This is the first “Big Writing” for ENGL 1302, Fall 2025, 8 Week 1. Reminder: THE F2F AND/OR ZOOM CLASS SESSIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE COURSE & YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO SUCCEED IN THE COURSE IF YOU DON’T USE THE COLLEGE-LEVEL INSTRUCTION IN THEM. Watch the Zoom Sessions, attend the F2F Classes, and take College-Style Notes.
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An editorial is a kind of argument that uses an extended opinion with some support. Usually, readers can find examples published in newspapers about a particular local topic or current event. Both print and online sources usually categorize these texts to an editorial page or opinion section of a newspaper. They may also feature “letters to the editor,” which are public letters with an argument written by people unaffiliated with the publication. The writers may or may not be highly educated or experienced in the topic, so it is up to the newspaper’s editorial board to review and select pieces for print. Oftentimes the selection comes down to relevance to the audience of the newspaper, currency of the topic, or new and debatable ideas rather than quality/quantity of research and rigorous documentation of sources. Editorials and opinion articles usually rely on emotional and moral appeals toward a newsworthy topic.
Like letters to the editor, an opinion section may also contain op-eds (sometimes known as think pieces) written by the newspaper’s editorial board or by selected professional writers unaffiliated with the paper but whose experience or education gives their opinion substantial weight for consideration.
Opinion/Editorial Pages:
The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/section/opinion
The Des Moines Register https://www.desmoinesregister.com/opinion/
The Times Citizen (Iowa Falls) http://www.timescitizen.com/opinion/
The Star Tribune (Minneapolis) https://www.startribune.com/opinion/
The Globe Gazette (Mason City) https://globegazette.com/news/opinion/
Directions
- Select an editorial from the one of the opinion sections of online newspapers.
- Write a two page Summary/Response Essay
- Links to an external site.
- to the article (with the third page as the Works Cited page
- Links to an external site.
- that cites the opinion page article/essay): do you agree or disagree with the author? Why?
- Include the name of the author in your introduction and give me details about the article.
- Avoid personification: (e.g. don’t write “the article says” or “the article talks about”)
- What is the main idea of the article? Write a short, 3-6 sentence, summary.
- If you include additional research (you do not need to), be sure to cite your sources; however, I am more interested in your own take on the author’s writing.
- The bulk of your response should tell me your take on the article or explain what you learned. It should support a claim of your position on the topic and why you believe the author is right or wrong.
- Lastly, you are to give the paper a title that reflects your purpose for writing this assignment or your position on the subject.
- DO NOT give your essay the same title as the article you are writing about.
- Use MLA format
- Links to an external site.
- and include a Works Cited page.
- Write out a full bibliographical citation of your article and any other sources you included in your response.
- Remember any source listed in the works cited page MUST also be named in your essay AND vise-a-versa.
Cunningham’s Grading:
Students will be graded on:
1. They do the assignment.
2. They follow the directions.
3. It’s a Summary/Response Essay (has S/R characteristics per the excellent video above).
4. It’s reasonably interesting to read because they act reasonably interested in what they’re saying.
5. It’s reasonably MLA format.
6. They have a reasonable Works Cited page with the article on it & they use the source in the S/R Essay.
7. They make the assignment reasonably fun (for themselves). That might include where they choose to write it, the snacks & beverages they employ, music, breaks, rewards, etc.
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I’M NOT GRADING ON THIS:
Cory’s Grading (Reminder: Cory’s a teacher in Iowa; I borrowed his assignment): Students will primarily be graded on the inclusion and accuracy of MLA documentation and format; however, one point will be deducted for each grammar/spelling error.
Please see the attached rubric for a full explanation of grading criteria.
The grade for this assignment falls under the Essays & Projects portion of your total class grade, which makes up 55% of your total grade.
Rubric
Response Paper Rubric
Response Paper Rubric
CriteriaRatingsPtsThis criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
MLA Format
Uses textbook’s MLA guide and basic format instructions provided in Module 2.
5 pts
Meets Expectations
No errors in MLA formatting. Paper looks neat and professional.
3 pts
Some Revision Needed
Less than two errors with MLA formatting, but overall paper looks neat.
0 pts
Unexceptable
More than two errors with MLA formatting.
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
MLA Documentation
Accuracy and completeness of sources cited.
5 pts
Meets Expectations
Includes reference to source(s) in the essay with either in-text citations and/or signal phrases. Includes a Works Cited page with accurate and complete bibliographical citation of source(s) used in the essay.
3 pts
Some Revision Needed
Reference to source(s) in the essay with either in-text citations and/or signal phrases may be unclear. AND/OR Includes a Works Cited page with bibliographical citation of source(s) used in the essay–some errors (less than two) in formatting or cross-referencing to in-text citations.
0 pts
Unexceptable
References unclear or missing from essay AND/OR Missing Works Cited page AND/OR More than two errors with full bibliographical citation
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome
Organization and Content
Division of ideas using paragraphs and logical order.
Introduction includes summary of original source, but majority of essay uses analysis and evaluation.
5 pts
Meets Expectations
Paper follows expectations of a standard essay: includes introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Introduction includes an objective (no personal opinions) summary of original source, but majority of essay uses analysis and evaluation.
3 pts
Some Revision Needed
Paper follows expectations of a standard essay: includes introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Introduction includes lacks summary AND/OR summary not objective — instead too much personal opinion included AND/OR Majority of essay summarizes/paraphrases original source rather than adding anything new.
0 pts
Unexceptable
No clear organization. May be written as one whole paragraph. Introduction includes lacks summary AND/OR summary not objective — instead too much personal opinion included AND/OR Majority of essay summarizes/paraphrases original source rather than adding anything new.
5 pts
Total Points: 15