00 words minimum, 250 maximum (be sure to include the word count). NOTE: Summaries are BRIEF, so that maximum is really the max. If you go over that by more than 15 words, points will be deducted.
Format: MLA–please see your course syllabus and the file How to Format a Paper MLA Style
Download How to Format a Paper MLA Style
for an explanation of the heading and margins you should use. NOTE: Format is a part of the grade for this paper; please see the rubric below.
About the Assignment
Write a summary essay of Mary Meehan’s “The Perfect Name for the Next Generation of Americans,”
(Links to an external site.)
using the appropriate parenthetical (internal or in-text) citations and including a Work Cited page. NOTE: In case you have difficulty accessing the URL for the article, I am linking a PDF file of the article here.
Download PDF file of the article here.
Requirements
This is not a 5-paragraph essay, nor is it a traditional summary you might have completed in the past. This is a SUMMARY ESSAY, and it has a very specific structure. Yes, you will have multiple paragraphs, but the first paragraph will ONLY include your interpretation of the author’s thesis. The subsequent paragraphs will focus on each of the author’s main ideas. Please see the file How to Write a Summary,
Download How to Write a Summary,
pp. 4-5 for more information about the structure. HINT: See Example Structure of Meehan
Download Example Structure of Meehan
for specific information about organizing this summary.
The thesis paragraph must begin with a signal phrase that includes the author’s name and the title of the essay (e.g., In her article “The Perfect Name for the Next Generation of Americans,” author Mary Meehan . . ). NOTE: After you use the author’s full name in the first sentence, refer to the author elsewhere in your summary by his/her last name (e.g., first reference to author: Mary Meehan, subsequent references: Meehan).
After the signal phrase, state the author’s thesis in 1—2 sentences. If the thesis is complex, it may be easier to state it in 2 sentences rather than trying to cram everything into 1. *NOTE: If you have difficulty with this part, you might review the How to Write a Summary
Download How to Write a Summary
AND the Demonstration of How to Write a Summary
Download Demonstration of How to Write a Summary
(the latter walks you through the process for summarizing Meehan’s essay–Hint). See also my notes to your hw4 assignment.
After the thesis, include brief summaries for each section of the essay. Do use individual paragraphs for EACH major section.
Avoid repetition and do NOT include minor points.
Focus on the facts—do NOT include your opinion.
Use parenthetical (aka internal or in-text) citations to document all direct quotes and borrowed ideas. You need to include a parenthetical citation at the end of EACH paragraph since you are simply summarizing the original document . . . that means it’s all borrowed information, even though it’s in your words. For more information, see the Citation section of this Module.
Do NOT rely on direct quotes; summaries should be mostly in your words. Use no more than 3 direct quotes from Meehan’s essay; also, the quotes should not be very lengthy.
Include a properly formatted Work Cited page. For help with this, see the file Work Cited Sample and Checklist.
Download Work Cited Sample and Checklist.
Revise your summary including necessary transitional words (in addition, however, on the other hand, similarly, etc.)
Proofread carefully and spell-check.
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