This exam has two parts. Both parts require you to use the linked reading, “Why Can’t My New Employees Write,” by John Warner. Please double-space both your responses. Allow time to proofread carefully. You may complete the two required responses in any order.
Academic Response (10 marks)
In a well-organized, well-supported paragraph of at least 200 words, respond to one of Warner’s main arguments and analyze the author’s use of persuasive techniques. Do you agree or disagree? Refer briefly but specifically to the reading to support your argument.
Transfer Response (20 marks)
Choose one of the two prompts below and write a response of at least 400 words. Read the prompt carefully, considering your audience, purpose and the conventions of your chosen genre.
Prompts
- You have been asked to write a guest blog post on Inside Higher Ed. with a target audience of post-secondary professors/administrators. Write an opinion piece of about 400 words in response to John Warner’s article “Why Can’t My New Employees Write?” Your blog post should comment on Warner’s analysis of the problem and his proposed solution in light of your own experiences.
- You are a new student consultant to Seneca’s Libraries, and your supervisor has asked you to recommend a new article for a specific library collection. This collection contains articles to help students write more effectively and make the transition from school to work, and/or articles for college faculty looking for course readings. In about 400 words, write an email to Jennifer Peters, eLearning and Digital Literacies Librarian, recommending John Warner’s “Why Can’t My New Employee’s Write?” for this collection. Summarize the article briefly before discussing the reasons behind your recommendation.
Grading criteria
- Responses show a clear understanding of each writing task
- Content, organization of ideas, format, style and tone are appropriate for audience, purpose and genre
- Responses show clear understanding of reading
- Responses are adequately supported with evidence from the reading
- Quotes and paraphrases are correctly integrated (Note: no References page is necessary)
- For a non-academic response, hyperlinks can be indicated with underlining
- Writing is clear and concise throughout
- Writing is grammatically correct
The exam will have two parts:
- Academic Response (10 marks)
- Transfer Response (20 marks)
Academic Response: You will be asked to write a 200-word formal paragraph in an academic context. You will be asked to ANALYZE one aspect of the reading using support from the text.
REVIEW:
- Persuasive appeals (logic, emotion, credibility) – What do they look like? What do they do?
- Paragraph structure (topic sentence, support sentences, concluding sentence)
- In text citation
Advice:
- Be direct – Don’t just summarize the entire reading!
- Focus on answering the question.
- State the full title of the reading and the author’s full name in the introduction.
- Incorporate strong quotations: introduce the quote, cite the quote, state its relevance to your point.
- Make a strong opening statement and then find 2-3 pieces of evidence to support it.
- Don’t JUST SUMMARIZE THE READING!
Transfer Response: You will be given a choice of 3 writing prompts and asked to choose 1 and write 400 words in a genre that is NOT an essay or for academic purposes. You may be asked to write an email, a letter, a blog post, a facebook post, a speech, etc. You will be given a specific task to complete (purpose), intended for a specific person or group of people (audience). You may need to briefly summarize the reading. You will be asked to present an opinion and try to persuade your reader(s).
REVIEW:
- Email writing best practices
- Social Media Writing best practices (blogs)
- Organizational principles – Introduction, support, conclusion
- How to establish logic, emotion and credibility
- How to use narrative.
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