reply to reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. (10%)
Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses; answers all reflection questions effectively, following or exceeding response length guidelines. Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; includes multiple insights, observations, and/or examples; answers all reflection questions effectively, following response length guidelines. Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight; answers all reflection questions, primarily following response length guidelines. Shows limited reflection; the majority of responses are lacking in detail or insight; answers reflection questions inadequately: may not answer all of the questions and/or may not follow response length guidelines. Does not answer the majority of reflection questions or the majority of answers do not follow response length guidelines.
C. Requirements
Your essay must be 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words), double-spaced, with one-inch margins.
Comparison/contrast essay guidelines must be followed or your submission will not be graded.
Use a readable 12-point font.
Composition must be original and written for this assignment and all writing must be appropriate for an academic context.
Use of generative chatbot artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard) in place of original writing is strictly prohibited for this assignment.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Submission should include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.
Submission must include both your comparison/contrast essay and your answers to the “Think About Your Writing” questions
Include all of the assignment components in a single .doc or .docx file.

The evidence must be appropriately cited on the Reference Page, and the photos u

The evidence must be appropriately cited on the Reference Page, and the photos used NEED to show accuracy, currency, and authority. Please use different images so they can be appropriately cited and fit the required criteria.
1. Make sure that your image is specific to the criterion. For example, find an image that speaks to authority.
2. In the topic sentence, my professor is looking for specific transitions such as “first of all,” “secondly,” “lastly,” or “Next,” or something similar. A transitional expression reiterates the claim of reliability and then presents the specific subtopic. So, a topic sentence can actually be quite simple, and I prefer it to be shorter rather than longer.
3. All definitions for the criterion must have in-text citations from a scholarly source.
4. The bullet point evidence must have in-text citations to support your claims. For example: “The website’s contact information is useful and accessible. Leaving a voicemail on their main line at 415-662-1600 will be reviewed by a Foundation team member but the best way to reach them is by emailing them at info@edutopia.org (Edutopia, 2024). This demonstrates authority by having many ways to contact them for website issues or reviews rather than being unreachable. ”
5. Please remember that the 3rd bullet point for your evidence needs to be evidence from an outside source.
Please make sure all sources used are accessible to the public, have good DOIs, and don’t cost money to read articles. And feel free to remove any citations or articles that you find unnecessary. I have provided a Sample guide on how my instructor would like the paper to look and how to cite images properly. Let me know if you have any questions!

You are to write a two-page compare or contrast essay. Ensure you read Chapter 1

You are to write a two-page compare or contrast essay. Ensure you read Chapter 11 and complete the homework before attempting this task.
You may write a compare essay focusing on the similarities of two subjects or a contrast essay focusing on their differences. Your opinion about the two elements in question becomes your thesis statement; the body of the paper then shows why you arrived at that opinion.
Choose an appropriate pattern of organization (Block or Point-by-Point). Compare and contrast for a reason. Ask yourself, “What is the significant point I want my readers to learn or understand from reading this comparison/contrast essay? Why do they need to know this?”
Use as many vivid examples and details as possible to describe your subjects. Provide balanced support for both. Use enough transitional devices to ensure a smooth flow from one subject to another and from one point to the next.
The paper must follow the APA format, including a title page, double-spaced writing, and indentations of 1/2 inch for each paragraph. Use the APA document template you submitted in Week 1.
Because it is your original writing, the reference page is not required.

This week, you will submit an annotated bibliography for two (2) of your sources

This week, you will submit an annotated bibliography for two (2) of your sources for the final project paper. Both sources should be scholarly (peer-reviewed) and from the APUS Library. Read the instructions for upcoming assignments so you will have a good idea of sources you might need.
Each source (listed in alphabetical order) should have a complete Works Cited or References entry for the citation style you are using, as well as an annotation, which should be a paragraph or two summarizing and evaluating the article. Information about the author’s credentials and publisher’s credibility may be included. Value of the sources to the final project paper should be part of the annotation. (Summaries/evaluations under one hundred words each will be considered under-developed.)
Write in third person only. It’s a good idea to include a signal phrase, direct quote or paraphrase, and a parenthetical citation within each summary.
To format your Works Cited or References entries, you may use the library cite button discussed in the week four Lessons. Include the article’s web link (the https address—not just the doi) at the end of your Works Cited entry. Just copy and paste it from your web browser, if it is not already included. Examples are shown in the attached Template (which you will download) and Sample (which is attached to show you an example of what a good submission looks like).