English
Composition
Paper #1 Summary
The Comprehensive Summary Essay:
Write a 3-5 page comprehensive summary of your source
and include an introduction for the source and a response to the essay.
Your essential question is: Are you a global citizen?
The first step to developing an insightful paper on a topic is to read. College-level students in
all disciplines routinely read and summarize readings to gain a sense of what has been written on
a given subject or topic. In this paper, you’ll show off your critical reading skills: annotating,
examining rhetorical strategy, listing notes and questions, summarizing will now lead you to
writing an essay that includes your interpretations and good thinking.
Your first full-length paper assignment in the course is to write a comprehensive summary
with response essay based on a single source that reflects critical reading, critical thinking, and
critical writing skills. Make sure your essay shows that you clearly and thoughtfully understand
the text material by using your own thoughtful language. Your essay is assigned professor.
Please review all guidelines in the textbook and course packet to be sure you have achieved the
following:



Introduction. Start off with a hook that urges us to read your paper. Include background
information about your source so that your audience has an idea where your article is
from and why you are writing this paper.
Summary. Show your understanding of the original source first, including the thesis,
key ideas, and reasons the author provides. This should be accomplished in multiple
paragraphs to show comprehensiveness.
Response. After you break down and present not only key points and evidence that you
observe, respond by asking questions and discovering some of the underlying basic
principles of the original source text. State your response by carefully showing how your
ideas and values are distinct from the source’s ideas and/or values.
The following pieces must be included for your assignment to be complete:




Annotations. Photocopy your chosen essay and show your careful reading. I am looking for at
minimum 1-2 comments per paragraph and you should shoot for a thorough job that covers all 5
types of annotations (definitions, clarifications, comments, questions, notes on rhetorical strategy
including thesis and evidence) at least once, or more, throughout.
Outline. Make a preliminary outline including TOPIC, THESIS, KEY POINTS, and RESPONSE
in your own words.
A 3 to 5-page essay. Show your careful reading and reasoning in an essay that summarizes, uses
both quotes and paraphrase, presents and analyzes key points and evidence of the original text, and
shows good thinking for your own original point of view.
Works Cited page. Be sure to include MLA citation in all ways: in-text, format, and end-text.
Guidelines
Be sure to follow the MLA Style Sheet and Course Guidelines for our course. Use spell-check and revise your work
so it is your best writing. Save all drafts from class peer reviews and submit them in your PORTFOLIO folder for
use on your PROCESS HW required online.
Created by A. Johnston 10.11, updated 8.14 and 1.15