Fluent Essays

NO PLAGIARISMFOLLOW INSTRUCTIONSA. InstructionsBegin by choosing a topic for your comparison/contrast essay. You are free to select your own topic, or you may use one of the sample topics listed below. However, you should choose a topic that you have knowledge of so that you have sufficient points of comparison or contrast to discuss in your essay. You will need to compare or contrast two or three primary points about the two subjects you choose to write about, resulting in an essay with either four or six body paragraphs, an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion.Compare or contrast two cities you’ve visited or that you’ve lived inCompare or contrast two members of your familyCompare or contrast two sources of newsCompare or contrast two singers in different music genresCompare or contrast two historical figuresCompare or contrast two artists (for example, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso or Keith Haring and Andy Warhol)Compare or contrast two eras in timeCompare or contrast two television seriesCompare or contrast two types of technologies (for example, Android and Apple phones or PlayStation and Xbox)Compare or contrast two medical topics (for example, traditional medicine and modern medicine or doctors and midwives)Remember that the two subjects you choose should have a meaningful connection so that you can draw comparisons or contrasts between the two.Your thesis should convey the main idea of the essay and clearly articulate what two topics you are comparing/contrasting. Because you are writing in the informative mode for this essay, you should use objective language. Remember that for this essay, you are not trying to persuade or convince the audience that one thing is better or worse than the other; you are instead informing the reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects in an objective manner.B. Think About Your WritingAfter you’ve drafted your essay, answer the following questions about your writing. Include answers to all of the questions below your essay.1. Did you use the point-by-point or block method to organize your body paragraphs? What made you decide to organize your essay in this way (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Consider the ways a comparison/contrast essay can be organized. Which organization did you choose and why?2. In what ways did writing a comparison/contrast essay differ from the Narrative essay you wrote in Touchstone 1? Give specific examples (3-4 sentences). Sophia says: Consider how the structure, point of view, and purpose of the two essays differ.3. Remember that the writing process is a recursive process, and your first draft of an essay is rarely your last. What part of the draft did you struggle with (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Think about how you could improve the draft if you continued the writing process with revision and editing.C. Comparison/Contrast GuidelinesRefer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until your draft meets all of the guidelines. Print this checklist!Elements of a Comparison/Contrast Essay❒ Are there significant points of comparison or contrast between the two subjects you have selected?❒ Do you make clear comparisons or contrasts between the two subjects within the body paragraphs of the essay?❒ Are the body paragraphs organized either by point or by subject?❒ Have you used transitional words or phrases to indicate points being compared or contrasted?❒ Does the essay have a clear and consistent focus of comparing and contrasting two subjects?Thesis Statement❒ Have you included a clear, focused, and detailed thesis statement?❒ Does your thesis state the subjects to be compared or contrasted and include the two or three points of comparison or contrast?❒ Is your thesis a single sentence located in the introductory paragraph?Organization❒ Is there an introductory paragraph that contains your thesis statement?❒ Are there four or six total body paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence?❒ Is there a conclusion paragraph with a concluding statement?❒ Have you used transitions to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs?Style and Tone❒ Is the tone of the essay objective and informative?❒ Have you carefully considered your word choices?❒ Is the purpose of your essay clearly to inform the reader about the similarities or differences between the two subjects?Conventions❒ Have you checked your essay for grammatical and mechanical errors?❒ Have you used spell check or another method to check spelling?Before you Submit❒ Have you included your name, date, and course at the top left of the page?❒ Have you completed the “Think About Your Writing” questions?❒ Is your essay between 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words)?D. ScoringYour essay will be scored according to the Touchstone 2 Rubric, which considers required elements for a comparison/contrast essay, the thesis statement, focus, organization, style and tone, conventions, and answers to the “Think About your Writing” questions above.E. Helpful TutorialsParagraphs and Topic SentencesIntroductionsConclusionsIntroduction to comparison/contrast EssaysWriting an Effective comparison/contrast EssayModel comparison/contrast EssayF. Rubric Advanced (90-100\%)Proficient (80-89\%)Acceptable (70-79\%)Needs Improvement (50-69\%)Non-Performance (0-49\%)Elements of a Comparison/Contrast EssayProperly apply elements of a comparison/contrast essayMakes a clear and meaningful connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts. Effectively organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and consistently uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas.Makes a clear connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts. Organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and often uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas.Makes a predominately clear connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts. Organizes body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways and occasionally uses transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas.Makes a connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts, but the connection is not very clear or lacks meaning. Attempts to organize body paragraphs in one of the two prescribed ways, but organization could use some work. May occasionally use transitional words or phrases to comparison/contrast ideas.Does not make a connection between two subjects related to one of the writing prompts. The essay lacks organization and words or phrases characteristic of a comparison/contrast essay.Thesis StatementState the focused central claim of the essay with the clear purpose of comparing/contrasting two subjectsHas a clear, focused, and detailed thesis expressed in a single sentence that states the central claim of the essay. The thesis statement effectively communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast.Has a clear and focused thesis expressed in a single sentence that states the central claim of the essay. The thesis statement communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast.Has an acceptable working thesis that states a claim, but it may be somewhat unclear or unfocused or composed of more than one sentence. The thesis statement somewhat communicates the two subjects that will be compared or contrasted and the two or three main points of comparison/contrast.Has a working thesis, but it is not clear and/or focused and/or it does not state a claim. The two subjects being compared or contrasted and points of comparison/contrast may not be clearly articulated.Does not have an identifiable working thesis and/or the thesis is extremely unclear or unfocused. There are no subjects being compared or contrasted.OrganizationExhibit competent organization, flow, and writing techniquesIncludes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a strong thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with an effective topic sentence and a conclusion with an effective concluding statement. The sequence of sentences and paragraphs is logical.Includes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with a topic sentence and a conclusion with a concluding statement. The sequence of sentences and paragraphs is predominantly logical.Includes all of the required components of an essay, including an introduction with a thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs (4-6), each with a topic sentence and a conclusion with a concluding statement, but some components may be ineffective. The sequence of sentences and paragraphs is somewhat logical.Is missing one of the required components of an essay or most of the components are ineffective. The sequence of sentences and/or paragraphs is frequently illogical.Is missing multiple required components of an essay or all of the components are ineffective. The sequence of sentences and/or paragraphs is consistently illogical.Style and ToneEstablish an informative tone and make thoughtful choicesDemonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices and uses a wide variety of sentence structures. Establishes a consistently objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay.Demonstrates effective word choices and uses a variety of sentence structures. Establishes an objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay, with occasional minor exceptions.Demonstrates generally-effective style choices, but may include poor word choice and/or repetitive sentence structures. Primarily establishes an objective and impersonal tone that is appropriate to an informative essay; however, some sections express bias or include personal observations.Frequently includes poor word choices and/or repetitive sentence structures. Primarily establishes a tone that is subjective and personal observations and opinions are expressed frequently.Consistently demonstrates poor word choices and/or repetitive sentence structures. Tone is consistently subjective and the essay is dominated by personal observations and opinions.ConventionsDemonstrate command of standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and usageThere may be a few negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are some significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are frequent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.Think About Your WritingReply to reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfullyDemonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses. Answers all reflection questions effectively, following or exceeding response length guidelines.Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; includes multiple insights, observations, and/or examples. Answers all reflection questions effectively, following response length guidelines.Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight. Answers all reflection questions, primarily following response length guidelines.Shows limited reflection; the majority of responses are lacking in detail or insight. Answers reflection questions inadequately: may not answer all of the questions and/or may not follow response length guidelines.Does not answer the majority of reflection questions or the majority of answers do not follow response length guidelines.G. RequirementsYour draft must be 3-4 page (approximately 700-1000 words)Guidelines must be followed or submission will not be gradedDouble-space your draft and use one-inch margins.Use an easily-readable 12-point font.All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.Your draft must be original and written for this assignment.Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.Your submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your draft.Your submission must include your answers to the “Think About Your Writing” questionsSubmit a only single file that contains all of the assignment components.Acceptable file formats include .doc, .docx, and .pdf. sample_touchstone_2_comparison_contrast_essay__1_.pdf Unformatted Attachment Preview Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 Are you ready to write Touchstone 2? The sample below provides an example of an essay in the proficient to advanced range. As you read through the essay, notice how the writer employs techniques characteristic of comparison/contrast writing in the informative mode. Angel Martinez English Composition I January 15, 2018 The Tale of Two Cities Comment [SL1]: Good choice of topic. It isnt too big or too small of a topic, and there are enough similarities or differences between the two to explore within an essay. Many cities around the world have been built along a river. Some “twin” cities have developed along both banks of a single river. The cities of Buda and Pest, divided by the Danube River in Hungary, became the city of Budapest in 1873. Other twin cities, such as Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota, have retained a river, in this case, the Mississippi, as a boundary between two separate cities. While the locations of Budapest and Minneapolis are relatively even on a world latitude scale (Budapest is Comment [SL2]: Nice job connecting the subjects in a meaningful way. Though the details you’ve provided, we can see the connection between the subjects and why they work well for this type of essay. somewhat north and east of Minneapolis, more closely aligned with Seattle), the cities have distinct differences in weather, cost of living, and population demographics. Comment [SL3]: This is a detailed thesis statement clearly showing that the two subjects will be contrasted as opposed to compared. The thesis tells us what the two subjects being contrasted are (the cities of Budapest and Minneapolis), as well as the points of contrast that will be explored in the essay (weather, cost of living, and population demographics). Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 Spring begins in April in Budapest when sunshine is abundant and temperatures rise quickly. Summers are long and warm, with an average temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is low for the most part. Temperatures remain in the high 60s through mid-November, but rain becomes more frequent in the fall. Finally, the winter season in Budapest brings temperatures that, on average, remain in the 30-40 degree Fahrenheit range. Snow falls, but in small amounts. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit. There is also frequent fog in the winter months. Minneapolis, on the other hand, is less temperate than Budapest. Spring in Minneapolis arrives later on average and is shortened. It isn’t unusual to have snow in April, nor is it unusual to have snow in October in Minneapolis. The three summer months of June, July, and August are humid and see almost half of the year’s precipitation in the form of sometimes violent thunderstorms. Tornadoes can also occur in the spring and summer months in Minneapolis. Autumn is often brief and characterized by blue skies and cooling temperatures. Winters can be brutal with snow, sleet, freezing rain, ice, and blizzard conditions. The average temperature for the month of January in Minneapolis is 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The cost of living in Budapest is much lower than the cost of living in Minneapolis. Of course, wages are lower too – the major industries are manufacturing and tourism - but it is quite easy to live well on an average salary in the city. For example, rent for a one-bedroom apartment near the City Center costs an average of 138,000 forints, or around $532 in U.S. dollars. Monthly access to the internet costs Comment [SL4]: Good use of a contrast transitional phrase here. Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 about $18, and a bottle of mid-range domestic wine costs only $5. Gasoline costs more in Budapest, as do monthly utilities such as heat and water. Comment [SL5]: Add a transitional word or phrase here, such as However, to more clearly indicate that this line is a contrast between the cost of gasoline/utilities in Budapest and the cost of gasoline/utilities in Minneapolis. The cost of living in Minneapolis is about 5\% higher than the U.S. national average, but still much lower than in other U.S. major cities like Chicago or Los Angeles. Unemployment is low and the economy is diverse, with no single industry dominating the market. Monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Minneapolis is between $1400 and $1700, with utilities an average of an additional $150 a month. The cost for access to the Internet varies by speed, but rounds out to about $45 per month. A bottle of good domestic wine will cost you around $15 in Minneapolis. Gas prices change almost daily but average around $2.50 per gallon. Drivers in Budapest pay almost $5 per gallon. Comment [SL6]: I would recommend using a transitional word or phrase, such as In contrast, here to more clearly indicate that youre contrasting the prices between the two cities. The population of Budapest is approximately 1.74 million people. When taking into account the entire metropolitan and commuter area, this number climbs to 3.3 million. The city itself has experienced negative growth over the past 30 years, falling from a population of 2.2 million in 1989. The vast majority of residents in Budapest are Hungarian by nationality: 84\%. Other nationalities include Romans, which make up about 3\% of the population, Germans who account for 1\%, and Slovaks, Romanians, and Croats, who make up the remainder. Minneapolis and its surrounding communities have a similar population to metropolitan Budapest – approximately 3.3 million inhabitants. However, population continues to grow in Minneapolis and has increased every year since 1990. Minneapolis is also much more diverse than Budapest. Whites (mainly of Scandinavian and German descent) make up 64\% of the population, African Americans are nearly 20\%, Hispanics Comment [SL7]: Good use of a contrast word here to indicate that Minneapolis population is growing, which contrasts with the population decline in Budapest. Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 stand at 10\%, and Asians around 6\%. Minneapolis is also known as a gay-friendly community, while homosexuality is quite hidden in Budapest. Both Minneapolis and Budapest are cities built along the banks of a major river. Although Buda and Pest joined to form one city along the Danube, the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis have maintained separate governments and identities on either side of the Mississippi. Budapest and Minneapolis are comparable in size, but differ in climate, cost of living, and demographic makeup. Both cities offer much for the traveler, whether it’s historical castles and ruin pubs in Budapest or peaceful lakes and greenery in Minneapolis. Combined visits for both cities reached a high of 34 million last year, and 34 million people can’t be wrong! (812 words) Comment [SL8]: Nice job on the conclusion here. You recap the essays thesis and main points, and expand on the topic slightly by discussing tourism. This creates a sense of circular motion and gives a satisfying end to this essay. Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 Think About Your Writing 1. 2. Did you use the point-by-point or block method to organize your body paragraphs? What made you decide to organize your essay in this way? (3-4 sentences) Sophia says: Consider the ways a comparison/contrast essay can be organized. Which organization did you choose and why? For my essay, I choose the point-by-point method of organization. I felt that either method of organization would have worked well. However, the contrasts between the two cities in regards to weather, cost of living, and population demographics seemed like they were a little more obvious and easier to point out to the reader when I used the point-by-point method. It helped me to emphasize the contrasts between the two cities, one point at a time. In what ways did writing a comparison/contrast essay differ from the narrative essay you wrote in Touchstone 1? Give specific examples. (3-4 sentences) Sophia says: Consider how the structure, point of view, and purpose of the two essays differ. Writing a comparison/contrast essay felt very different from writing a narrative essay. First of all, when writing a narrative, there was no real formalized structure to follow and I didn’t have to create a thesis statement. The comparison/contrast essay has a much more defined structure and does require a thesis statement. It follows a more academic approach to writing as well, and maintains an objective tone with the purpose of informing the audience of the differences between the two subjects. In my narrative essay, it was just the opposite. I incorporated dialogue, first person language, and my own ideas since my purpose was to tell a story. 3. Remember that the writing process is a recursive process, and your first draft of an essay is rarely your last. What part of the draft did you struggle with? (3-4 sentences) Sophia says: Think about how you could improve the draft if you continued the writing process with revision and editing. Overall I really enjoyed writing a comparison/contrast essay. However, there were a few elements that I struggled with a little bit. It was sometimes difficult to maintain an objective tone in the essay. Since I have lived in both cities, I have a strong connection to them, and refraining from injecting my own opinions was difficult. It was also difficult to determine which specific points of contrast I wanted to focus on since there are so many similarities and differences between the two cities that are very interesting. SCORING APPEARS ON THE NEXT PAGE Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 SCORING for Sample Touchstone 2 The sample essay was evaluated according to the Touchstone 2 Rubric, which considers elements of a comparison/contrast essay, the thesis statement, organization, style and tone, conventions, and responses to the “Think About Your Writing” questions. Each rubric area is evaluated according to the performance level. Elements of a Comparison/Contrast Essay Overall the author does a nice job making the connection between subjects very clear, and the organization used is appropriate for a comparison/contrast essay. There are a few opportunities; however, in which transitional words or phrases can be used to more effectively convey contrasts between the two cities. Area Score: Proficient 13/15 Thesis Statement The thesis statement, “While the locations of Budapest and Minneapolis are relatively even on a world latitude scale (Budapest is somewhat north and east of Minneapolis, more closely aligned with Seattle), the cities have distinct differences in weather, cost of living, and population demographics,” is clear and effectively communicates the two subjects being contrasted (Minneapolis and Budapest) as well as the three points of contrast that will be explored in the essay (weather, cost of living, and population demographics). Area Score: Advanced 10 /10 Organization The essay is well organized, and contains all of the required elements of a comparison/contrast essay: an introductory paragraph, a thesis statement, adequate body paragraphs organized in the point-by-point method, and an effective concluding paragraph. Area Score: Advanced 10 /10 Style and Tone The writing maintains an objective tone throughout, appropriate for informative writing. A wide variety of sentence structures and thoughtful word choices contribute to the overall style and tone of the essay. Area Score: Advanced 5/5 Sophia Pathways – English Composition I SAMPLE TOUCHSTONE 2 Conventions There are few/no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, or usage. Area Score: Advanced 5/5 Think About Your Writing It is clear that the writer thoroughly and thoughtfully answered the questions. All questions meet or exceed response length guidelines. Area Score: Advanced 5/5 TOTAL SCORE: ADVANCED 48/50 ... Purchase answer to see full attachment