Major Paper #3--Summary/Response Purpose: Most of us use critical reading strategies everyday to effectively process all of the information we are consistently bombarded with.  This assignment allows you continue to explore ideas of reading and writing rhetorically, as you will use different strategies to write your summary and your strong response. The Assignment: This assignment will have two parts: 1.)  Summary Summarize in 150-200 words the article your instructor has chosen from the assignment: "Children Need to Play, Not Compete," on pages 270-274 of your 9th edition textbook  (or on pages 276-279 of your 8th edition textbook or pages 287-291 in your 7th edition textbook).   In this summary, you should relay the article’s main points, completely and accurately, in your own words.  If you find yourself in a situation in which the author’s words needed to be quoted directly (perhaps for emphasis), you must make it clear that these words are the author’s by using quotation marks appropriately.  You will not want to quote anything over one sentence in length, and you will want to limit yourself to no more than 2-3 direct quotes, if you use any at all.  Remember that the whole point of this portion of the assignment is for you to restate the author’s points objectively in your own words. In general, I recommend you structure your first sentence something like this:             In "Children Need to Play, Not Compete, Jessica Statsky… This will function as the thesis statement of your summary, so this first sentence  will need to convey the main point(s) of the article to give your reader an overall view. 2.)  Response Write a detailed response (1 ½ to 2 pages minimum, or at least 400-500 words) to "Children Need to Play, Not Compete." Before you even begin drafting, you will want to decide on the terms of your response.  Once you decide on the terms (or grounds) of your response, you’ll want to figure out how you can support your points—using logic, outside evidence, examples from your personal life—whatever is appropriate. Example of a Strong Response -------------------------------------- A Sample Strong Response The following is an example of how one student responded to the article “Sticks and Stones and Sports Team Names.”  (Again, remember: "Sticks and Stones" is  not  the article that you will be reading and responding to.  However, this example does provide a good example of how to craft the strong response, in general.)  As you read this example, ask yourself what you notice about the strong response—in terms of purpose, focus, tone, organization and formatting. Sticks and Stones and False Concerns     I strongly disagree with Richard Estrada’s article, “Sticks and Stones and Sport Team Names.”  As a Native American myself, I have no real problem with the use of ethnic mascots.  In my opinion, this is the least of our problems.  Further, I feel Richard Estrada has no authority whatsoever in writing about this subject.     First,.

1. Major Paper #3--Summary/Response
Purpose:
Most of us use critical reading strategies everyday to effectively
process all of the information we are consistently bombarded
with. This assignment allows you continue to explore ideas of
reading and writing rhetorically, as you will use different
strategies to write your summary and your strong response.
The Assignment:
This assignment will have two parts:
1.)
Summary
Summarize in 150-200 words the article your instructor has
chosen from the assignment: "Children Need to Play, Not
Compete," on pages 270-274 of your 9th edition textbook
(or on pages 276-279 of your 8th edition textbook or pages 287-
291 in your 7th edition textbook).
In this summary, you should relay the article’s main points,
completely and accurately, in your own words. If you find
yourself in a situation in which the author’s words needed to be
quoted directly (perhaps for emphasis), you must make it clear
that these words are the author’s by using quotation marks
appropriately. You will not want to quote anything over one
sentence in length, and you will want to limit yourself to no
more than 2-3 direct quotes, if you use any at all. Remember
that the whole point of this portion of the assignment is for you
to restate the author’s points objectively in your own words.
In general, I recommend you structure your first sentence
something like this:
In "Children Need to Play, Not Compete, Jessica
Statsky…
This will function as the thesis statement of your summary, so
this first sentence
will need to convey the main point(s) of the article to give your
reader an overall view.

2. 2.)
Response
Write a detailed response (1 ½ to 2 pages minimum, or at least
400-500 words) to "Children Need to Play, Not Compete."
Before you even begin drafting, you will want to decide on the
terms of your response. Once you decide on the terms (or
grounds) of your response, you’ll want to figure out how you
can support your points—using logic, outside evidence,
examples from your personal life—whatever is appropriate.
Example of a Strong Response
--------------------------------------
A Sample Strong Response
The following is an example of how one student responded to
the article “Sticks and Stones and Sports Team Names.”
(Again, remember: "Sticks and Stones" is
not
the article that you will be reading and responding to.
However, this example does provide a good example of how to
craft the strong response, in general.)
As you read this example, ask yourself what you notice about
the strong response—in terms of purpose, focus, tone,
organization and formatting.
Sticks and Stones and False Concerns
I strongly disagree with Richard Estrada’s article, “Sticks
and Stones and Sport Team Names.” As a Native American
myself, I have no real problem with the use of ethnic mascots.
In my opinion, this is the least of our problems. Further, I feel
Richard Estrada has no authority whatsoever in writing about
this subject.
First, allow me to discuss my own Native American heritage.
I am only one-quarter Native American; my father is half. My
adopted brother, Reeve, is also half Native American. In other

3. words, our family has a strong sense of heritage when it comes
to our respective tribes. (My father’s side is Cherokee; my
brother’s tribe is Cheyenne Arapaho.) All three of us are
registered with our tribes, and we still occasionally attend tribal
events. So I am sensitive—and actively engaged with—Native
American issues.
Unappealing mascots, however, are the least of our
problems. Most of the Native Americans I know have a sense
of humor about the whole mascot issue. They’re surprised
people even bother to talk about it. Who cares if a bunch of
white people want to flap their arms in public and pretend they
even know what a “tomahawk chop” is? Who really cares what
goes on at a football game? Who really believes that a bunch of
beer-drinking ball-following hicks are seriously capable of
demeaning us?
The answer is simple: Not Native Americans. At least not
any of the Native Americans that I know.
Our tribes face must bigger problems in the real world. We
have been pushed to the corners of this country, environments
and economies unsuitable for sustaining our livelihoods. We
have sought solace wherever we could get it through
generations—including in the bottle. What does Richard
Estrada have to say about this? Nothing.
Estrada would claim that mascots are a symbol of cultural
appropriation—white society taking what it wants from Native
American culture. I agree that the appropriation of our culture
is a problem. However, once again, unappealing mascots are
the least important aspect of this phenomenon. How many
white people own dream catchers, turquoise necklaces, trickster
figures and the like? How many of those people know anything
about the traditions that are behind all of these “cute little
trinkets”? How many of those people know anything real about
Native American heritage?
But this, again, is a minor problem in reality. The real
problem we as Native Americans face is the appropriation of
our voices. How many Native Americans have been asked if

4. they are offended by mascots? How many articles on Native
American issues are actually written by Native Americans? The
answer is practically none. Instead, the Richard Estrada’s of
the world are doing all of the talking. Is Richard Estrada a
Native American? I highly doubt it.
As a Native American myself, I’m tired of the false concerns
of all of the non-Native-American liberal do-gooders. If you
really want to know about the problems of Native Americans,
stop talking. Try listening.
Again, what did you notice? What does the strong response
include? How is it formatted?
The first paragraph of this section defines the terms of the
response and the student’s claims. In the example above, for
instance, the student is focusing on his own Native American
heritage and how Estrada's article challenges his beliefs and
values.
You will want the terms of your response to be clear in the first
paragraph as well, so that your reader will know where you’re
going.
The last paragraph of this section provides a sense of
conclusion and restates the student’s claims/terms of response.
You will also want your closing paragraph to wrap things up,
and reemphasize your points.
Between the first paragraph and the last paragraph, however,
what’s happening? The student is devoting at least one
paragraph to each of his claims. For instance, paragraph 2
describes the student's own Native American heritage.
Paragraphs 3-6 offer examples of the kinds of "real problems"
that the student believes Native Americans face. Paragraph 7
offers examples and explanation to support the student’s claim
that Estrada’s lack credibility.
I recommend you use this 1-3 paragraphs per claim structure,
which should help keep you organized and the reader on
track.
But how do I get from here to there?

5. As with the summary, I recommend you consider the materials
in your chapter as a guide in crafting your strong response. In
particular, the last five reading strategies in Chapter 12 offer a
helpful guide to determining the grounds of your response.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1.) Do you want your response to focus on the patterns of
opposition within the article, and the ways these challenge or
support your values and beliefs? In other words, do you want to
reflect on the values and assumptions made by the author and
how these compare/contrast with your own?
2.) Do you want your response to focus on evaluating the logic
of the argument? In other words, do you want to critically
analyze whether the reasoning and support offered in the article
is believable and sufficient?
3.) Do you want your response to focus on the issue of
emotional manipulation? In other words, do you want to
discuss areas in the article where the author seems to be
exaggerating or using other tools inappropriately to gain your
sympathy or compliance to his/her point of view?
4.) Do you want your response to focus on the credibility of the
author? In other words, do you want to consider whether the
author seems appropriately knowledgeable and fairly considers
other arguments or points of view?
You may be able to focus your entire response on just one of the
above issues. Or you may decide to discuss two or three issues
that seem related. (For instance, in the sample strong response,
the student chose to discuss his own beliefs—number 1 on this
list and the author’s lack of credibility—number 4 on this list.)
Please keep in mind that while the strong response must be
“analyzing” the article in some way, this does not mean that it
has to be negative. Despite the example above, a strong
response may discuss the ways in which the article is successful
and convincing (or the reasons why you agree with the author).