8/13/2019 Instructions for Critical Essay

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English 114 (02) | Fall 2013 | SFSU

Essay #2: Critical Essay

Document specifications: 5-6 numbered double-spaced pages. Times New Roman, 12-point font.

MLA heading, title, and citation format. Please submit the essay drafts as Microsoft Word

documents on iLearn.

In the literacy narrative, which you will be revising as you begin to write the critical essay, you

are examining the deeper meanings of literacy by describing and reflecting on a personal

experience. The critical essay is an examination of literacy as well, but from a less personal,

more dialogic perspective. You will be using the same reflective and critical thinking skills you

are employing in the literacy narrative. However, the critical essay will be a more formal,

academic piece of work-one that examines the writing of others using your ideas and experience.

The critical essay is a sort of conversation between you and two of the authors we have read.

You will be connecting two of the readings we have done and responding with your own

thoughts. There are a number of ways to connect texts. You will remember that we connectedMother Tongue and How Code-Switching Explains the World by reading the former using

the concepts and terminology of the latter.

The following are some questions you might ask in order to generate textual connection: Does

one text get something right that the other gets wrong? Does one text seem to complete an idea

that the other begins or does not articulate fully? Does one text seem to be saying something that

its narrator did not intend it to say when read through the other text? These are just example

questions. There are many more questions you can ask of the texts to create connections.

To break down your task, then,you are being asked to make an argument about what two

authors we have read are saying, relate their two texts to one another, explain your take in

response to the two authors ideas, and tell your readers why it is worthwhile to pay attention to

what you noticed (what you are arguing).

Be sure to use evidence from the texts in the form of quotations. Be certain to fully explain what you take the quotations you use to mean (walk the reader

through your quotes, pointing out what is important for us to notice).

Be sure to include your own voice, your own take, as part of your argument.The third draft of the literacy narrative will be accompanied by a brief reflective cover letter (a

few paragraphs) that addresses these questions: What are three specific elements of your paperthat were improved by peer feedback or instructor feedback? How were they improved? What

did you want to accomplish on this essay? Did you accomplish the things you wanted to? Have

your ideas about literacy changed since you started this class? If so, how?