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6.4: Criterion-Referenced Skills for College Writing (Part 2)

  • Page ID
    7157
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    B. Analysis Essay

    Assessment Matrix for Analysis (Expository) Writing Patterns

    1 Basic Thesis Development (Summary; Introduction)

    Does the development of a thesis statement through Summary have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    Title of selection, author, and 1-phrase summary of whole selection in opening statement
    Each section or part of the selection is summarized with a summary statement
    The point or main idea of the selection is summarized with a summary statement
    One phrase, passage, sentence, or quote from the selection that best sums up this point is included in a statement
    The passage(s) where the point or main idea is expressed is paraphrased
    Who the point seems to be for or about is summed up in a statement
    Where the point seems to apply most is summed up in a statement
    When the point seems to apply best is summed up in a statement
    The student’s general observations about the selection or point are summed up in a single “thesis” statement

    2 Self Evaluation

    Do the Self Evaluation paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    An opening statement indicating how the student feels about writing in general
    A statement about the student’s experience with writing in general
    A statement about the student’s earliest recollection of reading or writing in general
    A statement indicating how the student’s attitudes towards writing has changed over the years
    A statement indicating what attitudes the student has been encouraged to take, and by whom
    A statement indicating what the student likes about writing
    A statement indicating what the student dislikes about writing
    A statement indicating what the student’s best experience with writing is
    A statement indicating what the student’s worst experience with writing is
    A statement indicating what the student thinks of spending a whole semester studying writing

    3 First Impression

    Do the First Impression paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    An opening statement indicating what seems to be the general subject of the selection
    A statement indicating what seems to be the "gist" or main idea of the selection
    A statement indicating what the author or narrator seems to be saying literally
    A statement indicating what the author or narrator seems to be implying if we "read between the lines”
    A statement indicating what seem to be some "meaningful" words
    A statement indicating what seems to be a primary emotion evoked by the work
    A statement indicating what the selection reminds the student of
    A statement indicating a descriptive word that seems to describe the whole work

    4 Favorite Line(s)

    Do the Favorite Line(s) paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement repeating what seems to be the main idea of the selection
    A statement indicating by quoting a line (or group of words or phrases) from the selection that particularly strikes the student
    A statement indicating the context in which these words are placed
    A statement indicating situations in life of which these words remind the student
    A statement indicating people in life of which these words remind the student
    A statement indicating places in life of which these words remind the student
    A statement indicating emotions in life of which these words remind the student
    A statement indicating events in life of which these words remind the student
    A statement indicating people in general for whom these words might have particular meaning
    A statement indicating people in particular for whom these words might have particular meaning

    5 Different Perspectives

    Do the Different Perspectives paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement indicating what seems to be the point to this selection (may have to be repeated from above)
    A statement indicating what someone in general who disagrees with the point might say
    A statement indicating what someone of a different gender who disagrees with the point might say
    A statement indicating what someone of a different age who disagrees with the point might say
    A statement indicating what someone of a different country or culture who disagrees with the point might say
    A statement indicating what someone of a different social, political, or economic background who disagrees with the point might say
    A statement indicating what conclusions the student has drawn from the selection so far, and how the student might argue against those conclusions

    6 Selective Reading

    Do the Selective Reading paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement indicating what words, phrases, lines, images, passages, and so on, are most noticeable in the selection
    A statement indicating how these words, etc., reinforce what the author/narrator is trying to say
    A statement indicating what these words suggest is the general attitude of the author/narrator
    A statement indicating what these words, etc., seem to be saying by themselves

    7 Text Strategies

    Do the Text Strategies paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement indicating the major text strategies used in this selection
    A series of statements indicating an example of each text strategy from the selection
    A series of statements indicating the effect each text strategy seems to have on the student’s understanding of the selection

    8 Patterns

    Do the Patterns paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement describing the way the selection is composed or divided by using Text Strategies terms
    A statement indicating the reason(s) the selection is divided this way
    A statement indicating how many paragraphs there are in the selection and how large or small they are by sections
    A statement indicating the reason(s) for length and size variations
    A statement indicating how patterns are repeated and how words or phrases are repeated in each section
    A statement indicating how words, phrases, and/or patterns are repeated throughout the selection
    A statement indicating what was particularly striking, unexpected, or unusual about any of the patterns in the selection

    9 Literary Perspectives

    Do the Literary Perspectives paragraphs have the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement describing the archetypal images manifested in the selection
    A statement indicating how these images relate to a particular culture and environment
    A statement indicating themes within the selection
    A statement indicating polarities within the selection
    A statement indicating reoccurring situations or patterns within the selection
    A statement indicating symbols within the selection
    A statement indicating characters within the selection
    A statement indicating whether or not the student believes these images are “real” or imaginary
    A statement indicating which words in the selection give clues to when, where, how, and why the selection was written
    A statement indicating what underlying messages or ideas are suggested by the construction of the words, sentences, ideas, etc.

    10 General Analysis

    Do the General Analysis paragraphs have at least 3 of the following structural traits (statements)?

    yes no N/A note
    A statement describing how the author's childhood and family interactions affect his writing
    A statement indicating what in the author's life created or contributed to the author's opinion
    A statement indicating how the author's education affected his or her beliefs
    A statement indicating how the author's life experiences affected his or her beliefs
    A statement indicating whether or not the author practiced what he or she preached
    A statement indicating how the author defines an issue
    A statement indicating what was the author's background
    A statement indicating who or what the author compares the central issue to
    A statement indicating how the author classifies events, things, or issues
    A statement indicating what the author's opinions might be on related and unrelated topics

    This page titled 6.4: Criterion-Referenced Skills for College Writing (Part 2) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Stephen V. Poulter.