Consumerism and Commodification Synthesis Essay Self and Peer Assessment

Consumerism and Commodification Synthesis Essay Assignment

Consumerism is a term used to describe a social and economic system that encourages the ever-increasing consumption of goods and services. Commodification (or commoditization) is a related term used to describe the process of turning ideas, values, and other entities not normally regarded as a commodity (an economic product) into a commodity. 

Imagine that a school district looking to make its curriculum more relevant to life in the 21^st century has asked to evaluate the role of consumerism and commodification in contemporary American culture. Carefully review the sources I've provided in this unit. Then synthesize information from at least five (5) of the sources and incorporate that information into a coherent, well-developed essay that identifies the key issues associated with consumerism and commodification and that examines their implications for life in the 21^st century.

Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Cite the sources using the information provided below in parentheses.

Self/Peer Assessment

Introduction. (Engage the reader with a brief but vivid narrative that embodies your response to the prompt. Then transition into bold, insightful assertion clearly stating the key issues and implications associated with consumerism and commodification.)

Is there a vivid, suggest narrative (or other engaging hook) that leads into the rest of the essay? _____   (You might use the opening of the locavore essay as a model.) Give your peer feedback on this opening.

Is there an effective transition between the opening and the thesis? _____  Give your peer feedback on this transition.

Is there a thesis that states key issues and implications associated with consumerism and commodification? _____  This thesis is a bold, insightful, nuanced, precise response to the last line of the second paragraph in the prompt. Give your peer feedback on this thesis.  

In your draft the opening, transition, and thesis should be labeled and annotated. 

Body Paragraphs. (The purpose of a body paragraph is to develop and support a part of the thesis.)

Have you kept all the promises made in your thesis? _____  In other words have you developed each part of the thesis in a particular body paragraph? _____  Have you organized the body paragraphs in a logical order? ______

Mark your draft to show where you’ve developed each part of the thesis. Give your peer feedback.  

Is there a statement at the beginning or near the beginning of each paragraph that indicates exactly what part of the thesis the paragraph will develop? _____  These statements are called “topic sentences” or “mini-theses” or “body points”. In the rest of the paragraph have you developed the idea put forth in your topic sentence/mini-thesis/body point? _____ 

Mark your draft to show the “topic sentences” / “mini-theses” / “body points”. Annotate as necessary.

Give your peer feedback on the topic sentences/mini-theses/body points.  

Within each paragraph you need evidence, details, examples, and direct quotations that support the topic sentence/mini-thesis/body point.

Are all points supported with convincing evidence or are some claims points made but not supported? ______ Are all the details included clearly relevant to the paragraph’s point or are some details present merely to summarize a source (or for no apparent purpose)? _____  Is the supporting evidence specific or general? _____  Is all of the paraphrasing or summarizing in the paragraph accurate?

Is it thorough? Is any significant, relevant evidence neglected)? _____ Are any claims made but not supported or are all claims supported with convincing evidence?  _____  

Is there evidence from more than one source in the paragraph or does the paragraph rely on evidence from only one source? ______

Is it well-integrated into your own sentences or is there an over-reliance on block quoting? _____  Is all of the supporting evidence properly cited? ______

Mark the evidence. Annotate as necessary. Give your peer feedback on the evidence.  

You also need to explain clearly and convincingly how each piece of evidence shows that the character or visual motif contribute to the overall purpose/meaning. Is the explanation clear? _____  Is the explanation focused on supporting the thesis? _____  Is the explanation accurate? _____  Is the explanation well-developed? _____  Is the explanation convincing? _____ 

Mark the explanation. Annotate as necessary.

Give your peer feedback on the explanation.  

Conclusion. (The purpose of the conclusion is to drive home the essay’s main point and to drive home the significance of that point.)

Do you return to the opening narrative or big idea? _____  Have you reasserted your thesis strongly? (Remember your thesis consists of the issues you have identified and the implications of those issues.)  _____ Have you reminded the reader of the major points that support your thesis? Have you given the reader a sense of why your thesis is significant? 

Mark where you see the opening and the thesis in the conclusion. Annotate as necessary.

Give your peer feedback on the conclusion.  

Style. Have you created logical transitions between the paragraphs? _____  Have you used varied sentence structures? _______ Are all sentences clear? _______  Are any sentences repetitive or wordy? _______  Have you used standard and/or formal word choices? ______ Are your word choices precise and vivid? _______

Self: Annotate as necessary.

Peer: Give your peer feedback on the style.  

English Language and Synthesis Essay Writing Conventions. Does the essay have any run-on sentences, incomplete sentences, or homophone errors? _____  _____  _____  Does the essay observe all quotation and citation conventions? ______ Does the letter observe other standard American English conventions, especially the conventions that we studied for the midyear exam? _____ Does the essay follow MLA format? ______ Does the essay cite sources using one of the two parenthetic citation methods accepted by the College Board?


Annotate as necessary.

Give your peer feedback on the use of conventions.  

Finally…

Look over the self and peer assessment, including markings on the first draft, to find areas that need improvement.

Read the essay aloud using a one-foot voice.

Revise and proofread your letter.

A final draft is due Wednesday, March 13, 2013.