Your task is to choose a chapter that particularly interests you from among chapters 2-14 in Affluenza (not Chapter 1 since we have discussed it extensively in class already). In your essay, you will summarize that chapter using all the summary strategies we have learned so far. Then you will draw on your own observations to assess how accurately that chapter describes the trends you see around your in your own family, friends, and community.

To put it another way, your essay (and your thesis, the one-or-two-sentence version of the essay) should answer two questions:

1. Exactly what problem are the Affluenza authors describing in this chapter? (You answer this with a summary that quotes and paraphrases from the chapter.)
2. Do you think they are right about this problem when it comes to your community? (You answer this by offering your general observations about your community supported by specific details.)

For both parts of the paper, you will need to write well-organized paragraphs with topic sentences. You will need to introduce and explain any supporting details and quotations using the PIE method.

This will be an in-class essay. You are allowed to bring an outline with topic sentences, thesis, and supporting details already written out in full sentences. You can bring other notes as well. However, you may not bring with you any drafts of the essay. Here is a more specific rule: You may not bring anything with more than two sentences in a row that end up in your essay. You will turn in any materials you use on the test. Also, you will not have internet access or any other form of access to electronic data during the exam. All preparation materials must be printed.

I encourage you to prepare for this exam as thoroughly as possible by writing and revising your outline, by visiting the Writing Lab, and, if you are nervous about in-class writing, by giving yourself a practice test. I recommend practicing writing out the essay under time pressure at home. (You just can't bring that practice essay with you to the real exam.)

Grammar, word choice, and formatting do count for in-class essays. Do your best in the time you have. The more prepared you are, the more time you will have to proofread during the exam.

Resources:

On how to summarize and then agree or disagree with an author, see They Say I Say through page 64.