The document provides rubrics and guidelines for two MAJORS assignments. [1] For MAJOR One, it discusses the key elements of paragraphs, including topic sentences, main ideas, and transition sentences. [2] For MAJOR Two, it instructs students to choose a topic using concepts and images, then narrow it down using clustering and news research. [3] Students will then develop a paper addressing the topic generally and using specific anecdotes and examples from the discussion board and their readings.

1. Rubric details for MAJORS
MAJOR One –Discussion
Discussion Board-
Analysis of Images
Journal Three: Essays
MAJOR Two:
WEEK FIVE

2. MAJOR Assignment Rubric
Organization and Development
Content The entire composition
The paper...
Is logically organized
Addresses the topic or question
Has a solid argument with supporting
Accurately presents facts and issues evidence
Provides sufficient textual evidence to support Main points
the argument Are relevant to the thesis statement
Are discussed without too much
Structure repetition
The introduction...
Is present in the paper Style
Includes a clearly stated thesis Is concise and precise
Indicates how the paper is organized Is free of misspellings
The body...
Is free of grammatical mistakes
Contains a complete discussion and support
Each paragraph... Lacks incomplete sentences
Includes a topic sentence Uses correct punctuation
Develops one main idea Includes subject/verb agreement
Has a transition sentence linking it to the next Uses pronouns correctly
paragraph Is free of jargon and clichés
The conclusion... Cites references correctly
Recaps the thesis statement and the essay's main MLA Works Cited page is correct
points
Presents a closing statement of the facts

3. MAJOR One: Structure = Paragraphs
What three elements do paragraphs
have?

4. Answer: Topic Sentence
Main Idea(s)
Transition Sentence

5. Body Paragraphs: Moving from
General to Specific Information
Your paper should be organized in a
manner that moves from general to
specific information. Every time you
begin a new subject, think of an
inverted pyramid - the broadest
range of information sits at the top,
and as the paragraph or paper
progresses, the author becomes more
and more focused on the argument
ending with specific, detailed
evidence supporting a claim. Lastly,
the author explains how and why the
information she has just provided
connects to and supports her thesis
(a brief wrap up or warrant).

6. Moving from General to Specific Information

7. The four elements of a good
paragraph (TTEB)
A good paragraph should contain at
least the following four elements:
Transition, Topic sentence, specific
Evidence and analysis, and a Brief
wrap-up sentence (also known as a
warrant) – TTEB!

8. 1.A Transition sentence leading in
from a previous paragraph to assure
smooth reading. This acts as a hand
off from one idea to the next.
2.A Topic sentence that tells the
reader what you will be discussing in
the paragraph.
3.Specific Evidence and analysis that
supports one of your claims and that
provides a deeper level of detail than
your topic sentence.
4.A Brief wrap-up sentence that tells
the reader how and why this
information supports the paper’s
thesis. The brief wrap-up is also
known as the warrant. The warrant is
important to your argument because
it connects your reasoning and
support to your thesis, and it shows
that the information in the paragraph
is related to your thesis and helps
defend it.

9. Induction
Induction is the type of reasoning that moves
from specific facts to a general conclusion. When
you use induction in your paper, you will state
your thesis (which is actually the conclusion you
have come to after looking at all the facts) and
then support your thesis with the facts. The
following is an example of induction taken from
Dorothy U. Seyler’s Understanding Argument:
Facts:
There is the dead body of Smith. Smith was shot
in his bedroom between the hours of 11:00 p.m.
and 2:00 a.m., according to the coroner. Smith
was shot with a .32 caliber pistol. The pistol left
in the bedroom contains Jones’s fingerprints.
Jones was seen, by a neighbor, entering the
Smith home at around 11:00 p.m. the night of
Smith’s death. A coworker heard Smith and
Jones arguing in Smith’s office the morning of
the day Smith died.
Conclusion: Jones killed Smith.

10. Deduction
When you use deduction in an
argument, you begin with general
premises and move to a specific
conclusion. There is a precise pattern
you must use when you reason
deductively. This pattern is called
syllogistic reasoning (the syllogism).
Syllogistic reasoning (deduction) is
organized in three steps:
A. Major premise
B. Minor premise
C. Conclusion

11. Socrates
1.Major premise: All men are mortal.
2.Minor premise: Socrates is a man.
3.Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.
Lincoln
1.Major premise: People who perform
with courage and clear purpose in a
crisis are great leaders.
2.Minor premise: Lincoln was a
person who performed with courage
and a clear purpose in a crisis.
3.Conclusion: Lincoln was a great
leader.

12. So in order for deduction to work in the example involving
Socrates, you must agree that 1) all men are mortal (they
all die); and 2) Socrates is a man. If you disagree with either
of these premises, the conclusion is invalid. The example
using Socrates isn’t so difficult to validate. But when you
move into more murky water (when you use terms such as
courage, clear purpose, and great), the connections get
tenuous.
For example, some historians might argue that Lincoln didn’t
really shine until a few years into the Civil War, after many
Union losses to Southern leaders such as Robert E. Lee.
The following is a more clear example of deduction gone
awry:
1.Major premise: All dogs make good pets.
2.Minor premise: Doogle is a dog.
3.Conclusion: Doogle will make a good pet.

13. On to Images: (page 176)
Content: Main objects? Which are more prominent,
which less?
Framing: How is it framed? Within boundaries?
Omitted? How is focus Influenced?
Composition: Arrangement? Symmetry or
asymmetry? Close, far apart, above, below, right, left?
Background? Relationship implies..?
Focus: Sharp? Soft? Clear? Fuzzy? How does focus
affect attention, relationships in pic?
Lighting: Well lit? Dark? Shadows? Harsh light, or
soft? Contrast in tones? What’s darkest, lightest?
Might different lighting change the pic?
Texture: How might the image “feel”, if you could
touch it? Relationship to content?
Angle and Vantage Point: What is angle? Straight
on, above, below? How is composition affected? What
is in foreground, background? What’s more
prominent?

14. Significance is the final product of
analysis: it is what the totality of
the image connotes, and is the
summation of all the elements
that have been discussed before
it.
While this final product is still an
element that can be argued, the
best analysis is one that has taken
all the other elements into
consideration for this conclusion.

15. Read Jean Kilbourne’s essay “Addiction As A Relationship”, page 540—548 in Composition of
Everyday Life. Answer all “Writing Strategies” and “Exploring Ideas” questions, in full
sentences, (approximately 3-7 should be good), identifying each question by number, only.
NEXT: Go to Chapters 5 and 6, and choose one (1) essay: do “Writing Strategies”, “Exploring
Ideas”, and choose an “Ideas For Writing” exercise to create a 250 word essay. Remember, this
essay can be any size: 250 words is an estimated count that ensures you explore the idea in a
full, and meaningful way.
WORDS OF CAUTION: Full assignment points means you do the full assignment. Points
will be lost if you are missing either full sentences, answer the questions in a single sentence (or
less), or are simply missing whole sections and/or questions. Please be conscientious about
fulfilling each facet of any given assignment. Thank you, John A Butler

16. For MAJOR Two, we are going to choose a topic through two means: concepts, and
images. Taking a broad topic, we will begin to whittle the concept down to a workable size: for
instance: take the concept of “INJUSTICE”. Through clustering, a general image search, and
scouring general news sources (Huffington Post, Fox News, Mlive, etc.) begin to gather
information on more specific facets that represent, in a concrete and direct way, your broader
theme. Below will be a list of general themes: you can choose one of these, or one approved by
me. Through both the Discussion Board, and reading articles that illustrate this theme in an
anecdotal way, (i.e. personal stories), you are assigned to develop a paper that uses these
examples, after addressing your topic in a general way.
TOPICS
Activism Privilege v. Rights Success Responsibility Humility
Righteousness Failure Kindness Leadership Generosity
Creativity Despair Hatred Love Selfishness